The drive from Santa Clarita, CA to Riverside, CA covers 83.1 miles and takes about 1h 47m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Foothill Freeway, Pomona Freeway, Van Buren Boulevard for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 44 miles on Foothill Freeway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.10 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.
Midpoint
41.5 miles from Santa Clarita, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Santa Clarita is the third largest city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, with a population of 229,000 in 2020. It is generally considered to be a suburb of Greater Los Angeles. It consists of the neighborhoods of Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus, and Valencia. It is part of the Santa Clarita Valley, which also includes the unincorporated "satellite communities" of Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, Val Verde, and Agua Dulce.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 83.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 47m highway drive covering 83.1 miles, with most of the trip on Foothill Freeway and Pomona Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 44 miles on Foothill Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Foothill Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 44 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,507 ft492 ft
Total Climb
1,097 ft
Total Descent
1,483 ft
Highest Point
1,507 ft
~5.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,015 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Foothill Freeway and Pomona Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.1 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.6 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
7 mi into trip|~11m 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
31.6 mi into trip|~40m 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,...
7
51.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44A
Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
7
55.2 mi into trip|~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward CA 71: Corona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22C
Toward CA 71: Corona
8
72.8 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
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 42
Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
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 Santa Clarita, CA to Riverside, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.
Ventura
31.6 mi in|~40m|via I 210
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Foothill Freeway
44 mi
50m
Pomona Freeway
12 mi
13m
Van Buren Boulevard
6.1 mi
8m
Central Avenue
3.6 mi
6m
Orange Freeway
3.2 mi
3m
Chino Valley Freeway
3.1 mi
3m
Antelope Valley Freeway
2.2 mi
2m
Newhall Avenue
2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Foothill Freeway
— 44 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Clarita, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on Newhall Avenue
451 ft·21 sec·Newhall Avenue
2
Turn right onto 16th Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·16th Street
3
Turn left onto Orchard Village Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Orchard Village Road
4
Turn left onto Lyons Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Lyons Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto Newhall Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Newhall Avenue
6
Enter roundabout onto Newhall Avenue
73 ft·2 sec·Newhall Avenue
7
Continue on Newhall Avenue
1.5 mi·3 min·Newhall Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 2Toward CA 14 South: Los Angeles
9
Merge onto CA 14
1.3 mi·1 min·Antelope Valley Freeway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·36 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 5
0.6 mi·40 sec·Golden State Freeway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·17 sec
Exit 161AToward I 210 East: PasadenaUse the slight right lane.
14
Continue on I 210
24 mi·28 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
19 mi·22 min·Foothill Freeway
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, VenturaUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
0.5 mi·32 sec·Foothill Freeway
17
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 44AToward CA 57 South: Santa AnaUse the slight right lane.
18
Continue on CA 57
3.2 mi·3 min·Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 22CToward CA 71: CoronaUse the slight right lane.
20
Continue on CA 71
3.1 mi·3 min·Chino Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
1.4 mi·2 min
Toward CA 60 East: RiversideUse the slight right lane.
22
Merge onto CA 60
12 mi·13 min·Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 42Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn straight onto Mission Boulevard
0.2 mi·15 sec·Mission Boulevard
25
Continue on Van Buren Boulevard
6.1 mi·8 min·Van Buren Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
26
Turn left onto Central Avenue
3.6 mi·6 min·Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
Turn sharp right
171 ft·12 sec
28
Arrive at 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 41.5 miles from Santa Clarita, CA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.5 miles or 51m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverside, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Santa Clarita, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Santa Clarita, CA
This is one driving day of about 83.1 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Santa Clarita, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Foothill Freeway for about 44 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.5 mi from Santa Clarita, CA
· 51m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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 5.7
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.9
0
$8.73
$3.99
Efficient EV
20.8
0
$7.27
$3.32
EV Truck/SUV
33.2
0
$11.63
$5.32
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Santa Clarita, CA
Late night
in Santa Clarita on Saturday
Local time
3:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Riverside, CA
Late night
in Riverside on Saturday
Local time
3:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Pasadena, CA
42 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
9 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
1h 47m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Santa Clarita, CA to Riverside, CA covers 83.1 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Foothill Freeway, Pomona Freeway, Van Buren Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.5 miles from Santa Clarita, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.10 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.1 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.6 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Santa Clarita, CA to Riverside, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 492 ft to 1,507 ft elevation with about 1,097 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
