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Trip from Superior, AZ to Gilbert, AZ

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

1h

Distance

47.1 mi

76 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 56m ★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Pinal County, Arizona, United States

Superior, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Gilbert, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 47.1-mile drive from Superior to Gilbert, Arizona, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour to complete. You'll primarily navigate the Phoenix–Globe Highway and the Superstition Freeway, with a portion on South Gilbert Road. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, this route offers an economical option for travelers within the Desert Southwest region. The mixed drive profile suggests you'll experience a variety of road types, making it a practical choice for a quick journey. Given its short duration, this trip provides flexibility for spontaneous departures or leisurely arrivals.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 47.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (35%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a mixed drive on this 47.1-mile route, with about 35% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.3 miles along the Phoenix–Globe Highway, offering a sustained period of travel. As you progress, the road will transition, incorporating segments of the Superstition Freeway and South Gilbert Road, which may feel more like arterial city roads. This blend means you'll experience both open-road driving and more developed stretches as you approach your destination.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Phoenix–Globe Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 27.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 60 / Phoenix–Globe Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in

Take the ramp toward US-60 West

Navigation decision point

Toward US-60 West
5
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 60 / Phoenix–Globe Highway

Merge onto US 60 / Phoenix–Globe Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
44.3 mi into trip | ~53m in

Take the exit toward Gilbert Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 182 Toward Gilbert Road
4
44.7 mi into trip | ~54m in | South Gilbert Road

Turn left onto South Gilbert Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
46.9 mi into trip | ~59m in | North Elm Street

Turn right onto North Elm Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Phoenix–Globe Highway 27.3 mi 33m
Superstition Freeway 16.7 mi 19m
South Gilbert Road 2.2 mi 4m
North Elm Street 0.2 mi <1m
North Magma Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
East Vaughn Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Phoenix–Globe Highway — 27.3 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Superior, AZ and Gilbert, AZ.

1

Start on North Magma Avenue

0.2 mi · 29 sec · North Magma Avenue
2

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Toward US-60 West
3

Merge onto US 60

27 mi · 33 min · Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the left lane.
4

Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist

17 mi · 19 min · Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Exit 182 Toward Gilbert Road Use the slight right lane.
6

Turn left onto South Gilbert Road

2.2 mi · 4 min · South Gilbert Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7

Turn left onto East Vaughn Avenue

440 ft · 21 sec · East Vaughn Avenue
8

Turn right onto North Elm Street

0.2 mi · 40 sec · North Elm Street
9

Turn right

203 ft · 14 sec
10

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 23.6 mi from Superior, AZ · 29m into the drive

Downtown Gold Camp, AZ, AZ

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gold Camp, AZ

24 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Gold Camp, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Apache Junction, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.6 miles from Superior, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Gilbert, AZ

The final approach into Gilbert, AZ usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.38 one way

$18.77 round trip

$5.06/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.36 $9.93 $19.86
premium $5.59 $10.37 $20.74
diesel $5.61 $10.40 $20.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.1 0 $4.95 $2.26
Efficient EV 11.8 0 $4.12 $1.88
EV Truck/SUV 18.8 0 $6.59 $3.01

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (63% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Superior, AZ

Night in Superior on Thursday

Local time

10:30 PM

MST

Current temp

87°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gilbert, AZ

Night in Gilbert on Thursday

Local time

10:30 PM

MST

Current temp

93°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

6 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Superior, AZ to Gilbert, AZ covers 47.1 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Phoenix–Globe Highway, Superstition Freeway, South Gilbert Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.6 miles from Superior, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.38 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 60 / Phoenix–Globe Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Superior, AZ to Gilbert, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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