Origin
San Carlos, CA
Afternoon in San Carlos on Sunday
Local time
1:38 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Carlos, CA to Fontana, CA
Drive Time
7h 44m
Distance
409.2 mi
659 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$95
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 35m
★
6 AM
7h 45m
8 AM
8h 4m
10 AM
7h 51m
12 PM
7h 50m
3 PM
7h 52m
5 PM
8h 3m
8 PM
7h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Carlos, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Trip Overview
The drive from San Carlos, CA to Fontana, CA covers 409.2 miles and takes about 7h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Laurel Street, Holly Street, US 101 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $94.76 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
204.6 miles from San Carlos, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 52m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 44m drive with frequent turns across 409.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Laurel Street 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.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 44m, 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 San Carlos, CA to Fontana, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Laurel Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Holly Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 101 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bayshore Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 152 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 10th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pacheco Pass Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Laurel Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Carlos, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on San Carlos Avenue
305 ft
·
10 sec
·
San Carlos Avenue
2
Turn right onto Laurel Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Laurel Street
3
Turn right onto Holly Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Holly Street
4
Take the ramp slight right toward US 101 South: San Jose
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 101 South: San Jose
5
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 South: San Jose
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 101 South: San Jose
6
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
7
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
42 mi
·
48 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
9
Turn left onto East 10th Street
354 ft
·
13 sec
·
East 10th Street
10
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
41 mi
·
50 min
·
Pacheco Pass Highway
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5: Los Angeles
12
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
Westside Freeway
13
Keep slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
14
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 210 East: Pasadena
16
Continue on Foothill Freeway
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Foothill Freeway
17
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Foothill Freeway
18
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Foothill Freeway
19
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
20
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
21
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
22
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Foothill Freeway
23
Take the exit slight right toward Sierra Avenue
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Sierra Avenue
24
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Sierra Avenue
25
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
207 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
26
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 204.6 miles from San Carlos, CA, or about 3h 52m 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 90 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 204.6 miles or 3h 52m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fontana, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Carlos, 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 San Carlos, CA
This is one driving day of about 409.2 miles and 7h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from San Carlos, 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 204.6 mi from San Carlos, CA · 3h 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
205 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 90 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 204.6 miles from San Carlos, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Fontana, CA
The final approach into Fontana, 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 Fontana, 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
$94.76 one way
$189.52 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
143 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $97.72 | $195.45 |
| premium | $6.24 | $100.58 | $201.15 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $90.91 | $181.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$95
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$120–$145
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 143.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 122.8 | 1 | $42.97 | $19.64 |
| Efficient EV | 102.3 | 1 | $35.81 | $16.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 163.7 | 2 | $57.29 | $26.19 |
Gas CO2
143 kg
EV CO2
48 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.
Destination
Fontana, CA
Afternoon in Fontana on Sunday
Local time
1:38 PM
PDT
Current temp
54°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
4 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
7h 44m 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 San Carlos, CA to Fontana, CA covers 409.2 miles and takes about 7h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Laurel Street, Holly Street, US 101 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 204.6 miles from San Carlos, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $94.76 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 44m, 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 San Carlos, CA to Fontana, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Carlos, CA to Fontana, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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