Origin
Palmdale, CA
Late night in Palmdale on Friday
Local time
2:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palmdale, CA to Fontana, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
63 mi
101 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palmdale, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 63-mile drive from Palmdale, CA to Fontana, CA takes approximately 1 hour and 26 minutes and is best suited as a single-day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, it's an economical choice for getting between these two Southern California cities. You'll primarily be on the Antelope Highway, Pearblossom Highway, and the Barstow and Mojave Freeway. Given its relatively short length and turn-heavy nature, this route is more about the journey through local landscapes than a long-haul adventure. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, keeping the regional context consistent.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 63 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 63-mile journey. Only 17% of this route is on highways, meaning you'll spend most of your time navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 20.5 miles on Antelope Highway. As you travel, the road will likely transition between more open stretches and more built-up areas, requiring your attention to speed limits and intersections. This isn't a monotonous freeway cruise; it’s a drive that demands engagement with the changing road conditions.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Antelope Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near 40th Street East.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63 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 3.3 miles (40th Street East): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (East Avenue R): Navigation decision point; at 56.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
4
3.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
40th Street East
Turn right onto 40th Street East
Navigation decision point
4
3.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
East Avenue R
Turn left onto East Avenue R
Navigation decision point
7
56.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m 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 119
Toward Sierra Avenue
5
56.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
Sierra Avenue
Turn left onto Sierra Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
62.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
Merrill Avenue
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Antelope Highway | 20.5 mi | 28m |
| Pearblossom Highway | 18 mi | 25m |
| Barstow and Mojave Freeway | 6.3 mi | 6m |
| Sierra Avenue | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| I 15 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| East Palmdale Boulevard | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| 47th Street East | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Fort Tejon Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Antelope Highway
— 20.5 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmdale, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on CA 138
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Palmdale Boulevard
2
Turn right onto 40th Street East
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
40th Street East
3
Turn left onto East Avenue R
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Avenue R
4
Turn slight right
292 ft
·
13 sec
5
At end of road, turn right onto CA 138
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
47th Street East
6
Continue on CA 138
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Fort Tejon Road
7
Continue on CA 138
18 mi
·
25 min
·
Pearblossom Highway
8
Continue on CA 138
21 mi
·
28 min
·
Antelope Highway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
10
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto I 15
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 15
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 119
Toward Sierra Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto Sierra Avenue
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
Merrill Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.5 mi from Palmdale, CA · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.5 miles from Palmdale, 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
$14.48 one way
$28.96 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $14.92 | $29.84 |
| premium | $6.18 | $15.32 | $30.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.91 | $27.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.61 | $3.02 |
| Efficient EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.51 | $2.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.2 | 0 | $8.82 | $4.03 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Late night in Fontana on Friday
Local time
2:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 7:07AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 7:07AM PDT until April 17 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
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
28 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 26m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Palmdale, CA to Fontana, CA covers 63 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Antelope Highway, Pearblossom Highway, Barstow and Mojave Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.5 miles from Palmdale, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.48 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 63 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 3.3 miles (40th Street East): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (East Avenue R): Navigation decision point; at 56.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Palmdale, CA to Fontana, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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