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Trip from Bell Gardens, CA to Fontana, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 1m

Distance

50.1 mi

81 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 57m ★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Bell Gardens, CA, CA

Bell Gardens, CA

Carly King

Downtown Fontana, CA, CA

Fontana, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bell Gardens, CA to Fontana, CA covers 50.1 miles and takes about 1h 1m 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, San Gabriel River Freeway, I-10 Metro ExpressLanes for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 23.9 miles on San Bernardino Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.52 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 50.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 1m highway drive covering 50.1 miles, with most of the trip on San Bernardino Freeway and San Gabriel River Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 23.9 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 27 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 23.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Bernardino Freeway and San Gabriel River Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4 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 50.1 miles you will encounter 25 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 4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 25 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
4 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the ramp toward I 605 North, I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Santa Ana Freeway

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward I 605 North, I 5 North, I 5 South: Los A...
8
4 mi into trip | ~7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 605 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane. Toward I 605 North
7
14.7 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward I 10 West, I 10 East: Los Angeles, San Bernardino

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. Toward I 10 West, I 10 East: Los Angeles, San B...
7
14.8 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 East: San Bernardino

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 10 East: San Bernardino
8
48.3 mi into trip | ~58m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Sierra Avenue North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward Sierra Avenue North

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Bell Gardens, CA and Fontana, CA, road signs point toward Santa Ana and San Bernardino.

Santa Ana

4 mi in | ~7m

San Bernardino

14.7 mi in | ~19m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
San Bernardino Freeway 23.9 mi 27m
San Gabriel River Freeway 10.5 mi 12m
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes 9 mi 9m
Florence Avenue 3.7 mi 6m
Sierra Avenue 1.7 mi 2m
Garfield Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Studebaker Road 0.1 mi <1m
Merrill Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: San Bernardino Freeway — 23.9 mi, about 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bell Gardens, CA and Fontana, CA.

1

Start on Florence Avenue

37 ft · 1 sec · Florence Avenue
2

Turn right onto Garfield Avenue

399 ft · 18 sec · Garfield Avenue
3

Continue on Garfield Avenue

425 ft · 16 sec · Garfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
4

Turn left onto Florence Avenue

3.7 mi · 6 min · Florence Avenue
Use the left lane.
5

Turn right onto Studebaker Road

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Studebaker Road
Use the right lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto Studebaker Road

112 ft · 5 sec · Studebaker Road
7

Take the ramp

80 ft · 1 sec
Toward I 605 North, I 5 North, I 5 South: Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Santa Ana Freeway Use the right lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Toward I 605 North Use the straight lane.
9

Merge onto I 605

10 mi · 12 min · San Gabriel River Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Toward I 10 West, I 10 East: Los Angeles, San Bernardino Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto I 10

1.0 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

2.2 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

2.0 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.1 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
16

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.5 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.4 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

2.0 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

2.1 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

4.0 mi · 4 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR

9.0 mi · 9 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the slight left lane.
22

Merge onto I 10

6.5 mi · 7 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
23

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 64 Toward Sierra Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Keep slight left at fork

448 ft · 12 sec
Toward Sierra Avenue North Use the left lane.
25

Turn slight left onto Sierra Avenue

1.7 mi · 2 min · Sierra Avenue
Use the left lane.
26

Turn right onto Merrill Avenue

205 ft · 4 sec · Merrill Avenue
27

Arrive at destination

Merrill Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 25 mi from Bell Gardens, CA · 32m into the drive

city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Covina, CA

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.

Popular next leg

Covina, CA to Fontana, CA

30.2 mi · 37m

Pacing Suggestions

Pasadena, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Diamond Bar, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25 miles from Bell Gardens, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Fontana, CA

The final approach into Fontana, 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

$11.52 one way

$23.03 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $11.87 $23.73
premium $6.18 $12.18 $24.37
diesel $5.61 $11.06 $22.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$12

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 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 0 $5.26 $2.40
Efficient EV 12.5 0 $4.38 $2.00
EV Truck/SUV 20 0 $7.01 $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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Bell Gardens, CA

Late night in Bell Gardens on Saturday

Local time

5:51 AM

PDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fontana, CA

Late night in Fontana on Saturday

Local time

5:51 AM

PDT

Current temp

76°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 1m 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 Bell Gardens, CA to Fontana, CA covers 50.1 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are San Bernardino Freeway, San Gabriel River Freeway, I-10 Metro ExpressLanes. 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 miles from Bell Gardens, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.52 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 50.1 miles you will encounter 25 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 4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Between Bell Gardens, CA and Fontana, CA, road signs point toward Santa Ana and San Bernardino.

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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Explore More

Return Trip

Fontana, CA to Bell Gardens, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

49.6 mi 1h

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