Origin
Glendale, CA
Afternoon in Glendale on Sunday
Local time
1:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glendale, CA to Fontana, CA
Drive Time
1h 4m
Distance
51.7 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 59m
★
6 AM
1h 4m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 8m
12 PM
1h 7m
3 PM
1h 8m
5 PM
1h 14m
8 PM
1h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glendale, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Spanning 51.7 miles across the Pacific Coast region, this route connects Glendale to Fontana in approximately 1 hour and 4 minutes. It is a straightforward trek that works perfectly as a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. With a fuel budget of about $7, you can easily manage the costs for this short journey. Navigating through local city streets like East Colorado Street, South Glendale Avenue, and East Broadway, you won't encounter any major highway segments. This drive is ideal for those who prefer staying off the interstates and navigating local corridors between these two California cities.
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
25.9 miles from Glendale, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route maintains a zero-percent highway share. You will find yourself constantly navigating intersections and urban traffic patterns, which defines the personality of this 51.7-mile transit. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on East Colorado Street, you should stay alert for frequent turns and stop-and-go conditions. The road feel is distinctly local, requiring your full attention as you transition between the neighborhoods of Glendale and Fontana. It is a practical, utilitarian path that keeps you grounded in the local landscape for the duration of your trip.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Colorado Street 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Glendale, CA to Fontana, CA is easy. At 1h 4m 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 Glendale, CA to Fontana, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Colorado Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Glendale Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Broadway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Harvey Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 134 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ventura Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Foothill Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sierra Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Colorado Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glendale, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on South Brand Boulevard
43 ft
·
4 sec
·
South Brand Boulevard
2
Turn right
210 ft
·
17 sec
3
Turn right onto East Colorado Street
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Colorado Street
4
Turn left onto South Glendale Avenue
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
South Glendale Avenue
5
Turn right onto East Broadway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Broadway
6
Keep slight left to continue on Harvey Drive
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Harvey Drive
7
Take the ramp right toward CA 134 East
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
CA 134 East
8
Merge slight left onto Ventura Freeway
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Ventura Freeway
9
Merge slight right onto Foothill Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Foothill Freeway
10
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Foothill Freeway
11
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
12
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
13
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
14
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Foothill Freeway
15
Take the exit slight right toward Sierra Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Sierra Avenue
16
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Sierra Avenue
17
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
207 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-hour and 4-minute trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever traffic patterns are most favorable for your schedule. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, as the entire distance is manageable in one go without a break. Keep in mind that because you are traveling exclusively on local roads, your pace will be dictated by traffic signals and city congestion rather than open-road cruising. To ensure a smooth journey, check local road conditions on East Colorado Street and South Glendale Avenue before you head out. Having your $7 fuel budget prepared in advance ensures you can focus entirely on navigating the turns ahead.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 25.9 miles from Glendale, CA, or about 32m 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 51.7 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.9 miles or 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fontana, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Glendale, 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 Glendale, CA
This is one driving day of about 51.7 miles and 1h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Glendale, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.9 mi from Glendale, CA · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 51.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from Glendale, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fontana, CA
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.97 one way
$23.94 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $12.35 | $24.69 |
| premium | $6.24 | $12.71 | $25.41 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.49 | $22.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.24 | $3.31 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Fontana, CA
Afternoon in Fontana on Sunday
Local time
1:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
54°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
22 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
1h 4m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Glendale, CA to Fontana, CA covers 51.7 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Colorado Street, South Glendale Avenue, East Broadway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.9 miles from Glendale, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.97 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Glendale, CA to Fontana, CA is easy. At 1h 4m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Glendale, CA to Fontana, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Glendale, CA to Fontana, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Fontana, CA
More trips to Fontana, CA
Explore more options from Glendale, CA or browse trips ending in Fontana, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Glendale, CA or Fontana, CA on MapSof.net.