Origin
San Pablo, CA
Morning in San Pablo on Saturday
Local time
10:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Pablo, CA to Fontana, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 57m
Distance
428 mi
689 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$98
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 49m
★
6 AM
7h 57m
8 AM
8h 15m
10 AM
8h 3m
12 PM
8h 2m
3 PM
8h 4m
5 PM
8h 14m
8 PM
7h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Pablo, CA
Soly Moses
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from San Pablo, CA to Fontana, CA covers 428 miles and takes about 7h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Westside Freeway, Foothill Freeway, I 5 Truck for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 224.4 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $98.37 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
214 miles from San Pablo, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 224.4 mi | 4h |
| Foothill Freeway | 67 mi | 1h 17m |
| I 5 Truck | 58.4 mi | 1h 6m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.3 mi | 33m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| MacArthur Freeway | 16.4 mi | 18m |
| Eastshore Freeway | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Sierra Avenue | 3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 224.4 mi, about 4h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Pablo, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on 23rd Street
167 ft
·
11 sec
·
23rd Street
2
Turn sharp right onto San Pablo Avenue
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
San Pablo Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Turn right onto Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Frontage Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 80 West: Oakland
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Merge onto I 80
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Interstate Highway 80
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
18 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
11 mi
·
11 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
12
Merge onto I 5
224 mi
·
4 hr
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 161A
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on I 210
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 67
Toward Sierra Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
25
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
Merrill Avenue
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 214 miles from San Pablo, CA, or about 3h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 miles.
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 94 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 214 miles or 3h 55m 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 46m
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 Pablo, 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 Pablo, CA
This is one driving day of about 428 miles and 7h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from San Pablo, 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.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 224.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
214 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 94 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 214 miles from San Pablo, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 224.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 382.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
San Pablo Avenue
Turn sharp right onto San Pablo Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
9.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 580 / Interstate Highway 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...
8
9.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockt...
7
357.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 210 East: Pasadena
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161A
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
8
382.1 mi into trip
|
~7h 2m in
|
I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$98.37 one way
$196.75 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
150 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $101.37 | $202.74 |
| premium | $6.18 | $104.08 | $208.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $94.50 | $188.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$98
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$123–$148
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 149.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 128.4 | 1 | $44.94 | $20.54 |
| Efficient EV | 107 | 1 | $37.45 | $17.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 171.2 | 2 | $59.92 | $27.39 |
Gas CO2
150 kg
EV CO2
50 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.
Destination
Fontana, CA
Morning in Fontana on Saturday
Local time
10:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
76°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
8 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 57m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 14.8
View on nps.gov
Muir Woods National Monument
National Monument
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,...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
$15
View on nps.gov
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 354.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
428 mi in 7h 57m, mostly highway — 224.4 mi of that is on Westside Freeway.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 224.4 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near San Pablo Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 428 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: near the start (San Pablo Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.9 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from San Pablo, CA to Fontana, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.
Ventura
382.1 mi in
|
~7h 2m
|
via I 210
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 57m. Total distance: 428 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 224.4 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Fontana, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (San Pablo Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.9 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Muir Woods National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fontana, CA before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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