Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 58m
Distance
368.6 mi
593 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$85
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ripon, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
This 368.6-mile drive from Ripon, CA to Fontana, CA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in a single day, taking approximately 6 hours and 58 minutes. With 83% of the drive on highways, you'll primarily be on CA 99 and then connecting to the Golden State Freeway and Foothill Freeway. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $85. Given the duration and distance, it's a manageable day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. This route stays within the Pacific Coast region, offering a consistent travel experience across California.
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
184.3 miles from Ripon, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 27m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 58m. Total distance: 368.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 58m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 83% of the 368.6 miles spent on major freeways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 145 miles on CA 99, which forms the backbone of this journey. The transition to the Golden State Freeway and then the Foothill Freeway means you'll be navigating a series of high-speed roadways for the majority of the trip. While efficient for covering distance, this route prioritizes direct travel over scenic detours, offering a consistent driving experience for its nearly 7-hour duration.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 and Golden State Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 105.8 miles in near CA 99.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 368.6 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: at 105.8 miles (CA 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 210.5 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 298.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99 / Golden State Freeway toward CA 99 South: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 210 East: Pasadena
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward Sierra Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ripon, CA to Fontana, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.
Ventura
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 99 | 145 mi | 2h 43m |
| Golden State Freeway | 92.8 mi | 1h 44m |
| Foothill Freeway | 67 mi | 1h 17m |
| Golden State Highway | 58.6 mi | 1h 2m |
| Sierra Avenue | 3 mi | 4m |
| West Milgeo Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Stockton Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ripon, CA and Fontana, CA.
Start on CA 99
Take the exit
Turn right onto West Milgeo Avenue
Turn right onto North Stockton Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Frontage Road
Continue on East Main Street
Turn left onto 2nd Street
Turn left
Merge onto CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Continue on CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Continue on I 210
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Take the exit
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
Arrive at destination
For this 368.6-mile, 7-hour drive, starting early is your best bet to avoid midday traffic, especially as you approach the Los Angeles metropolitan area. You'll have one recommended stop, but you can take additional breaks as needed, especially during the 145-mile stretch on CA 99. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $85, and plan your refueling stops strategically. Since this is a feasible day trip, you have the flexibility to depart when you're most rested and ready to go. A good tip is to use your navigation app to monitor real-time traffic conditions on the Golden State Freeway and Foothill Freeway as you get closer to Fontana.
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 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 81 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.3 miles or 3h 27m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fontana, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Ripon, 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 Ripon, CA
This is one driving day of about 368.6 miles and 6h 58m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 184.3 mi from Ripon, CA · 3h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
184 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.
A short stop after about 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 184.3 miles from Ripon, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before CA 99 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 145 miles.
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.
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.
Regular Gas
$84.72 one way
$169.44 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $87.30 | $174.61 |
| premium | $6.18 | $89.64 | $179.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $81.38 | $162.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$85
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$110–$135
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 110.6 | 1 | $38.70 | $17.69 |
| Efficient EV | 92.2 | 1 | $32.25 | $14.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 147.4 | 1 | $51.60 | $23.59 |
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Ripon on Friday
Local time
4:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
Destination
Late night in Fontana on Friday
Local time
4:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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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