Origin
Fontana, CA
Late night in Fontana on Saturday
Local time
3:56 AM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 15m
Distance
115.7 mi
186 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Ventura, CA
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Fontana, CA to Ventura, CA covers 115.7 miles and takes about 2h 15m 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 $26.59 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.8 miles from Fontana, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Founded 1782
Ventura is a city of 111,000 people (2020) in Ventura County, a region of California's Central Coast. Ventura mixes old charm with new modern facilities to blend a rich and wonderful background to living.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 115.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 2h 15m drive with frequent turns across 115.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Fontana, CA to Ventura, CA is easy. At 2h 15m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Fontana, CA to Ventura, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sierra Avenue | — | — |
| CA 210 West | — | — |
| Foothill Freeway | — | — |
| Ventura Freeway | — | — |
| I 5 | — | — |
| I 5 North | — | — |
| CA 134 West | — | — |
| CA 134 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and Ventura, CA.
Start on Merrill Avenue
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 210 West
Merge slight left onto Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Ventura Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Ventura Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Ventura Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Golden State Freeway, Los Angeles, Sacramento
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 North, CA 134 West: Golden State Freeway, Sacramento, Ventura Freeway, Ventura, Zoo Drive
Keep slight right to continue on CA 134 West: Ventura Freeway, Ventura, Zoo Drive
Keep slight left to continue on CA 134: Ventura
Merge slight left onto Ventura Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Ventura Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Ventura Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Ventura Freeway
Keep slight left
Take the exit slight right toward California Street
Turn right onto South California Street
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.8 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ventura, CA than in the middle of the route.
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 115.7 miles and 2h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.8 mi from Fontana, CA · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 57.8 miles from Fontana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Ventura, 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 Ventura, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$26.59 one way
$53.19 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $27.40 | $54.81 |
| premium | $6.18 | $28.14 | $56.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.55 | $51.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.15 | $5.55 |
| Efficient EV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.12 | $4.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.3 | 0 | $16.20 | $7.40 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
14 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 Saturday
Local time
3:56 AM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Ventura on Saturday
Local time
3:56 AM
PDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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