Origin
California City, CA
Afternoon in California City on Thursday
Local time
2:32 PM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from California City, CA to Fontana, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 5m
Distance
101 mi
163 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 57m
★
6 AM
2h 6m
8 AM
2h 24m
10 AM
2h 12m
12 PM
2h 10m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 23m
8 PM
2h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
California City, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from California City, CA to Fontana, CA covers 101 miles and takes about 2h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Blue Star Memorial Highway, Mojave-Barstow Highway, California City Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.6 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.21 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.
Midpoint
50.5 miles from California City, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 101 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (14%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 5m drive with frequent turns across 101 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Blue Star Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 41.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 32.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 101 miles you will encounter 10 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 32.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.9 miles (I 15; US 66 Hist / Barstow and Mojave Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
32.4 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward US 395: Bishop, San Bernardino
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 206
Toward US 395: Bishop, San Bernardino
7
74.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
5
74.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
|
I 15; US 66 Hist / Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Merge onto I 15; US 66 Hist / Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
94.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m in
Take the exit toward Sierra Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 119
Toward Sierra Avenue
6
101 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m in
|
Merrill Avenue
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between California City, CA and Fontana, CA, road signs point toward San Bernardino and Los Angeles.
San Bernardino
32.4 mi in
|
~40m
Los Angeles
74.2 mi in
|
~1h 32m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 41.6 mi | 51m |
| Mojave-Barstow Highway | 16.2 mi | 17m |
| California City Boulevard | 10.9 mi | 16m |
| Barstow and Mojave Freeway | 9.7 mi | 10m |
| Sierra Avenue | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Barstow-Bakersfield Highway | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| I 15 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 41.6 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between California City, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on California City Boulevard
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
California City Boulevard
2
Continue on California City Boulevard
8.4 mi
·
12 min
·
California City Boulevard
Use the right lane.
3
At end of road, turn left onto CA 58
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Mojave-Barstow Highway
4
Continue on CA 58
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Exit 206
Toward US 395: Bishop, San Bernardino
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto US 395
42 mi
·
51 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
Use the straight lane.
8
Merge onto I 15; US 66 Hist
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist; US 91 Hist; US 395 Hist
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto I 15
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 15
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 119
Toward Sierra Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Sierra Avenue
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
Merrill Avenue
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 50.5 miles from California City, CA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.6 miles.
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 22 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.5 miles or 1h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fontana, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving California City, 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 California City, CA
This is one driving day of about 101 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from California City, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 41.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50.5 mi from California City, CA · 1h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50.5 miles from California City, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Fontana, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.21 one way
$46.43 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $23.92 | $47.84 |
| premium | $6.18 | $24.56 | $49.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.30 | $44.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.60 | $4.85 |
| Efficient EV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.84 | $4.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.4 | 0 | $14.14 | $6.46 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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
Fontana, CA
Afternoon in Fontana on Thursday
Local time
2:32 PM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
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
2h 5m 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 California City, CA to Fontana, CA covers 101 miles and takes about 2h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Blue Star Memorial Highway, Mojave-Barstow Highway, California City Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.5 miles from California City, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.21 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 101 miles you will encounter 10 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 32.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.9 miles (I 15; US 66 Hist / Barstow and Mojave Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between California City, CA and Fontana, CA, road signs point toward San Bernardino and Los Angeles.
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