Origin
Santa Monica, CA
Morning in Santa Monica on Saturday
Local time
11:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Santa Monica, 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
1h 18m
Distance
66 mi
106 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Monica, CA
Bjorn Pierre
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Santa Monica to Fontana is 66 miles and takes about 1 hour 18 minutes via the San Bernardino Freeway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California's Pacific Coast region, primarily utilizing the I-10 corridor. Expect a straightforward highway-focused journey that's ideal for a single-day trip. The route is relatively short, making it a convenient option for moving between these two Southern California locations. Consider this trip if you need an efficient transit between the coast and the Inland Empire.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino Freeway | 36.2 mi | 41m |
| Santa Monica Freeway | 16.2 mi | 19m |
| I-10 Metro ExpressLanes | 9 mi | 9m |
| Sierra Avenue | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Golden State Freeway | 1 mi | 1m |
| I 10 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Lincoln Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Olympic Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
San Bernardino Freeway
— 36.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Monica, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on US 66 Hist
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Olympic Boulevard
367 ft
·
9 sec
·
Olympic Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 10 East: Santa Monica Freeway, Los Angeles
4
Merge onto I 10
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
Toward Western Avenue, Normandie Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 5; I 10
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 10
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10
Exit 135C
Toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 10
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR
9.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the slight left lane.
22
Merge onto I 10
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 64
Toward Sierra Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft
·
12 sec
Toward Sierra Avenue North
Use the left lane.
25
Turn slight left onto Sierra Avenue
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
Merrill Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33 miles from Santa Monica, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 255 decision points cluster between mile 10.6 and 64.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
10.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway toward Western Avenue, Normandie Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Western Avenue, Normandie Avenue
6
16 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
18 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
I 10
Take the exit onto I 10 toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San Bernardino
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 135C
Toward I 10 East: San Bernardino Freeway, San B...
7
63.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward Sierra Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 64
Toward Sierra Avenue
8
64.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Sierra Avenue North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Sierra Avenue North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.17 one way
$30.34 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $15.63 | $31.26 |
| premium | $6.18 | $16.05 | $32.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.57 | $29.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.93 | $3.17 |
| Efficient EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.24 | $4.22 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Fontana, CA
Morning in Fontana on Saturday
Local time
11:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Pasadena, CA
33 mi in
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
11 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 18m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey taking place on major freeways. You'll spend most of your time on the San Bernardino Freeway and Santa Monica Freeway, including potential use of the I-10 Metro ExpressLanes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 36.2 miles on the San Bernardino Freeway. This means you can expect a fairly consistent driving experience, characterized by higher speeds and continuous travel, without many deviations onto local roads.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.2 mi on San Bernardino Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Bernardino Freeway and Santa Monica Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.6 miles in near I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66 miles you will encounter 25 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 10.6 miles (I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16 miles (I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Santa Monica, CA to Fontana, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Bernardino along the way.
San Bernardino
18 mi in
|
~22m
|
via I 10
About the Cities
Starting in Santa Monica, CA
Full guide →Founded 1769
Anchoring the Westside of Los Angeles County, Santa Monica is a beachfront city popular with tourists for its expansive beach and its famous pier, which are among the most popular coastal attractions in Southern California. Within the city, visitors will find a number of urban shopping districts and plenty of restaurants and nightlife.
Top landmarks
- • Santa Monica Pier — Pier in Santa Monica, California, USA
- • Muscle Beach — outdoor acrobatics and gymnastics platform
- • Pacific Park — amusement park in Santa Monica, California, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 66 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.2 miles on San Bernardino Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.6 miles (I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16 miles (I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fontana, CA before heading back.
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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