Origin
Mesa, AZ
Afternoon in Mesa on Wednesday
Local time
3:36 PM
MST
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mesa, AZ to Citrus Park, AZ
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
58m
Distance
45.3 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mesa, AZ
Wikimedia Commons
Citrus Park, AZ
Cosmin Gavris
Trip Overview
The drive from Mesa, AZ to Citrus Park, AZ covers 45.3 miles and takes about 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Alma School Road, AZ 202, Red Mountain Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.02 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
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
22.6 miles from Mesa, AZ
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 58m drive with frequent turns across 45.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Alma School Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Mesa, AZ to Citrus Park, AZ is easy. At 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mesa, AZ to Citrus Park, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Alma School Road | — | — |
| AZ 202 | — | — |
| Red Mountain Freeway | — | — |
| I 10 West | — | — |
| Papago Freeway | — | — |
| Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel | — | — |
| AZ 303 | — | — |
| Bob Stump Memorial Parkway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Alma School Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mesa, AZ and Citrus Park, AZ.
1
Start on East University Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East University Drive
2
Turn right onto North Alma School Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
North Alma School Road
3
Turn left onto AZ 202 Loop West
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
AZ 202 Loop West
4
Merge slight left onto Red Mountain Freeway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Red Mountain Freeway
5
Take the exit slight left toward I 10 West
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 West
6
Merge slight right onto Papago Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Papago Freeway
7
Continue on Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Dean Lindsey Memorial Tunnel
8
Continue on Papago Freeway
20 mi
·
22 min
·
Papago Freeway
9
Take the exit slight right toward AZ 303 Loop North
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
AZ 303 Loop North
10
Merge slight left onto Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Bob Stump Memorial Parkway
11
Take the exit slight right toward Glendale Avenue
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Glendale Avenue
12
Turn left onto West Glendale Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Glendale Avenue
13
Turn right onto North Citrus Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Citrus Road
14
Arrive at your 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 22.6 miles from Mesa, AZ, or about 29m into the drive.
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 10 miles or 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.6 miles or 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Citrus Park, AZ than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Mesa, AZ.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mesa, AZ
This is one driving day of about 45.3 miles and 58m.
At 45.3 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.6 mi from Mesa, AZ · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.6 miles from Mesa, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Citrus Park, AZ
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Citrus Park, AZ if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.02 one way
$18.05 round trip
$5.06/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.36 | $9.55 | $19.10 |
| premium | $5.59 | $9.97 | $19.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.00 | $20.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.17 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.34 | $2.90 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Afternoon in Citrus Park on Wednesday
Local time
3:36 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
58m 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 Mesa, AZ to Citrus Park, AZ covers 45.3 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Alma School Road, AZ 202, Red Mountain Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.6 miles from Mesa, AZ. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.02 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.
The drive from Mesa, AZ to Citrus Park, AZ is easy. At 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mesa, AZ to Citrus Park, AZ is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mesa, AZ to Citrus Park, AZ does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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