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Trip from Gilbert, AZ to Citrus Park, AZ

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 5m

Distance

50.7 mi

82 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 0m ★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m

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

Best Time
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Download GPX
city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Gilbert, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Citrus Park, AZ, AZ

Citrus Park, AZ

Cosmin Gavris

Trip Overview

Gilbert, AZ to Citrus Park, AZ is 50.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 5 minutes via Papago Freeway, Superstition Freeway, and Maricopa Freeway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Desert Southwest, traversing Arizona's familiar arid landscapes. Given the minimal driving time, this route is ideal for a quick transfer or an easy day trip, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule. You'll be covering less than 100 miles, making it an easy addition to a larger itinerary or a standalone journey.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Papago Freeway 24.3 mi 28m
Superstition Freeway 9.8 mi 11m
Maricopa Freeway 4.9 mi 5m
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway 4.2 mi 4m
North Gilbert Road 2.1 mi 4m
West Glendale Avenue 1.5 mi 2m
North Citrus Road 0.8 mi 1m
US 60 0.6 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Papago Freeway — 24.3 mi, about 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

203 ft · 20 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto North Elm Street

0.2 mi · 44 sec · North Elm Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto East Vaughn Avenue

440 ft · 23 sec · East Vaughn Avenue
4

Turn right onto North Gilbert Road

2.1 mi · 4 min · North Gilbert Road
5

Turn left

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward US 60 West: Phoenix Use the left lane.
6

Merge onto US 60

9.8 mi · 11 min · Superstition Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto US 60

0.6 mi · 38 sec · US 60
Toward I 10 North
8

Merge onto I 10; US 60

4.9 mi · 5 min · Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

2.0 mi · 2 min · Papago Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

2.7 mi · 3 min · Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 10

0.5 mi · 36 sec · Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
12

Continue on I 10

20 mi · 22 min · Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 2 min
Exit 124A Toward AZ 303 Loop North
14

Merge onto AZ 303 Loop

4.2 mi · 4 min · Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Exit 109 Toward Glendale Avenue Use the slight right lane.
16

Turn left onto West Glendale Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · West Glendale Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
17

Turn right onto North Citrus Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · North Citrus Road
18

Arrive at destination

North Citrus Road

Where to Stop

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

seat of Maricopa County, largest city in, and capital of, the State of Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Phoenix, AZ

25 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

Tempe Junction, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Phoenix, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.4 miles from Gilbert, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 14

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 48 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | East Vaughn Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto East Vaughn Avenue

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

7
2.5 mi into trip | ~5m in

Turn left toward US 60 West: Phoenix

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward US 60 West: Phoenix
6
18 mi into trip | ~24m in | I 10 / Papago Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane.
6
19.9 mi into trip | ~26m in | I 10 / Papago Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Papago Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
48 mi into trip | ~59m in

Take the exit toward Glendale Avenue

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 109 Toward Glendale Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.98 one way

$17.97 round trip

$4.50/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.82 $9.62 $19.24
premium $5.04 $10.06 $20.13
diesel $4.80 $9.57 $19.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 15.2 0 $5.32 $2.43
Efficient EV 12.7 0 $4.44 $2.03
EV Truck/SUV 20.3 0 $7.10 $3.24

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (67% 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 Jul 13, 2026

Origin

Gilbert, AZ

Morning in Gilbert on Sunday

Local time

10:40 AM

MST

Current temp

82°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 0 to 10 mph 38% chance Live forecast

Dust Storm Warning

Dust Storm Warning issued July 12 at 8:08PM MST until July 12 at 8:45PM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ

Dust Storm Warning

Dust Storm Warning issued July 12 at 8:01PM MST until July 12 at 9:00PM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ

Destination

Citrus Park, AZ

Morning in Citrus Park on Sunday

Local time

10:40 AM

MST

Current temp

84°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 5 to 15 mph 26% chance Live forecast

Dust Storm Warning

Dust Storm Warning issued July 12 at 8:08PM MST until July 12 at 8:45PM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ

Dust Storm Warning

Dust Storm Warning issued July 12 at 8:01PM MST until July 12 at 9:00PM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ

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

2 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 5m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

What kind of drive is this?

This route is predominantly highway-focused, with an impressive 86% share of its mileage on major freeways. You'll navigate a significant portion of your drive on the Papago Freeway, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 24.3 miles. The Superstition Freeway and Maricopa Freeway also feature prominently, offering a consistent driving experience. Expect a relatively smooth and direct journey, characterized by the efficiency of a freeway-centric path through the desert.

86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.3 mi on Papago Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Papago Freeway and Superstition Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near East Vaughn Avenue.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.7 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (East Vaughn Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,236 ft 1,005 ft

Total Climb

204 ft

Total Descent

255 ft

Highest Point

1,236 ft

Elevation Range

232 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Gilbert, AZ

Full guide →

Gilbert is in the southeast valley of the Greater Phoenix region of Arizona. With a population of 270,000 (2021 est.) it is the largest town in the US. people. Once a railway town and the "Hay Capital of the World", Gilbert is now a diverse suburban center, retaining its agricultural and railroad history and celebrating its "small town" feel.

Arriving in Citrus Park, AZ

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 50.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 24.3 miles on Papago Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Citrus Park, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (East Vaughn Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 10 / Papago Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Citrus Park, AZ before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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