Origin
Tempe, AZ
Late night in Tempe on Tuesday
Local time
2:14 AM
MST
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tempe, AZ to Citrus Park, AZ
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
40.2 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tempe, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Citrus Park, AZ
Cosmin Gavris
Trip Overview
Tempe, AZ to Citrus Park, AZ is 40.2 miles and takes about 52 minutes via Papago Freeway and Red Mountain Freeway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip that stays within the Desert Southwest region. You'll primarily be on well-maintained freeways, making it a quick and easy transit. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a day trip or as a segment of a larger journey without requiring an overnight stay. Consider this an efficient connection between two points in Arizona.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Papago Freeway | 21 mi | 24m |
| Red Mountain Freeway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| Bob Stump Memorial Parkway | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| West Glendale Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South McClintock Drive | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Citrus Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Apache Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Papago Freeway
— 21 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tempe, AZ and Citrus Park, AZ.
1
Start on US 80 Hist
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Apache Boulevard
2
Turn right onto South Una Butte Avenue
321 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Una Butte Avenue
3
Turn right
22 ft
·
1 sec
4
Turn right onto South Butte Avenue
254 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Butte Avenue
5
Turn right onto East 12th Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
East 12th Street
6
Turn left onto South McClintock Drive
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South McClintock Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
8
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 West
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 10
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
Use the straight / slight left 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from Tempe, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 37.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Una Butte Avenue
Turn right onto South Una Butte Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward AZ 202 Loop West
Navigation decision point
Toward AZ 202 Loop West
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge onto AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
9.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 10 West
7
37.4 mi into trip
|
~46m 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
$8.01 one way
$16.02 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $8.48 | $16.95 |
| premium | $5.59 | $8.85 | $17.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.88 | $17.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.22 | $1.93 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Citrus Park, AZ
Late night in Citrus Park on Tuesday
Local time
2:14 AM
MST
Current temp
88°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
4 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
52m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 82% of the journey utilizing major freeways. You'll spend most of your time on the Papago Freeway and the Red Mountain Freeway, experiencing a consistent, high-speed travel environment. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21 miles on the Papago Freeway, allowing for a steady pace. Expect a consistent driving experience characterized by smooth pavement and clear signage, typical of major interstate corridors in the Desert Southwest. The profile suggests a functional transit rather than a winding scenic byway.
82% 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: 21 mi on Papago Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Papago Freeway and Red Mountain Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near South Una Butte Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 40.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (South Una Butte Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Tempe, AZ
Full guide →Tempe is a city of 180,587 (2020) in the Greater Phoenix area of Arizona, best known as the home of Arizona State University (ASU). Its younger, student-heavy population allows it to offer a vibrant nightlife that is relatively rare in Arizona.
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 52m. Total distance: 40.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 21 miles on Papago Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (South Una Butte Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (AZ 202 Loop / Red Mountain Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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