Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Fontana, CA to Concord, CA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

7h 42m

Distance

415 mi

668 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$95

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
7h 33m ★
6 AM
7h 42m
8 AM
8h 1m
10 AM
7h 49m
12 PM
7h 47m
3 PM
7h 50m
5 PM
8h 0m
8 PM
7h 37m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Fontana, CA, CA

Fontana, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Contra Costa County, California, United States

Concord, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 415-mile journey from Fontana, California, to Concord, California, is designed as a single-day adventure, estimated to take around 7 hours and 42 minutes. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 94% of it being on major roads like the Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway, before merging onto I-5 Truck. With an estimated fuel cost of $95 and a plan for 2 stops, this drive offers a straightforward path through California. Given its length and highway nature, it's manageable in one go, though breaking it up is also an option if preferred. You'll be traveling within the Pacific Coast region for the entire trip.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

207.5 miles from Fontana, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 54m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 42m. Total distance: 415 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 42m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for the vast majority of this 415-mile trip, with 94% of the route utilizing major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 225.6 miles, primarily on the Westside Freeway. This means you'll be in a consistent driving rhythm for significant portions of your journey. While largely a freeway experience, the shifts between the Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, and I-5 Truck will mark the progression of your drive, offering a familiar and efficient path.

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.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 225.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 45 miles in near I 210 / Foothill Freeway.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 26 significant decision points across 415 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: at 45 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 392.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 392.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 26 key points

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

8
45 mi into trip | ~53m in | I 210 / Foothill Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 26A Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
8
392.3 mi into trip | ~7h 14m in

Take the exit toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 44B Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacr...
9
392.4 mi into trip | ~7h 14m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacr...
9
412.9 mi into trip | ~7h 38m in | CA 242

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 242 toward CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 50 Toward CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg
8
413.7 mi into trip | ~7h 38m in

Take the exit toward Clayton Road, Concord

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 1 Toward Clayton Road, Concord

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Fontana, CA and Concord, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento and Walnut Creek.

San Francisco

355.7 mi in | ~6h 33m | via I 580

Sacramento

392.3 mi in | ~7h 14m

Walnut Creek

392.3 mi in | ~7h 14m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 225.6 mi 4h 1m
Foothill Freeway 67.2 mi 1h 17m
I 5 Truck 37.1 mi 42m
Golden State Freeway 22.3 mi 25m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway 19.6 mi 22m
William Elton Brown Freeway 17 mi 18m
Donald D Doyle Highway 15.2 mi 17m
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway 5 mi 5m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Merrill Avenue

205 ft · 6 sec · Merrill Avenue
2

Turn right onto Sierra Avenue

3.0 mi · 4 min · Sierra Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward CA 210 West Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Merge onto CA 210

15 mi · 17 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210

1.2 mi · 1 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210

2.4 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210

1.4 mi · 1 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210

1.8 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210

20 mi · 23 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

26 mi · 29 min · Foothill Freeway
Exit 26A Toward I 210 West: Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto I 5 Truck

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

226 mi · 4 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

16 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass

1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
18

Merge onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

1.6 mi · 1 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 16 sec
Exit 44B Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek Use the slight right lane.
21

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Merge onto I 680

15 mi · 17 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Continue on I 680

5.0 mi · 5 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680, CA 24 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 242

0.7 mi · 46 sec · CA 242
Exit 50 Toward CA 242 North: Concord, Pittsburg Use the slight right lane.
25

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Exit 1 Toward Clayton Road, Concord Use the slight right lane.
26

Turn left onto Market Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Market Street
Use the left lane.
27

Turn right onto Willow Pass Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · Willow Pass Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
28

Arrive at destination

Willow Pass Road

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 7-hour, 42-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Fontana to bypass potential traffic. With 2 planned stops, you can easily break up the 415 miles into manageable segments. The longest stretch is over 225 miles, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. A good tip for this route is to monitor traffic conditions, especially as you approach urban areas, as even highway-focused drives can be impacted. The estimated fuel cost is $95, so factor that into your budget.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 207.5 miles from Fontana, CA, or about 3h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 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 91 miles or 1h 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 207.5 miles or 3h 54m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Concord, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Fontana, CA

This is one driving day of about 415 miles and 7h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from Fontana, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 225.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 207.5 mi from Fontana, CA · 3h 54m into the drive

city in Los Angeles County, California, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Santa Clarita, CA

208 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

Santa Clarita, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 91 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fresno, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 207.5 miles from Fontana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 225.6 miles.

Arriving in Concord, CA

The final approach into Concord, 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 Concord, CA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$95.38 one way

$190.77 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 145 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $98.29 $196.59
premium $6.18 $100.92 $201.85
diesel $5.61 $91.63 $183.25

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$95

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$120–$145

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 145.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 124.5 1 $43.57 $19.92
Efficient EV 103.8 1 $36.31 $16.60
EV Truck/SUV 166 2 $58.10 $26.56

Gas CO2

145 kg

EV CO2

49 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 16, 2026

Origin

Fontana, CA

Evening in Fontana on Thursday

Local time

7:12 PM

PDT

Current temp

74°F

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

SW 0 to 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Destination

Concord, CA

Evening in Concord on Thursday

Local time

7:12 PM

PDT

Current temp

66°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

8 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

7h 42m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 Concord, CA covers 415 miles and takes about 7h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, I 5 Truck. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 207.5 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 $95.38 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 415 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: at 45 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 392.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 392.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Fontana, CA and Concord, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento and Walnut Creek.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Concord, CA to Fontana, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

415.2 mi 7h 43m

Continue From Concord, CA

Chula Vista, CA 497.7 mi · 9h 23m San Diego, CA 490.5 mi · 9h 14m San Bernardino, CA 422.6 mi · 7h 51m Riverside, CA 420.8 mi · 7h 56m

More from Fontana, CA

Arcata, CA 696.7 mi · 13h 28m Shasta Lake, CA 596.3 mi · 10h 56m Anderson, CA 577.9 mi · 10h 35m Susanville, CA 533.6 mi · 10h 53m Ukiah, CA 533.1 mi · 10h 2m Windsor, CA 483.1 mi · 9h 2m

More trips to Concord, CA

Fresno, CA 174.3 mi Laguna, CA 64.1 mi San Jose, CA 52.4 mi Oakland, CA 21.4 mi Antioch, CA 15.9 mi
Overnight trips from Fontana, CA Scenic drives in CA

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

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