Origin
Altadena, CA
Evening in Altadena on Thursday
Local time
8:09 PM
PDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Altadena, CA to San Bernardino, CA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
54.1 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Altadena, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 54.1-mile drive from Altadena, CA to San Bernardino, CA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 7 minutes to complete. Primarily following the Foothill Freeway and San Bernardino Freeway, this route is heavily highway-focused, with 91% of the journey on these main roads. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, it's an economical option for connecting these two Pacific Coast communities. Given its short duration and highway nature, you won't need to worry about overnight stays, making it a flexible choice for your travel plans.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 54.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 54.1-mile journey. With 91% of the drive on major freeways like the Foothill Freeway and San Bernardino Freeway, it's designed for efficient travel. You'll encounter one continuous stretch of 47.2 miles on the Foothill Freeway, offering a consistent pace. This route prioritizes getting you from point A to point B with minimal detours, characterized by steady speeds and broad highway lanes.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Foothill Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 47.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Foothill Freeway and North Lake Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in.
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 54.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 210 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 210 East
6
19.9 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
50.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 215: Barstow, Riverside
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 74
Toward I 215: Barstow, Riverside
8
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 215 South: Riverside
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 74
Toward I 215 South: Riverside
8
53 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward CA 66 West: 5th Street, Civic Center
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 44A
Toward CA 66 West: 5th Street, Civic Center
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Altadena, CA to San Bernardino, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Riverside along the way.
Riverside
50.1 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Foothill Freeway | 47.2 mi | 54m |
| North Lake Avenue | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| West 5th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Barstow Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Foothill Freeway
— 47.2 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altadena, CA and San Bernardino, CA.
1
Start on North Lake Avenue
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
North Lake Avenue
Use the left lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 210 East
Use the left lane.
3
Merge onto I 210
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
23 mi
·
26 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 74
Toward I 215: Barstow, Riverside
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 74
Toward I 215 South: Riverside
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 215
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Barstow Freeway
12
Continue on I 215
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 44A
Toward CA 66 West: 5th Street, Civic Center
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto CA 66
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West 5th Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
West 5th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.1 mi from Altadena, CA · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.1 miles from Altadena, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in San Bernardino, CA
The final approach into San Bernardino, 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
$12.43 one way
$24.87 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $12.81 | $25.63 |
| premium | $6.18 | $13.16 | $26.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.94 | $23.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.68 | $2.60 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.57 | $3.46 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
San Bernardino, CA
Evening in San Bernardino on Thursday
Local time
8:09 PM
PDT
Current temp
77°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
1h 7m 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 Altadena, CA to San Bernardino, CA covers 54.1 miles and takes about 1h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Foothill Freeway, North Lake Avenue, San Bernardino Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.1 miles from Altadena, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.43 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 54.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Altadena, CA to San Bernardino, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Riverside along the way.
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