Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
60.3 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
Photo: Stephen Leonardi
The drive from Apple Valley, CA to Riverside, CA covers 60.3 miles and takes about 1h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Hwy 18 North, Happy Trails Highway, Navajo Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.96 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
30.2 miles from Apple Valley, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .
Expect a 1h 8m drive with frequent turns across 60.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Apple Valley, CA to Riverside, CA is easy. At 1h 8m 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 Apple Valley, CA to Riverside, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hwy 18 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Happy Trails Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Navajo Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Yucca Loma Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Yates Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Green Tree Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 7th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Palmdale Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Apple Valley, CA and Riverside, CA.
Start on Outer Hwy 18 North
Turn left onto Happy Trails Highway
Turn left onto Navajo Road
Turn right onto Yucca Loma Road
Continue on Yates Road
Continue on Green Tree Boulevard
Turn left onto 7th Street
Continue on Palmdale Road
Take the exit slight right toward San Bernardino
Merge slight left onto Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Continue on CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Continue on Barstow Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Barstow Freeway
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
Continue on Riverside Freeway
Continue on Riverside Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza Avenue
Turn right onto Central Avenue
Turn slight left
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 60.3 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.2 miles or 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverside, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Apple Valley, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Apple Valley, CA
This is one driving day of about 60.3 miles and 1h 8m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.2 mi from Apple Valley, CA · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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.
A short stop after about 60.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.2 miles from Apple Valley, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Riverside, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$13.96 one way
$27.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $14.40 | $28.80 |
| premium | $6.24 | $14.82 | $29.64 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $13.40 | $26.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.33 | $2.89 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.28 | $2.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.44 | $3.86 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Apple Valley on Sunday
Local time
2:47 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Riverside on Sunday
Local time
2:47 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
52°F
San Bernardino, CA
30 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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