Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
65.6 mi
106 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Dana Point, CA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Fontana, CA to Dana Point, CA covers 65.6 miles and takes about 1h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on San Diego Freeway, CA 91, Eastern Transportation Corridor for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14 miles on San Diego Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.08 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 65.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
The drive from Fontana, CA to Dana Point, CA covers 65.6 miles and takes about 1h 22m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.4 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.6 miles you will encounter 24 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 7.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 15 South, I 15 North: Barstow, San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 15 South: San Diego
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Limonite Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CA 241 South: Irvine
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CA 1: Pacific Coast Highway, Camino Las Ramblas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fontana, CA to Dana Point, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Diego along the way.
San Diego
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 14 mi | 16m |
| CA 91 | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| Eastern Transportation Corridor | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| Corona Freeway | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Foothill Transportation Corridor | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| Ontario Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| Hamner Avenue | 2.6 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and Dana Point, CA.
Start on Merrill Avenue
Turn left onto Sierra Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15
Continue on I 15
Take the exit
Turn right onto Limonite Avenue
Turn left onto Hamner Avenue
Turn left onto 6th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 15
Take the exit
Continue on CA 91
Take the exit
Continue on CA 241 Toll
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 241 Toll
Take the exit
Continue on CA 133 Toll
Take the exit
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Turn right onto CA 1
Turn left onto Golden Lantern Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.8 mi from Fontana, CA · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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.
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 32.8 miles from Fontana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Dana Point, 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.
Regular Gas
$15.08 one way
$30.16 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $15.54 | $31.07 |
| premium | $6.18 | $15.95 | $31.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.48 | $28.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 23 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.89 | $3.15 |
| Efficient EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.18 | $4.20 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Fontana on Friday
Local time
4:27 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Clear
Destination
Late night in Dana Point on Friday
Local time
4:27 AM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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