Origin
Howard Landing, CA
Night in Howard Landing on Wednesday
Local time
9:00 PM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Howard Landing, CA to Citrus Heights, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
50.2 mi
81 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Citrus Heights, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Howard Landing, CA to Citrus Heights, CA covers 50.2 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Westside Freeway, Capital City Freeway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.5 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.54 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
25.1 miles from Howard Landing, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 6m highway drive covering 50.2 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and Capital City Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 19.5 miles on Westside Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 19.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Capital City Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 31.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.2 miles you will encounter 16 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 31.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
31.7 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 518
Toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South L...
10
31.8 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 518
Toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South La...
9
32 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 518
Toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
8
33.9 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, F...
10
48.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Antelope Road, Citrus Heights
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Exit 100
Toward Antelope Road, Citrus Heights
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Howard Landing, CA and Citrus Heights, CA, road signs point toward Lake Tahoe, Broadway and Fresno.
Lake Tahoe
31.7 mi in
|
~44m
Broadway
31.8 mi in
|
~44m
Fresno
33.9 mi in
|
~47m
|
via I 80 Business
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 19.5 mi | 21m |
| Capital City Freeway | 10.6 mi | 11m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 5 mi | 5m |
| Twin Cities Road | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Victory Highway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| CA 220 | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| River Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Antelope Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 19.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Howard Landing, CA and Citrus Heights, CA.
1
Start on this road
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto CA 220
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
CA 220
3
Turn left onto CA 160
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Victory Highway
4
Turn right onto J11
461 ft
·
55 sec
·
Walnut Grove Bridge
5
Turn left onto E13
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
River Road
6
Turn right onto E13
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Twin Cities Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
8
Merge onto I 5
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Exit 518
Toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Exit 518
Toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 518
Toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Capital City Freeway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on I 80
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 100
Toward Antelope Road
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
319 ft
·
7 sec
Exit 100
Toward Antelope Road, Citrus Heights
Use the left / right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto Antelope Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Antelope Road
18
Turn left onto Mariposa Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Mariposa Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right
50 ft
·
3 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 25.1 miles from Howard Landing, CA, or about 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 11 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.1 miles or 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Citrus Heights, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Howard Landing, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Howard Landing, CA
This is one driving day of about 50.2 miles and 1h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 11 miles from Howard Landing, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 19.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.1 mi from Howard Landing, CA · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.1 miles from Howard Landing, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Citrus Heights, CA
The final approach into Citrus Heights, CA 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
$11.54 one way
$23.08 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $11.89 | $23.78 |
| premium | $6.18 | $12.21 | $24.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.08 | $22.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.27 | $2.41 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.39 | $2.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.03 | $3.21 |
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.
Destination
Citrus Heights, CA
Night in Citrus Heights on Wednesday
Local time
9:00 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°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
24 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 6m 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 Howard Landing, CA to Citrus Heights, CA covers 50.2 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Capital City Freeway, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.1 miles from Howard Landing, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.54 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.2 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 31.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Howard Landing, CA and Citrus Heights, CA, road signs point toward Lake Tahoe, Broadway and Fresno.
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