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Trip from San Bernardino, CA to South El Monte, CA

Drive Time

59m

Distance

49.1 mi

79 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

Trip Overview

The drive from San Bernardino, CA to South El Monte, CA covers 49.1 miles and takes about 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 215 South, San Bernardino Freeway, I 10 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.37 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

24.5 miles from San Bernardino, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 59m drive with frequent turns across 49.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 215 South 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from San Bernardino, CA to South El Monte, CA is easy. At 59m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 215 South Unavailable Refreshing
San Bernardino Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
I 10 Unavailable Refreshing
I 10 West Unavailable Refreshing
I-10 Unavailable Refreshing
Santa Anita Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
Rush Street Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: I 215 South — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Bernardino, CA and South El Monte, CA.

1

Start on West 5th Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · West 5th Street
2

Take the ramp left toward I 215 South: Riverside

0.3 mi · 42 sec · I 215 South: Riverside
3

Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway

2.4 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
4

Take the exit slight right toward I 10: Redlands, Indio, Los Angeles

0.2 mi · 29 sec · I 10: Redlands, Indio, Los Angeles
5

Keep slight right to continue on I 10 West: Los Angeles

0.4 mi · 35 sec · I 10 West: Los Angeles
6

Continue on San Bernardino Freeway

14 mi · 16 min · San Bernardino Freeway
7

Keep slight left to continue on I-10 Metro ExpressLanes

9.3 mi · 9 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
8

Merge slight right onto San Bernardino Freeway

1.2 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
9

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

0.9 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
10

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

1.3 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
11

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
12

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
13

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

1.6 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
14

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

1.4 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
15

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

1.5 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
16

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

1.1 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
17

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

2.0 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
18

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

1.6 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
19

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

2.6 mi · 3 min · San Bernardino Freeway
20

Keep slight right to continue on San Bernardino Freeway

1.2 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
21

Take the exit slight right toward Santa Anita Avenue

0.2 mi · 36 sec · Santa Anita Avenue
22

Turn left onto Santa Anita Avenue

1.2 mi · 2 min · Santa Anita Avenue
23

Turn right onto Rush Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Rush Street
24

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 24.5 miles from San Bernardino, CA, or about 29m 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 49.1 miles or 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 24.5 miles or 29m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 50m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving San Bernardino, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from San Bernardino, CA

This is one driving day of about 49.1 miles and 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from San Bernardino, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 24.5 mi from San Bernardino, CA · 29m into the drive

Downtown Ontario, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ontario, CA

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Los Angeles, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 49.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ontario, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from San Bernardino, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in South El Monte, CA

The final approach into South El Monte, 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 South El Monte, 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

$11.37 one way

$22.74 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $11.73 $23.45
premium $6.24 $12.07 $24.14
diesel $5.64 $10.91 $21.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.7 0 $5.16 $2.36
Efficient EV 12.3 0 $4.30 $1.96
EV Truck/SUV 19.6 0 $6.87 $3.14

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

San Bernardino, CA

Afternoon in San Bernardino on Sunday

Local time

12:29 PM

PDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South El Monte, CA

Afternoon in South El Monte on Sunday

Local time

12:29 PM

PDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

77°F

Ontario, CA

25 mi in

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

2 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

59m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from San Bernardino, CA to South El Monte, CA covers 49.1 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 215 South, San Bernardino Freeway, I 10. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.5 miles from San Bernardino, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from San Bernardino, CA to South El Monte, CA is easy. At 59m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Bernardino, CA to South El Monte, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Bernardino, CA to South El Monte, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

South El Monte, CA to San Bernardino, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

49 mi 1h 2m

Explore more options from San Bernardino, CA or browse trips ending in South El Monte, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

Explore maps for San Bernardino, CA or South El Monte, CA on MapSof.net.