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Trip from Riverside, CA to Brentwood, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 31m

Distance

394.7 mi

635 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$91

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
7h 21m ★
6 AM
7h 32m
8 AM
7h 52m
10 AM
7h 39m
12 PM
7h 37m
3 PM
7h 40m
5 PM
7h 51m
8 PM
7h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

county seat of Riverside County, California, United States

Riverside, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Contra Costa County, California, United States

Brentwood, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Riverside, CA to Brentwood, CA covers 394.7 miles and takes about 7h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Magnolia Avenue, Central Avenue, Van Buren Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $90.72 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

197.3 miles from Riverside, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 45m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Magnolia Avenue
Central Avenue
Van Buren Boulevard
Mission Boulevard
CA 60 West
Pomona Freeway
CA 71 South
CA 71 North

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Magnolia Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Riverside, CA and Brentwood, CA.

1

Start on the route

180 ft · 14 sec · the route
2

Turn right

95 ft · 7 sec
3

Turn right onto Magnolia Avenue

230 ft · 15 sec · Magnolia Avenue
4

Turn left onto Central Avenue

3.5 mi · 6 min · Central Avenue
5

Turn right onto Van Buren Boulevard

6.1 mi · 8 min · Van Buren Boulevard
6

Continue on Mission Boulevard

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Mission Boulevard
7

Take the ramp slight left toward CA 60 West

0.3 mi · 41 sec · CA 60 West
8

Merge slight left onto Pomona Freeway

12 mi · 13 min · Pomona Freeway
9

Take the exit slight right toward CA 71 South, CA 71 North: Corona, Pomona

0.2 mi · 30 sec · CA 71 South, CA 71 North: Corona, Pomona
10

Keep slight right to continue on CA 71 North: Pomona

0.5 mi · 1 min · CA 71 North: Pomona
11

Keep slight left

0.2 mi · 20 sec
12

Merge slight left onto Chino Valley Freeway

3.5 mi · 4 min · Chino Valley Freeway
13

Keep slight left to continue on CA 57 North

0.7 mi · 1 min · CA 57 North
14

Continue straight

3.4 mi · 3 min
15

Keep slight left to continue on I 210 West: Pasadena

1.1 mi · 2 min · I 210 West: Pasadena
16

Merge slight left onto Foothill Freeway

18 mi · 21 min · Foothill Freeway
17

Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

26 mi · 29 min · Foothill Freeway
18

Keep slight right

0.1 mi · 9 sec
19

Merge slight right

1.0 mi · 1 min
20

Keep slight left

36 mi · 41 min
21

Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
22

Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

226 mi · 4 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway
23

Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

14 mi · 14 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
24

Take the exit slight right

0.2 mi · 22 sec
25

Keep slight right to continue on Patterson Pass Road

289 ft · 7 sec · Patterson Pass Road
26

Turn straight onto Mountain House Parkway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Mountain House Parkway
27

Turn right onto International Parkway

0.8 mi · 1 min · International Parkway
28

Continue on Mountain House Parkway

2.8 mi · 5 min · Mountain House Parkway
29

At the end of the road, turn left onto Byron Road

1.8 mi · 2 min · Byron Road
30

Continue on Byron-Bethany Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Byron-Bethany Road
31

Continue on Byron Highway

6.7 mi · 10 min · Byron Highway
32

At the end of the road, turn left

1.4 mi · 2 min
33

Continue on Brentwood Boulevard

3.7 mi · 5 min · Brentwood Boulevard
34

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 197.3 miles from Riverside, CA, or about 3h 45m 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 87 miles or 1h 39m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 197.3 miles or 3h 45m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brentwood, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Riverside, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Riverside, CA

This is one driving day of about 394.7 miles and 7h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Riverside, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Los Angeles County, California, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Santa Clarita, CA

197 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

Los Angeles, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 87 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Santa Clarita, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 197.3 miles from Riverside, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$90.72 one way

$181.44 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 138 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $93.48 $186.97
premium $6.18 $95.99 $191.97
diesel $5.61 $87.14 $174.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$91

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$116–$141

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 138.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 118.4 1 $41.44 $18.95
Efficient EV 98.7 1 $34.54 $15.79
EV Truck/SUV 157.9 1 $55.26 $25.26

Gas CO2

138 kg

EV CO2

46 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Riverside, CA

Afternoon in Riverside on Saturday

Local time

12:20 PM

PDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Brentwood, CA

Afternoon in Brentwood on Saturday

Local time

12:20 PM

PDT

Current temp

--

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Road read

7h 31m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

394.7 mi in 7h 31m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Magnolia Avenue.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

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 7h 31m, 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 Riverside, CA to Brentwood, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

About the Cities

Starting in Riverside, CA

Full guide →

Riverside is a city in Riverside County in California. With a population of over 300,000, the city plays host to a diverse cross-section of people and has a rich history. Riverside is approximately 55 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. It is a center for higher education, with one community college, a large state university, and two private universities. A hub of regional commerce and transportation, it is a city with an intriguing past and a promising future, and is worth a visit.

Arriving in Brentwood, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1837

Brentwood is an affluent, suburban city in eastern Contra Costa County, California with a popular downtown for visitors coming from the Sacramento Valley to the county. It serves as one of the eastern gateways to the East Bay, along with Livermore. Many in the city are commuters.

Top landmarks

  • Stone House of John Marsh — historic stone house in Contra Costa County, California

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 31m. Total distance: 394.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 31m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Brentwood, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Riverside, CA to Brentwood, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 15.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Brentwood, CA before the return drive.

How this page is built

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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Explore More

Return Trip

Brentwood, CA to Riverside, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

394.8 mi 7h 32m

Explore more options from Riverside, CA or browse trips ending in Brentwood, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.