The drive from Riverside, CA to Ukiah, CA covers 538.5 miles and takes about 10h 14m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Westside Freeway, Saint Helena Highway, Foothill Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is long-distance drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $123.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
269.2 miles from Riverside, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 6m into the drive
.
Drive Character
At 538.5 miles and 10h 14m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Westside Freeway and Saint Helena Highway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 58 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,512 ft56 ft
Total Climb
4,416 ft
Total Descent
4,611 ft
Highest Point
3,512 ft
~115.4 mi in
Elevation Range
3,456 ft
Notable High Points
3,512 ft at ~115.4 miles+2,075 ft prominence
834 ft at ~384.6 miles+506 ft prominence
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Saint Helena Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 46 significant decision points across 538.5 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 50.4 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 397.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 46 key points
These 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
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...
8
418.3 mi into trip|~7h 50m in|I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway toward I 680 North: Martinez, 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: Martinez, Sacramento
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Riverside, CA and Ukiah, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek, Novato and Auto Mall.
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
Novato
435.9 mi in|~8h 10m
Auto Mall
435.9 mi in|~8h 10m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
225.6 mi
4h 1m
Saint Helena Highway
51.2 mi
59m
Foothill Freeway
43.9 mi
50m
I 5 Truck
37.1 mi
42m
Redwood Highway
36.1 mi
44m
Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi
25m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
19.6 mi
22m
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside, CA and Ukiah, 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 straight 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 straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 29BToward CA 71 South, CA 71 North: Corona, PomonaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward CA 71 North: PomonaUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·19 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto CA 71
3.5 mi·4 min·Chino Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward CA 57 North
14
Continue on CA 57
3.4 mi·3 min·CA 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 25CToward I 210 West: Pasadena
16
Merge onto I 210
18 mi·21 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
26 mi·29 min·Foothill Freeway
Exit 26AToward I 210 West: SacramentoUse 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 straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi·4 hr 1 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the 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 straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
1.6 mi·1 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 44BToward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut CreekUse the slight right lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Merge onto I 680
15 mi·17 min·Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 680
5.0 mi·5 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680, CA 24Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
6.0 mi·6 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
243 ft·3 sec·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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 left at fork onto I 780
6.7 mi·7 min·I 780
Toward I 780: BeniciaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: SacramentoUse the slight right lane.
36
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft·11 sec
Toward I 80 East: SacramentoUse the slight left lane.
37
Merge onto I 80
2.7 mi·3 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 33Toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward CA 37: NapaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Continue on CA 37
1.5 mi·1 min·CA 37
Toward CA 37Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 19Toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Turn right onto CA 29
1.6 mi·1 min·Sonoma Boulevard
Use the right lane.
43
Continue on CA 29
4.0 mi·4 min·Broadway Street
Use the straight lane.
44
Continue on CA 29
1.3 mi·1 min·Napa–Vallejo Highway
Use the left lane.
45
Continue on CA 12; CA 29
22 mi·25 min·Saint Helena Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
2.4 mi·2 min·Main Street
47
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
6.8 mi·7 min·Saint Helena Highway
48
Continue on CA 128
1.4 mi·1 min·Foothill Boulevard
49
Continue on CA 128
16 mi·18 min·Saint Helena Highway
50
Continue on CA 128
6.6 mi·7 min·Saint Helena Highway
51
At end of road, turn right onto CA 128
0.9 mi·1 min·Geyserville Avenue
52
Turn left onto CA 128
359 ft·6 sec·Canyon Road
53
Take the exit onto CA 128
0.3 mi·39 sec·CA 128
54
Merge onto US 101; CA 128
36 mi·44 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward Perkins Street, Central UkiahUse the straight / slight right lanes.
56
Turn left onto East Perkins Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Perkins Street
57
Turn right onto US 101 Business
57 ft·1 sec·North State Street
58
Arrive at destination
US 101 Business
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.
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 269.2 miles from Riverside, CA, or about 5h 6m 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 118 miles or 2h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 269.2 miles or 5h 6m 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 269.2 miles or 5h 6m
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 9h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ukiah, 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 269 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Ukiah, CA
Aim for roughly 269 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 118 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 269.2 mi from Riverside, CA
· 5h 6m into the drive
The midpoint is around 269.2 miles from Riverside, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 225.6 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stop
For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 269 miles or 5.1 hours on the road.
Arriving in Ukiah, CA
The final approach into Ukiah, 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 Ukiah, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Ukiah, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 427.1
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 427.1
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 408.5
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 74.3
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
$15
near mile 427.1
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
28 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 427.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$123.77 one way
$247.54 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg188 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$127.54
$255.09
premium
$6.18
$130.96
$261.91
diesel
$5.61
$118.89
$237.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$124
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$254–$364
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 188.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
161.5
1
$56.54
$25.85
Efficient EV
134.6
1
$47.12
$21.54
EV Truck/SUV
215.4
2
$75.39
$34.46
Gas CO2
188 kg
EV CO2
63 kg (66% 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
Late night
in Riverside on Saturday
Local time
3:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ukiah, CA
Late night
in Ukiah on Saturday
Local time
3:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°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
3 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
10h 14m 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 Ukiah, CA covers 538.5 miles and takes about 10h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Saint Helena Highway, Foothill Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
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 269 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 269.2 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 $123.77 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 46 significant decision points across 538.5 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 50.4 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 397.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Riverside, CA and Ukiah, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek, Novato and Auto Mall.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes. The route ranges from 56 ft to 3,512 ft elevation with about 4,416 ft of total climbing. There are 2 notable high points along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
