Origin
Fontana, CA
Morning in Fontana on Thursday
Local time
9:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fontana, CA to Chowchilla, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 39m
Distance
301.4 mi
485 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$69
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 26m
★
6 AM
5h 39m
8 AM
6h 6m
10 AM
5h 48m
12 PM
5h 46m
3 PM
5h 50m
5 PM
6h 4m
8 PM
5h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Chowchilla, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Fontana, CA to Chowchilla, CA covers 301.4 miles and takes about 5h 39m 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 $69.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
150.7 miles from Fontana, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 49m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 39m. Total distance: 301.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 39m drive with frequent turns across 301.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 39m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fontana, CA to Chowchilla, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sierra Avenue | — | — |
| CA 210 West | — | — |
| Foothill Freeway | — | — |
| Golden State Freeway | — | — |
| Golden State Highway | — | — |
| Avenue 7 | — | — |
| State Route 99 | — | — |
| CA 233 West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Sierra Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and Chowchilla, 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
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Foothill Freeway
10
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Foothill Freeway
11
Keep slight right
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
12
Merge slight right
1.0 mi
·
1 min
13
Keep slight left
36 mi
·
41 min
14
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
27 mi
·
30 min
·
Golden State Freeway
16
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Golden State Freeway
17
Continue on Golden State Highway
111 mi
·
2 hr
·
Golden State Highway
18
Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
·
Avenue 7
19
Merge slight left
21 mi
·
24 min
20
Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Northbound California State Route 99
21
Take the exit slight right toward CA 233 West, Avenue 26
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
CA 233 West, Avenue 26
22
Turn left onto Avenue 26
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Avenue 26
23
Continue on East Robertson Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Robertson Boulevard
24
Turn right onto North 2nd Street
62 ft
·
3 sec
·
North 2nd Street
25
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150.7 miles from Fontana, CA, or about 2h 49m 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 66 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.7 miles or 2h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chowchilla, 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 301.4 miles and 5h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Fontana, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 150.7 mi from Fontana, CA · 2h 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
151 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 66 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 150.7 miles from Fontana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chowchilla, CA
The final approach into Chowchilla, 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 Chowchilla, 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
$69.27 one way
$138.55 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
106 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $71.39 | $142.77 |
| premium | $6.18 | $73.30 | $146.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $66.55 | $133.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$69
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90.4 | 1 | $31.65 | $14.47 |
| Efficient EV | 75.4 | 0 | $26.37 | $12.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120.6 | 1 | $42.20 | $19.29 |
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Chowchilla, CA
Morning in Chowchilla on Thursday
Local time
9:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°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
27 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
5h 39m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Chowchilla, CA covers 301.4 miles and takes about 5h 39m 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 150.7 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 $69.27 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 39m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fontana, CA to Chowchilla, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fontana, CA to Chowchilla, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Chowchilla, CA
Explore more options from Fontana, CA or browse trips ending in Chowchilla, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Fontana, CA or Chowchilla, CA on MapSof.net.