Trip from San Juan Capistrano, CA to Fontana, CA

Drive Time

1h 19m

Distance

60.7 mi

98 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 13m ★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown San Juan Capistrano, CA, CA

San Juan Capistrano, CA

Tori Pezzulla❤️

Trip Overview

The drive from San Juan Capistrano, CA to Fontana, CA covers 60.7 miles and takes about 1h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Junipero Serra Road, I 5 North, San Diego Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.06 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

30.4 miles from San Juan Capistrano, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 19m drive with frequent turns across 60.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Junipero Serra Road 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 Juan Capistrano, CA to Fontana, CA is easy. At 1h 19m 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 Juan Capistrano, CA to Fontana, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Junipero Serra Road Unavailable Refreshing
I 5 North Unavailable Refreshing
San Diego Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
Bake Parkway Unavailable Refreshing
CA 133 North Unavailable Refreshing
Eastern Transportation Corridor Unavailable Refreshing
CA 241 North Unavailable Refreshing
Foothill Transportation Corridor Unavailable Refreshing

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

Longest stretch: Junipero Serra Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Juan Capistrano, CA and Fontana, CA.

1

Start on Camino Capistrano

1.3 mi · 2 min · Camino Capistrano
2

Turn right onto Junipero Serra Road

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Junipero Serra Road
3

Take the ramp left toward I 5 North: Los Angeles

0.3 mi · 38 sec · I 5 North: Los Angeles
4

Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway

1.0 mi · 1 min · San Diego Freeway
5

Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway

7.4 mi · 8 min · San Diego Freeway
6

Keep slight right to continue on Bake Parkway

1.6 mi · 1 min · Bake Parkway
7

Keep slight right

1.7 mi · 1 min
8

Take the exit slight right toward CA 133 North: Riverside

0.5 mi · 35 sec · CA 133 North: Riverside
9

Merge slight left onto Eastern Transportation Corridor

2.9 mi · 3 min · Eastern Transportation Corridor
10

Keep slight left to continue on CA 241 North: Riverside

1.3 mi · 2 min · CA 241 North: Riverside
11

Merge slight left onto Foothill Transportation Corridor

5.3 mi · 6 min · Foothill Transportation Corridor
12

Merge slight right onto Eastern Transportation Corridor

5.5 mi · 6 min · Eastern Transportation Corridor
13

Keep slight right to continue on CA 91 East: Riverside

1.0 mi · 1 min · CA 91 East: Riverside
14

Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway

8.2 mi · 9 min · Riverside Freeway
15

Take the exit slight right toward Main Street

0.3 mi · 19 sec · Main Street
16

Turn left onto South Main Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
17

Continue on Hamner Avenue

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Hamner Avenue
18

Turn right onto East Yuma Drive

203 ft · 3 sec · East Yuma Drive
19

Continue on Hidden Valley Parkway

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Hidden Valley Parkway
20

Take the ramp left toward I 15 North: Barstow

0.2 mi · 28 sec · I 15 North: Barstow
21

Merge slight left onto Corona Freeway

2.2 mi · 2 min · Corona Freeway
22

Take the exit slight right toward Sixth Street

0.3 mi · 44 sec · Sixth Street
23

Turn left onto 6th Street

0.2 mi · 27 sec · 6th Street
24

Turn right onto Hamner Avenue

2.6 mi · 4 min · Hamner Avenue
25

Turn right onto Limonite Avenue

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Limonite Avenue
26

Turn slight right

0.1 mi · 25 sec
27

Take the ramp right toward I 15 North

0.3 mi · 42 sec · I 15 North
28

Merge slight left onto Corona Freeway

2.5 mi · 2 min · Corona Freeway
29

Continue on Ontario Freeway

3.1 mi · 3 min · Ontario Freeway
30

Take the exit slight right toward I 10: Los Angeles, San Bernardino

0.2 mi · 26 sec · I 10: Los Angeles, San Bernardino
31

Keep slight right to continue on I 10 East: San Bernadino

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 10 East: San Bernadino
32

Merge slight left onto San Bernardino Freeway

5.7 mi · 6 min · San Bernardino Freeway
33

Take the exit slight right toward Sierra Avenue

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Sierra Avenue
34

Keep slight left to continue on Sierra Avenue North

449 ft · 13 sec · Sierra Avenue North
35

Turn slight left onto Sierra Avenue

1.7 mi · 2 min · Sierra Avenue
36

Turn right onto Merrill Avenue

207 ft · 4 sec · Merrill Avenue
37

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 30.4 miles from San Juan Capistrano, CA, or about 39m 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 60.7 miles or 1h 19m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 30.4 miles or 39m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 7m

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 Juan Capistrano, 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 Juan Capistrano, CA

This is one driving day of about 60.7 miles and 1h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from San Juan Capistrano, 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 30.4 mi from San Juan Capistrano, CA · 39m into the drive

Downtown Santa Ana, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Santa Ana, CA

30 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

Riverside, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 60.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Santa Ana, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.4 miles from San Juan Capistrano, 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

$14.06 one way

$28.11 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $14.50 $28.99
premium $6.24 $14.92 $29.84
diesel $5.64 $13.49 $26.97

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.2 0 $6.37 $2.91
Efficient EV 15.2 0 $5.31 $2.43
EV Truck/SUV 24.3 0 $8.50 $3.88

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (67% 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 Juan Capistrano, CA

Late night in San Juan Capistrano on Monday

Local time

2:52 AM

PDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fontana, CA

Late night in Fontana on Monday

Local time

2:52 AM

PDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

75°F

Santa Ana, CA

30 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

1 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

1h 19m 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 Juan Capistrano, CA to Fontana, CA covers 60.7 miles and takes about 1h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Junipero Serra Road, I 5 North, San Diego Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.4 miles from San Juan Capistrano, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.06 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 Juan Capistrano, CA to Fontana, CA is easy. At 1h 19m 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 Juan Capistrano, CA to Fontana, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Juan Capistrano, CA to Fontana, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Fontana, CA to San Juan Capistrano, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

61.3 mi 1h 17m

Explore more options from San Juan Capistrano, CA or browse trips ending in Fontana, CA.

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