Origin
Riverside, CA
Afternoon in Riverside on Sunday
Local time
12:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Riverside, CA to Suisun, CA
Drive Time
8h 22m
Distance
445.1 mi
716 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$103
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 15m
★
6 AM
8h 23m
8 AM
8h 38m
10 AM
8h 28m
12 PM
8h 27m
3 PM
8h 29m
5 PM
8h 37m
8 PM
8h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Riverside, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Suisun, CA
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
Traveling from Riverside to Suisun covers 445.1 miles, a journey that typically takes about 8 hours and 22 minutes of drive time. Because this is a significant distance, I recommend treating this as a two-day trip rather than attempting it in a single long stretch. You will spend roughly 90% of your time on highways, primarily utilizing the Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, and I-5 Truck routes. Budgeting around $103 for fuel is a smart move before you head out. Whether you are traveling for business or moving between regions, this highway-focused drive is all about efficiency and steady progress across California.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
222.5 miles from Riverside, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a very consistent, highway-focused experience that prioritizes speed over winding backroads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the route is defined by long stretches of pavement and high-speed transit. The longest uninterrupted portion of your journey involves 225.6 miles on the Westside Freeway, where you can maintain a steady pace for hours. While the drive is largely monotonous, the high highway percentage keeps your progress predictable. Just be prepared for the mental stamina required for such an extended time behind the wheel on major interstate corridors.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 44 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 225.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 38 significant decision points across 445.1 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 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.4 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 38 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
22.4 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward CA 71 South, CA 71 North: Corona, Pomona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 29B
Toward CA 71 South, CA 71 North: Corona, Pomona
8
30.9 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 210 West: Pasadena
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Exit 25C
Toward I 210 West: Pasadena
8
50.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
8
397.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44B
Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacr...
9
397.8 mi into trip
|
~7h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacr...
Towns Along This Route
Between Riverside, CA and Suisun, CA, road signs point toward Pomona, San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord and Walnut Creek.
Pomona
22.4 mi in
|
~30m
San Francisco
361.1 mi in
|
~6h 45m
|
via I 580
Sacramento
397.6 mi in
|
~7h 26m
Concord
397.6 mi in
|
~7h 26m
Walnut Creek
397.6 mi in
|
~7h 26m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 225.6 mi | 4h 1m |
| Foothill Freeway | 43.9 mi | 50m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.1 mi | 42m |
| Golden State Freeway | 22.3 mi | 25m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 19.6 mi | 22m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| Donald D Doyle Highway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | 12.9 mi | 14m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside, CA and Suisun, CA.
1
Start on this road
181 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
94 ft
·
7 sec
3
Turn right onto Magnolia Avenue
228 ft
·
14 sec
·
Magnolia Avenue
4
Turn left onto Central Avenue
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto Van Buren Boulevard
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Van Buren Boulevard
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on Mission Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Mission Boulevard
Use the none lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward CA 60 West
8
Merge onto CA 60
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 29B
Toward CA 71 South, CA 71 North: Corona, Pomona
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 71 North: Pomona
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto CA 71
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Chino Valley Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 57 North
Use the none lane.
14
Continue on CA 57
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
CA 57
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 25C
Toward I 210 West: Pasadena
Use the none lane.
16
Merge onto I 210
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the none lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
25
Merge onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the none lane.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 44B
Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
Use the slight right lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Merge onto I 680
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the none lane.
30
Continue on I 680
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680, CA 24
Use the none lane.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Use the none lane.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
243 ft
·
3 sec
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the none lane.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the slight right lane.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Benicia-Martinez Bridge
35
Continue on I 680
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Luther E Gibson Freeway
Use the none lane.
36
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 71A
Toward I 80 East, CA 12 East: Fairfield, Sacramento
37
Merge onto I 80; CA 12
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 12
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
CA 12
Toward CA 12 East: Rio Vista
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
40
Keep slight right at fork
217 ft
·
5 sec
41
Turn slight right onto Lotz Way
479 ft
·
16 sec
·
Lotz Way
42
Turn left onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
43
Turn left onto Solano Street
103 ft
·
4 sec
·
Solano Street
44
Arrive at destination
Solano Street
Trip Plan
Planning for two stops along the way will help you break up the 8-hour, 22-minute duration and keep your energy levels consistent. Since this is a long-haul drive, consider leaving Riverside early in the morning to avoid the worst of the traffic as you navigate toward the Westside Freeway. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that 225.6-mile stretch, as services can be spaced out significantly on the more remote sections of the highway. Splitting the drive over two days is the most practical way to arrive in Suisun without feeling completely exhausted. Always double-check your route for any active construction on the I-5 Truck route before departing.
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 222.5 miles from Riverside, CA, or about 4h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 98 miles or 2h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 222.5 miles or 4h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 222.5 miles or 4h 16m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Suisun, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Riverside, CA
Aim for roughly 223 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Suisun, CA
Aim for roughly 223 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 98 miles from Riverside, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 225.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 222.5 mi from Riverside, CA · 4h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
223 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Bakersfield, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
223 mi · about 4.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Bakersfield, CA after about 223 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 98 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 222.5 miles from Riverside, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 225.6 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 223 miles or 4.2 hours on the road.
Arriving in Suisun, CA
The final approach into Suisun, 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 Suisun, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Suisun, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$103.07 one way
$206.15 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
156 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $106.30 | $212.60 |
| premium | $6.24 | $109.40 | $218.80 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $98.89 | $197.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$103
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$233–$343
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 155.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 133.5 | 1 | $46.74 | $21.36 |
| Efficient EV | 111.3 | 1 | $38.95 | $17.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 178 | 2 | $62.31 | $28.49 |
Gas CO2
156 kg
EV CO2
52 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.
Destination
Suisun, CA
Afternoon in Suisun on Sunday
Local time
12:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 22m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Riverside, CA to Suisun, CA covers 445.1 miles and takes about 8h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, I 5 Truck. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 223 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 222.5 miles from Riverside, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $103.07 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 38 significant decision points across 445.1 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.4 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Riverside, CA and Suisun, CA, road signs point toward Pomona, San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord and Walnut Creek.
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