Origin
Palm Springs, CA
Night in Palm Springs on Thursday
Local time
10:18 PM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palm Springs, CA to Fontana, CA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
60.5 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palm Springs, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 60.5-mile drive from Palm Springs, CA to Fontana, CA takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes and is easily manageable as a day trip. Primarily utilizing the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway and the San Bernardino Freeway, about 12% of this journey involves highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, this route offers a straightforward connection between the Pacific Coast regions of California. There are no planned stops, making it a direct transit between your origin and destination. The overall feel is a practical, turn-heavy local drive that gets you where you need to go efficiently.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 60.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (12%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 60.5-mile trip. While only 12% of the route is on the highway, you'll encounter a mix of road types. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 39.9 miles on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. As you progress, the road will transition, moving from more local surface streets to faster highway sections before reaching your destination in Fontana. This route isn't about sweeping vistas, but rather about navigating efficiently through Southern California.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 39.9 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CA 111 Business / North Palm Canyon Drive.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Palm Springs, CA to Fontana, CA is easy. At 1h 10m with 12% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CA 111 Business / North Palm Canyon Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.7 miles (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CA 111 Business / North Palm Canyon Drive
Turn right onto CA 111 Business / North Palm Canyon Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
58.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward Sierra Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 64
Toward Sierra Avenue
4
58.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
Sierra Avenue
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
60.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
Merrill Avenue
Turn right onto Merrill Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 39.9 mi | 43m |
| North Palm Canyon Drive | 11 mi | 14m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| Sierra Avenue | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| East Alejo Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Merrill Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 39.9 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palm Springs, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on East Alejo Road
469 ft
·
19 sec
·
East Alejo Road
2
Turn right onto CA 111 Business
11 mi
·
14 min
·
North Palm Canyon Drive
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on I 10
40 mi
·
43 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 10
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 64
Toward Sierra Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
8
Arrive at destination
Merrill Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.2 mi from Palm Springs, CA · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.2 miles from Palm Springs, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.91 one way
$27.81 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $14.33 | $28.66 |
| premium | $6.18 | $14.71 | $29.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.36 | $26.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.35 | $2.90 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.47 | $3.87 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Night in Fontana on Thursday
Local time
10:18 PM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
1h 10m 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 Palm Springs, CA to Fontana, CA covers 60.5 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, North Palm Canyon Drive, San Bernardino Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.2 miles from Palm Springs, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.91 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 Palm Springs, CA to Fontana, CA is easy. At 1h 10m with 12% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CA 111 Business / North Palm Canyon Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.7 miles (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Palm Springs, CA to Fontana, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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