Trip from Fontana, CA to Altadena, CA

Drive Time

59m

Distance

46 mi

74 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 54m ★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m

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

Downtown Altadena, CA, CA

Altadena, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from Fontana, CA to Altadena, CA covers 46 miles and takes about 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Sierra Avenue, CA 210 West, Foothill Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.65 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

23 miles from Fontana, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 59m drive with frequent turns across 46 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sierra Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Fontana, CA to Altadena, CA is easy. At 59m 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 Fontana, CA to Altadena, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Sierra Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
CA 210 West Unavailable Refreshing
Foothill Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
CA 19 Unavailable Refreshing
Rosemead Boulevard North Unavailable Refreshing
Foothill Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
North Rosemead Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
Rosemead Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Sierra Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Merrill Avenue

207 ft · 6 sec · Merrill Avenue
2

Turn right onto Sierra Avenue

3.0 mi · 4 min · Sierra Avenue
3

Take the ramp slight right toward CA 210 West

0.3 mi · 45 sec · CA 210 West
4

Merge slight left onto Foothill Freeway

15 mi · 17 min · Foothill Freeway
5

Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

1.2 mi · 1 min · Foothill Freeway
6

Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

2.4 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway
7

Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

1.4 mi · 1 min · Foothill Freeway
8

Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

1.8 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway
9

Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

15 mi · 17 min · Foothill Freeway
10

Take the exit slight right toward CA 19: Rosemead Boulevard, Michillinda Avenue

0.3 mi · 19 sec · CA 19: Rosemead Boulevard, Michillinda Avenue
11

Keep slight right to continue on Rosemead Boulevard North, Michillinda Avenue

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Rosemead Boulevard North, Michillinda Avenue
12

Turn left onto Foothill Boulevard

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Foothill Boulevard
13

Turn right onto North Rosemead Boulevard

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Rosemead Boulevard
14

Continue on Rosemead Boulevard

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Rosemead Boulevard
15

Turn straight onto Sierra Madre Villa Avenue

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Sierra Madre Villa Avenue
16

Turn straight onto New York Drive

1.3 mi · 2 min · New York Drive
17

Turn right onto Altadena Drive

2.6 mi · 5 min · Altadena Drive
18

Turn left onto North Lake Avenue

197 ft · 5 sec · North Lake Avenue
19

Arrive at your destination

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 23 miles from Fontana, CA, or about 29m into the drive.

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 46 miles or 59m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 23 miles or 29m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 50m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altadena, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Fontana, 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 Fontana, CA

This is one driving day of about 46 miles and 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fontana, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 23 mi from Fontana, CA · 29m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Anaheim, CA

23 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

Los Angeles, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Anaheim, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23 miles from Fontana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Altadena, CA

The final approach into Altadena, 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 Altadena, 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

$10.65 one way

$21.30 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $10.99 $21.97
premium $6.24 $11.31 $22.61
diesel $5.64 $10.22 $20.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.8 0 $4.83 $2.21
Efficient EV 11.5 0 $4.02 $1.84
EV Truck/SUV 18.4 0 $6.44 $2.94

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Fontana, CA

Night in Fontana on Sunday

Local time

11:23 PM

PDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Altadena, CA

Night in Altadena on Sunday

Local time

11:23 PM

PDT

Current temp

54°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

59m 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 Fontana, CA to Altadena, CA covers 46 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sierra Avenue, CA 210 West, Foothill Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23 miles from Fontana, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.65 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.
The drive from Fontana, CA to Altadena, CA is easy. At 59m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fontana, CA to Altadena, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fontana, CA to Altadena, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Altadena, CA to Fontana, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

46.7 mi 59m

Explore more options from Fontana, CA or browse trips ending in Altadena, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

Explore maps for Fontana, CA or Altadena, CA on MapSof.net.