Origin
Fontana, CA
Afternoon in Fontana on Thursday
Local time
2:03 PM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fontana, CA to Cerritos, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
51.5 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
62 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Cerritos, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 51.5 miles, your journey from Fontana to Cerritos is a straightforward transit across the Pacific Coast region. Expect the drive to take approximately 1 hour and 3 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily utilize Sierra Avenue, I-10 West, and the San Bernardino Freeway to complete your commute. Budgeting around $12 for fuel should cover your expenses for this short distance. Because this route involves navigating through busy metropolitan areas, it serves best as a direct connection between these two cities rather than a leisurely sightseeing tour.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 51.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
62 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: excellent.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition between major thoroughfares. While the route relies on essential arteries like the San Bernardino Freeway, it lacks long, uninterrupted stretches of highway. You will find yourself navigating frequent shifts in traffic flow rather than cruising on open, high-speed roads. Since the highway share is 0 percent, you should anticipate a more urban driving experience characterized by constant maneuvering. Keep your focus sharp, as the nature of these local roads requires consistent adjustments behind the wheel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Orange Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 14.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Orange Freeway and San Bernardino Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Sierra Avenue.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 51.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles (I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Sierra Avenue
Turn left onto Sierra Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
7.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
23.4 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
8
28.5 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
CA 57 / Orange Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 57 / Orange Freeway toward CA 57 South, CA 60 Alt West: Santa Ana, Brea Canyon Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 57 South, CA 60 Alt West: Santa Ana,...
8
48.9 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward Valley View Street, Orangethorpe Avenue
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 22
Toward Valley View Street, Orangethorpe Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Orange Freeway | 14.3 mi | 16m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| I-10 Metro ExpressLanes | 9.3 mi | 9m |
| Riverside Freeway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| Artesia Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Sierra Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| South Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Pomona Freeway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Orange Freeway
— 14.3 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and Cerritos, CA.
1
Start on Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
9 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
2
Turn left onto Sierra Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 10
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR
9.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 10
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
San Bernardino Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward CA 57: Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto CA 57
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto CA 60; CA 57
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 57
405 ft
·
5 sec
·
Orange Freeway
Toward CA 57 South, CA 60 Alt West: Santa Ana, Brea Canyon Road
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 57
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 57
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 57
9.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 91 West: Los Angeles
Use the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto CA 91
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on CA 91
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Artesia Freeway
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 22
Toward Valley View Street, Orangethorpe Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn right onto Valley View Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Valley View Street
Use the left / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto Orangethorpe Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Orangethorpe Avenue
Use the left lane.
25
Continue on South Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Street
26
Continue on South Street
484 ft
·
18 sec
·
South Street
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right
59 ft
·
4 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.7 mi from Fontana, CA · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 51.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.7 miles from Fontana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cerritos, CA
The final approach into Cerritos, 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 Cerritos, 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
$11.84 one way
$23.67 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $12.20 | $24.40 |
| premium | $6.18 | $12.52 | $25.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.37 | $22.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 18 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
62 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
EVCS Charging Station
Fullerton, California
EVCS
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Fullerton, California
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
La Mirada, California
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
La Habra, California
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Fontana, California
EV Connect
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Fontana, California
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Rancho Cucamonga, California
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Fontana, California
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 29
Other: 11
Tesla: 6
EVCS: 4
Blink: 4
Electrify America: 3
EV Connect: 2
EVgo: 2
Tesla Destination: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.41 | $2.47 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.51 | $2.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.21 | $3.30 |
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.
Destination
Cerritos, CA
Afternoon in Cerritos on Thursday
Local time
2:03 PM
PDT
Current temp
73°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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 3m 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 Cerritos, CA covers 51.5 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Orange Freeway, San Bernardino 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 25.7 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 $11.84 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 is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 51.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles (I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fontana, CA to Cerritos, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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