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Trip from Riverside, CA to Ben Lomond, CA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

7h 52m

Distance

403.6 mi

649 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$93

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
7h 44m ★
6 AM
7h 53m
8 AM
8h 11m
10 AM
7h 59m
12 PM
7h 57m
3 PM
8h 0m
5 PM
8h 10m
8 PM
7h 47m

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

census designated place in Santa Cruz County, California, United States

Ben Lomond, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Riverside, CA to Ben Lomond, CA covers 403.6 miles and takes about 7h 52m 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 turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $92.76 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

201.8 miles from Riverside, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 56m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 52m. Total distance: 403.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 52m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 7h 52m drive with frequent turns across 403.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 49 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Magnolia 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 4/10

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 52m, 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 Ben Lomond, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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 Ben Lomond, 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

183 mi · 3 hr 15 min · Westside Freeway
23

Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose

0.2 mi · 27 sec · CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
24

Continue straight

29 mi · 33 min
25

Keep slight right

7.4 mi · 10 min
26

Turn left onto Bloomfield Avenue

3.2 mi · 4 min · Bloomfield Avenue
27

At the end of the road, turn right onto Bloomfield Avenue

0.9 mi · 1 min · Bloomfield Avenue
28

Take the ramp left

0.2 mi · 16 sec
29

Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway

2.9 mi · 3 min · South Valley Freeway
30

Continue on El Camino Real

2.3 mi · 2 min · El Camino Real
31

Take the exit slight right toward CA 129 West: Watsonville, Santa Cruz

0.3 mi · 19 sec · CA 129 West: Watsonville, Santa Cruz
32

Turn right onto Chittenden Road

2.5 mi · 3 min · Chittenden Road
33

Continue on Riverside Road

8.6 mi · 11 min · Riverside Road
34

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Riverside Road

144 ft · 2 sec · Riverside Road
35

Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Riverside Road
36

Turn right onto Blackburn Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Blackburn Street
37

At the end of the road, turn left onto East Lake Avenue

0.5 mi · 55 sec · East Lake Avenue
38

Turn right onto Main Street

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Main Street
39

Turn left onto Main Street

1.6 mi · 2 min · Main Street
40

Take the ramp straight

0.2 mi · 31 sec
41

Merge slight left onto Cabrillo Highway

14 mi · 15 min · Cabrillo Highway
42

Take the exit slight right toward CA 17 North: San Jose, Oakland

0.4 mi · 28 sec · CA 17 North: San Jose, Oakland
43

Merge slight left onto Santa Cruz Highway

3.0 mi · 3 min · Santa Cruz Highway
44

Take the exit slight right toward Mount Hermon Road

0.1 mi · 8 sec · Mount Hermon Road
45

Continue on Mount Hermon Road

3.8 mi · 7 min · Mount Hermon Road
46

Turn right onto Graham Hill Road

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Graham Hill Road
47

Turn right onto Highway 9

2.9 mi · 6 min · Highway 9
48

Turn right onto Glen Arbor Road

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Glen Arbor Road
49

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 201.8 miles from Riverside, CA, or about 3h 56m 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 89 miles or 1h 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 201.8 miles or 3h 56m 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 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ben Lomond, 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 403.6 miles and 7h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 201.8 mi from Riverside, CA · 3h 56m into the drive

city in Stanislaus County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Turlock, CA

202 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

Santa Clarita, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 89 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Turlock, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 201.8 miles from Riverside, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Ben Lomond, CA

The final approach into Ben Lomond, 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 Ben Lomond, 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

$92.76 one way

$185.53 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 141 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $95.59 $191.19
premium $6.18 $98.15 $196.30
diesel $5.61 $89.11 $178.22

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$93

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$118–$143

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 141.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 121.1 1 $42.38 $19.37
Efficient EV 100.9 1 $35.32 $16.14
EV Truck/SUV 161.4 2 $56.50 $25.83

Gas CO2

141 kg

EV CO2

47 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

Evening in Riverside on Thursday

Local time

8:30 PM

PDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ben Lomond, CA

Evening in Ben Lomond on Thursday

Local time

8:30 PM

PDT

Current temp

52°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

7h 52m 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 Riverside, CA to Ben Lomond, CA covers 403.6 miles and takes about 7h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Magnolia Avenue, Central Avenue, Van Buren Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 201.8 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 $92.76 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 52m, 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 Riverside, CA to Ben Lomond, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Riverside, CA to Ben Lomond, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Ben Lomond, CA to Riverside, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

402.8 mi 7h 55m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

Explore maps for Riverside, CA or Ben Lomond, CA on MapSof.net.