Origin
Patterson, CA
Afternoon in Patterson on Thursday
Local time
1:17 PM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Patterson, CA to Fontana, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 24m
Distance
346.2 mi
557 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$80
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 13m
★
6 AM
6h 25m
8 AM
6h 50m
10 AM
6h 34m
12 PM
6h 31m
3 PM
6h 35m
5 PM
6h 49m
8 PM
6h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Patterson, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 346.2 miles, the journey from Patterson to Fontana takes approximately 6 hours and 24 minutes of driving time. Since the route remains entirely within the Pacific Coast region of California, you will experience consistent coastal-adjacent terrain throughout the trip. Budgeting around $80 for fuel is a smart move before you head out. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, it is best handled as a single-day trip rather than an overnight excursion. While the drive is straightforward, the local road profile means you should prepare for a focused day behind the wheel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
173.1 miles from Patterson, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 12m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 24m. Total distance: 346.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 24m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a unique experience on this route, as it relies heavily on turn-heavy local roads rather than a standard interstate grind. You will navigate through West Las Palmas Avenue, Sperry Avenue, and the Westside Freeway to reach your destination. With 0% of the drive on major highways, the road surface and traffic patterns will demand your full attention. This configuration makes for a more technical drive than a typical high-speed cruise, so anticipate a steady pace rather than quick highway travel. You will find that the lack of highway stretches keeps the drive engaging from start to finish.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Las Palmas Avenue 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 24m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Patterson, CA to Fontana, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Las Palmas Avenue | — | — |
| Sperry Avenue | — | — |
| Westside Freeway | — | — |
| Golden State Freeway | — | — |
| I 210 East | — | — |
| Foothill Freeway | — | — |
| Sierra Avenue | — | — |
| Merrill Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Las Palmas Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Patterson, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on Plaza
390 ft
·
7 sec
·
Plaza
2
Exit the rotary onto West Las Palmas Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Las Palmas Avenue
3
Turn right onto Sperry Avenue
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Sperry Avenue
4
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
5
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
212 mi
·
3 hr 47 min
·
Westside Freeway
6
Keep slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
7
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 210 East: Pasadena
9
Continue on Foothill Freeway
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Foothill Freeway
10
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Foothill Freeway
11
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Foothill Freeway
12
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
13
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
14
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
15
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Foothill Freeway
16
Take the exit slight right toward Sierra Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Sierra Avenue
17
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Sierra Avenue
18
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
207 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Planning for one well-timed stop will help you break up the 6-hour and 24-minute travel time effectively. Given the local nature of the roads, try to depart early in the morning to avoid congestion and ensure you reach Fontana before evening traffic peaks. Since the route consists of local roads, keep a close eye on your navigation to manage the frequent turns throughout the journey. Because fuel costs can fluctuate, verify your $80 budget against current local prices before you pull out of Patterson. Focus on maintaining a steady pace, as the local road profile makes this trip feel much longer than a high-speed interstate route.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173.1 miles from Patterson, CA, or about 3h 12m 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 76 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.1 miles or 3h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 18m
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 Patterson, 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 Patterson, CA
This is one driving day of about 346.2 miles and 6h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Patterson, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 173.1 mi from Patterson, CA · 3h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
173 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 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 173.1 miles from Patterson, 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
$79.57 one way
$159.14 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
121 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $82.00 | $164.00 |
| premium | $6.18 | $84.19 | $168.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $76.44 | $152.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$80
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$105–$130
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.9 | 1 | $36.35 | $16.62 |
| Efficient EV | 86.6 | 0 | $30.29 | $13.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 138.5 | 1 | $48.47 | $22.16 |
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Fontana, CA
Afternoon in Fontana on Thursday
Local time
1:17 PM
PDT
Current temp
76°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
6 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
6h 24m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Patterson, CA to Fontana, CA covers 346.2 miles and takes about 6h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Las Palmas Avenue, Sperry Avenue, Westside Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 173.1 miles from Patterson, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $79.57 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 24m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Patterson, CA to Fontana, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Patterson, CA to Fontana, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Fontana, CA
More from Patterson, CA
More trips to Fontana, CA
Explore more options from Patterson, CA or browse trips ending in Fontana, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Patterson, CA or Fontana, CA on MapSof.net.