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Trip from Fontana, CA to Riverbank, CA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

7h 2m

Distance

364.4 mi

586 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$84

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
6h 51m ★
6 AM
7h 2m
8 AM
7h 25m
10 AM
7h 10m
12 PM
7h 8m
3 PM
7h 11m
5 PM
7h 24m
8 PM
6h 55m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Fontana, CA, CA

Fontana, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Stanislaus County, California, United States

Riverbank, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 364.4-mile drive from Fontana, CA, to Riverbank, CA, is a significant journey that will take approximately 7 hours and 2 minutes to complete. Designed as a highway-focused trip, you'll spend about 65% of your time on major freeways. With a projected fuel cost of $84, this route is best tackled in a single day, making it a feasible, albeit long, day trip. The drive predominantly utilizes the Golden State Highway, Foothill Freeway, and Golden State Freeway, offering a direct path through California's Pacific Coast region. Plan for around 2 stops along the way to break up the journey.

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

182.2 miles from Fontana, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 28m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 2m. Total distance: 364.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-centric experience for most of this 7-hour trip, with 65% of the drive on major freeways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 111.4 miles along the Golden State Highway, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While primarily a freeway run, the route offers a consistent pace for covering ground efficiently. The character remains largely that of a high-speed transit corridor, connecting you from one point to another with minimal deviation from major arteries.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Golden State Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 111.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Golden State Highway and Foothill 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 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 364.4 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 18.2 miles (CA 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 26 key points

These 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 right onto Sierra Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
6
18.2 mi into trip | ~22m in | CA 210 / Foothill Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210 / Foothill Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
7
274.9 mi into trip | ~5h 8m in

Take the exit toward Avenue 7

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 144 Toward Avenue 7
7
296.8 mi into trip | ~5h 32m in | CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99 / Northbound California State Route 99 toward CA 99

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward CA 99

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

On the drive from Fontana, CA to Riverbank, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Avenue 7 along the way.

Avenue 7

274.9 mi in | ~5h 8m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Golden State Highway 111.4 mi 2h
Foothill Freeway 67.2 mi 1h 17m
Golden State Freeway 55.6 mi 1h 1m
Northbound California State Route 99 54.5 mi 1h 3m
I 5 Truck 37.1 mi 42m
CA 99 21.4 mi 24m
Mitchell Road 4.7 mi 9m
Roselle Avenue 4.6 mi 8m
Longest stretch: Golden State Highway — 111.4 mi, about 2h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and Riverbank, 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 left at fork onto CA 99

27 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

6.0 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on CA 99

111 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 30 sec
Exit 144 Toward Avenue 7 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Merge onto CA 99

21 mi · 24 min · CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99

55 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Northbound California State Route 99
Toward CA 99 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward Mitchell Road
22

Turn straight onto Mitchell Road

4.7 mi · 9 min · Mitchell Road
23

Continue on El Vista Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · El Vista Avenue
24

Continue on Oakdale Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Oakdale Road
25

Turn right onto East Briggsmore Avenue

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Briggsmore Avenue
26

Turn left onto Roselle Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · Roselle Avenue
27

Enter roundabout onto Roselle Avenue

142 ft · 2 sec · Roselle Avenue
28

Continue on Roselle Avenue

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Roselle Avenue
29

Enter roundabout onto Roselle Avenue

113 ft · 2 sec · Roselle Avenue
30

Continue on Roselle Avenue

0.5 mi · 52 sec · Roselle Avenue
31

Enter roundabout onto Roselle Avenue

132 ft · 2 sec · Roselle Avenue
32

Continue on Roselle Avenue

3.0 mi · 5 min · Roselle Avenue
33

Turn right onto Patterson Road

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Patterson Road
34

Turn left onto 3rd Street

0.2 mi · 55 sec · 3rd Street
35

Turn right onto Santa Fe Street

64 ft · 2 sec · Santa Fe Street
36

Arrive at destination

Santa Fe Street

Trip Plan

Given the 7-hour duration, an early morning departure from Fontana is recommended to maximize daylight and avoid potential traffic as you approach Riverbank. With 2 planned stops, aim to break up the 364.4 miles roughly in half, perhaps around the 3-4 hour mark. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest 111.4-mile stretch on the Golden State Highway, as services can sometimes be spaced out on these longer highway segments. This highway-focused drive means you can cover a lot of ground efficiently, but ensure you're well-rested before you begin.

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 182.2 miles from Fontana, CA, or about 3h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.4 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 182.2 miles or 3h 28m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverbank, 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 364.4 miles and 7h 2m.

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.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Golden State Highway for about 111.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 182.2 mi from Fontana, CA · 3h 28m into the drive

city and county seat of Kern County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bakersfield, CA

182 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bakersfield, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 182.2 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 Golden State Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.4 miles.

Arriving in Riverbank, CA

The final approach into Riverbank, 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 Riverbank, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 75.4
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...

25 mi from route ~63 min detour Free near mile 138.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$83.75 one way

$167.51 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 128 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $86.31 $172.62
premium $6.18 $88.62 $177.24
diesel $5.61 $80.45 $160.91

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$84

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$109–$134

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 127.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 109.3 1 $38.26 $17.49
Efficient EV 91.1 1 $31.88 $14.58
EV Truck/SUV 145.8 1 $51.02 $23.32

Gas CO2

127 kg

EV CO2

43 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 15, 2026

Origin

Fontana, CA

Evening in Fontana on Thursday

Local time

5:07 PM

PDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Riverbank, CA

Evening in Riverbank on Thursday

Local time

5:07 PM

PDT

Current temp

71°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

5 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 2m 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 Riverbank, CA covers 364.4 miles and takes about 7h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Golden State Highway, Foothill Freeway, Golden State Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 182.2 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 $83.75 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 364.4 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 18.2 miles (CA 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Fontana, CA to Riverbank, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Avenue 7 along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument.

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