Origin
Alhambra, CA
Afternoon in Alhambra on Friday
Local time
12:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alhambra, CA to Riverside, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
47.7 mi
77 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alhambra, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Alhambra, CA to Riverside, CA covers 47.7 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on San Bernardino Freeway, Pomona Freeway, Van Buren Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.2 miles on San Bernardino Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.96 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 47.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 4m highway drive covering 47.7 miles, with most of the trip on San Bernardino Freeway and Pomona Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 18.2 miles on San Bernardino Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
San Bernardino Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Bernardino Freeway and Pomona Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.1 miles in near I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway.
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 47.7 miles you will encounter 18 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 5.1 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.2 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
5.1 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
9.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
20.1 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward CA 71 South: Corona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 42B
Toward CA 71 South: Corona
7
20.6 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 71 South: Corona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 71 South: Corona
8
37.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 42
Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino Freeway | 18.2 mi | 20m |
| Pomona Freeway | 12 mi | 13m |
| Van Buren Boulevard | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Central Avenue | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Chino Valley Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| North Garfield Avenue | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| Mission Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
San Bernardino Freeway
— 18.2 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alhambra, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on North Garfield Avenue
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
North Garfield Avenue
Use the straight lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 10 East: San Bernardino
Use the straight lane.
3
Merge onto I 10
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 42B
Toward CA 71 South: Corona
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward CA 71 South: Corona
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on CA 71
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Chino Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
2 min
Toward CA 60 East: Riverside
Use the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto CA 60
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 42
Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto Mission Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Mission Boulevard
19
Continue on Van Buren Boulevard
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Van Buren Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto Central Avenue
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Turn sharp right
171 ft
·
12 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.9 mi from Alhambra, CA · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.9 miles from Alhambra, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Riverside, CA
The final approach into Riverside, 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
$10.96 one way
$21.93 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $11.30 | $22.60 |
| premium | $6.18 | $11.60 | $23.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.53 | $21.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Riverside, CA
Afternoon in Riverside on Friday
Local time
12:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
52°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
1 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 4m 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 Alhambra, CA to Riverside, CA covers 47.7 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Bernardino Freeway, Pomona Freeway, Van Buren Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.9 miles from Alhambra, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.96 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 47.7 miles you will encounter 18 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 5.1 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.2 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Alhambra, CA to Riverside, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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