Origin
Palm Springs, CA
Late night in Palm Springs on Friday
Local time
2:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palm Springs, CA to Riverside, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
56.3 mi
91 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palm Springs, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Palm Springs to Riverside covers approximately 56.3 miles, making for a quick and straightforward journey within California’s Pacific Coast region. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 2 minutes behind the wheel, which is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion. Budget roughly $13 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. Since this route is relatively short, there is no need to worry about overnight stops or hotel planning. It serves as a highly practical connection between these two Southern California cities, offering a direct transition without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 56.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate out of Palm Springs. The journey transitions through North Palm Canyon Drive and the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway before connecting to CA 60 West. With a 0% highway share, this route relies on local roads rather than long, monotonous interstate stretches. You will find that the road requires consistent maneuvering rather than high-speed cruising, giving the drive a more active, technical feel. Because the entire 56.3-mile distance is navigated via local thoroughfares, you should stay alert to the changing road conditions throughout the hour-long trip.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 14 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 17.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CA 111 Business / North Palm Canyon Drive.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.3 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.7 miles (I 215; CA 60 / Escondido Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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
29 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward CA 60 West: Riverside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 93
Toward CA 60 West: Riverside
5
47.7 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
I 215; CA 60 / Escondido Freeway
Merge onto I 215; CA 60 / Escondido Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
51.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 34B
Toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
8
55.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 62
Toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza Avenue
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 Palm Springs, CA to Riverside, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Beach Cities along the way.
Beach Cities
51.7 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 17.9 mi | 19m |
| Moreno Valley Freeway | 16.5 mi | 20m |
| North Palm Canyon Drive | 11 mi | 14m |
| Escondido Freeway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Riverside Freeway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Moreno Valley Expressway | 2 mi | 2m |
| Central Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Alejo Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 17.9 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palm Springs, CA and Riverside, 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
18 mi
·
19 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 93
Toward CA 60 West: Riverside
Use the slight left lane.
5
Continue on CA 60
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
Moreno Valley Freeway
6
Continue on CA 60
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Moreno Valley Expressway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on CA 60
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Moreno Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 215; CA 60
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.5 mi
·
3 min
Exit 34B
Toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto CA 91
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 62
Toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Central Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn slight left
171 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.1 mi from Palm Springs, CA · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.1 miles from Palm Springs, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Riverside, CA
The final approach into Riverside, 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
$12.94 one way
$25.88 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $13.33 | $26.67 |
| premium | $6.18 | $13.69 | $27.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.43 | $24.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.91 | $2.70 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.93 | $2.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.88 | $3.60 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Riverside, CA
Late night in Riverside on Friday
Local time
2:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Beaumont, CA
28 mi in
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 9m 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 Riverside, CA covers 56.3 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Moreno Valley Freeway, North Palm Canyon Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.1 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 $12.94 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.3 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CA 111 Business / North Palm Canyon Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 29 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.7 miles (I 215; CA 60 / Escondido Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Palm Springs, CA to Riverside, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Beach Cities along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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