Drive Time
52m
Distance
40.8 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Photo: El Puerto de Santa María
The drive from Fullerton, CA to Fontana, CA covers 40.8 miles and takes about 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Harbor Boulevard, Brea Boulevard, Bastanchury Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.54 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
20.4 miles from Fullerton, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .
Expect a 52m drive with frequent turns across 40.8 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 — mostly straight driving
The drive from Fullerton, CA to Fontana, CA is easy. At 52m 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 Fullerton, CA to Fontana, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Harbor Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Brea Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bastanchury Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North State College Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Imperial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 57 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Orange Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pomona Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Fullerton, CA and Fontana, CA.
Start on West Commonwealth Avenue
Turn left onto North Harbor Boulevard
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto Brea Boulevard
Turn right onto Bastanchury Road
Turn left onto North State College Boulevard
Turn right onto East Imperial Highway
Take the ramp sharp left toward CA 57 North: Pomona
Merge slight left onto Orange Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Orange Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Orange Freeway
Merge slight left onto Pomona Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward CA 57 North
Take the exit slight right toward I 10 West, I 10 East: Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ontario Airport
Keep slight right to continue on I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino
Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Sierra Avenue
Keep slight left to continue on Sierra Avenue North
Turn slight left onto Sierra Avenue
Turn right onto Merrill Avenue
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 40.8 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.4 miles or 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fontana, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Fullerton, 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 Fullerton, CA
This is one driving day of about 40.8 miles and 52m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.4 mi from Fullerton, CA · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 20.4 miles from Fullerton, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Fontana, 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 Fontana, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$5.54 one way
$11.08 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $6.18 | $12.37 |
| premium | $4.15 | $6.67 | $13.33 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $6.02 | $12.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.57 | $1.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Fullerton on Saturday
Local time
10:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Fontana on Saturday
Local time
10:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
76°F
Anaheim, CA
20 mi in
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.
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