Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
50.6 mi
81 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Riverside, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Bell Gardens, CA
Carly King
The drive from Riverside, CA to Bell Gardens, CA covers 50.6 miles and takes about 1h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Riverside Freeway, CA 91, Santa Ana Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.6 miles on Riverside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 50.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 1h 2m highway drive covering 50.6 miles, with most of the trip on Riverside Freeway and CA 91. The longest continuous stretch is about 19.6 miles on Riverside Freeway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Riverside Freeway and CA 91. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near CA 91 / Riverside Freeway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.6 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 0.9 miles (CA 91 / Riverside Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 miles (CA 91 / Riverside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Merge onto CA 91 / Riverside Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 91 / Riverside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Florence Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside Freeway | 19.6 mi | 22m |
| CA 91 | 16.7 mi | 19m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 8.1 mi | 9m |
| Florence Avenue | 4 mi | 6m |
| Central Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside, CA and Bell Gardens, CA.
Start on this road
Turn slight right onto Central Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto CA 91
Take the exit
Continue on CA 91
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 91
Take the exit
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Turn left onto Florence Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.3 mi from Riverside, CA · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.3 miles from Riverside, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Bell Gardens, 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.
Regular Gas
$11.63 one way
$23.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $11.98 | $23.97 |
| premium | $6.18 | $12.31 | $24.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.17 | $22.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.31 | $2.43 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.43 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.08 | $3.24 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Riverside on Saturday
Local time
5:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Clear
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 1:22AM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Late night in Bell Gardens on Saturday
Local time
5:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
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
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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