The drive from Pacifica, CA to Fontana, CA covers 428.3 miles and takes about 8h 8m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, I 5 Truck for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 181.1 miles on Westside Freeway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $98.44 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
214.2 miles from Pacifica, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 7m into the drive
.
Drive Character
This is a 8h 8m highway drive covering 428.3 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 181.1 miles on Westside Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 181.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway 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 CA 1 / Cabrillo Highway.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 428.3 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 (CA 1 / Cabrillo Highway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CA 1 / Cabrillo Highway
Turn sharp right onto CA 1 / Cabrillo Highway
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
7
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the exit toward Sharp Park Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 505A
Toward Sharp Park Road
7
35.5 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward CA 85 South: Gilroy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 12B
Toward CA 85 South: Gilroy
7
357.8 mi into trip|~6h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 210 East: Pasadena
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161A
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
8
382.4 mi into trip|~7h 14m in|I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino,...
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 Pacifica, CA to Fontana, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.
Ventura
382.4 mi in|~7h 14m|via I 210
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
181.1 mi
3h 14m
Foothill Freeway
67 mi
1h 17m
I 5 Truck
58.4 mi
1h 6m
Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi
50m
Junipero Serra Freeway
29.1 mi
33m
US 101
20.3 mi
23m
West Valley Freeway
18.1 mi
20m
Sierra Avenue
3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 181.1 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pacifica, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on Reina del Mar Avenue
43 ft·9 sec·Reina del Mar Avenue
2
Turn sharp right onto CA 1
0.7 mi·59 sec·Cabrillo Highway
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 505AToward Sharp Park RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Turn left onto Lundy Way
434 ft·8 sec·Lundy Way
5
Turn right onto Sharp Park Road
2.0 mi·3 min·Sharp Park Road
6
Turn right onto CA 35
2.6 mi·3 min·Skyline Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp onto CA 35
0.9 mi·1 min·CA 35
Toward I 280 South: Junipero Serra Freeway
8
Merge onto I 280; CA 35
29 mi·33 min·Junipero Serra Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Exit 12BToward CA 85 South: GilroyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto CA 85
18 mi·20 min·West Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on CA 85
0.4 mi·27 sec·CA 85
Exit 1AToward US 101 South
12
Continue on US 101
20 mi·23 min·US 101
13
Take the exit onto CA 152
0.3 mi·39 sec·CA 152
Toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
14
Turn left onto CA 152
353 ft·12 sec·East 10th Street
15
Continue on CA 152
41 mi·50 min·Pacheco Pass Highway
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 5: Los Angeles
17
Merge onto I 5
181 mi·3 hr 14 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.0 mi·2 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·17 sec
Exit 161AToward I 210 East: PasadenaUse the slight right lane.
21
Continue on I 210
24 mi·28 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
19 mi·22 min·Foothill Freeway
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, VenturaUse the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
2.9 mi·3 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.4 mi·1 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.2 mi·1 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.8 mi·2 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
16 mi·18 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 67Toward Sierra AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3.0 mi·4 min·Sierra Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
30
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
205 ft·4 sec·Merrill Avenue
Use the left lane.
31
Arrive at destination
Merrill Avenue
Trip Plan
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 214.2 miles from Pacifica, CA, or about 4h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.1 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 94 miles or 1h 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 214.2 miles or 4h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 214.2 miles or 4h 7m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 57m
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 Pacifica, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pacifica, CA
Aim for roughly 214 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Fontana, CA
Aim for roughly 214 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from Pacifica, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 181.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 214.2 mi from Pacifica, CA
· 4h 7m into the drive
The midpoint is around 214.2 miles from Pacifica, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 181.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stop
For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 214 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Fontana, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
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 354.5
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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 295.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$98.44 one way
$196.88 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg150 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$101.44
$202.89
premium
$6.18
$104.16
$208.32
diesel
$5.61
$94.56
$189.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$98
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$228–$338
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 149.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
128.5
1
$44.97
$20.56
Efficient EV
107.1
1
$37.48
$17.13
EV Truck/SUV
171.3
2
$59.96
$27.41
Gas CO2
150 kg
EV CO2
50 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.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Pacifica, CA
Morning
in Pacifica on Thursday
Local time
10:51 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fontana, CA
Morning
in Fontana on Thursday
Local time
10:51 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 8m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Pacifica, CA to Fontana, CA covers 428.3 miles and takes about 8h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, I 5 Truck. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 214 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 214.2 miles from Pacifica, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $98.44 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 24 significant decision points across 428.3 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 (CA 1 / Cabrillo Highway): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Pacifica, CA to Fontana, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Muir Woods National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
