Origin
Signal Hill, CA
Late night in Signal Hill on Friday
Local time
4:05 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Signal Hill, CA to Riverside, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
54 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Signal Hill, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Signal Hill, CA to Riverside, CA covers 54 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Riverside Freeway, Garden Grove Freeway, San Diego Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26.1 miles on Riverside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.41 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 54 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 6m highway drive covering 54 miles, with most of the trip on Riverside Freeway and Garden Grove Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 26.1 miles on Riverside Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Riverside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 26.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Riverside Freeway and Garden Grove Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles (I 405 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles (CA 22 / Garden Grove Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 405 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405 South
6
5.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 405 / San Diego Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 / San Diego Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
8.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
CA 22 / Garden Grove Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 22 / Garden Grove Freeway toward CA 22 East: Garden Grove
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 21
Toward CA 22 East: Garden Grove
7
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward Madison Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 60
Toward Madison Street
6
52.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
Madison Street
Turn left onto Madison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside Freeway | 26.1 mi | 30m |
| Garden Grove Freeway | 13.2 mi | 15m |
| San Diego Freeway | 6 mi | 6m |
| Costa Mesa Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| East Willow Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Magnolia Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Madison Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Riverside Freeway
— 26.1 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Signal Hill, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on East Willow Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
East Willow Street
2
Continue on East Willow Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East Willow Street
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 405 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 405
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 22
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Garden Grove Freeway
Exit 21
Toward CA 22 East: Garden Grove
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on CA 22
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
Garden Grove Freeway
Exit 17C
Toward CA 55 North: Anaheim, Riverside
8
Merge onto CA 55
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto CA 91
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 60
Toward Madison Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Street
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto Magnolia Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Magnolia Avenue
13
Turn right
102 ft
·
8 sec
14
At end of road, turn left
181 ft
·
13 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27 mi from Signal Hill, CA · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27 miles from Signal Hill, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Riverside, CA
The final approach into Riverside, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.41 one way
$24.82 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $12.79 | $25.58 |
| premium | $6.18 | $13.13 | $26.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.92 | $23.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Riverside, CA
Late night in Riverside on Friday
Local time
4:05 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 5 to 15 mph
6% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 13 at 6:04PM PDT until April 14 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
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 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 6m 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 Signal Hill, CA to Riverside, CA covers 54 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Riverside Freeway, Garden Grove Freeway, San Diego Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27 miles from Signal Hill, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.41 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 54 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles (I 405 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.1 miles (CA 22 / Garden Grove Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Signal Hill, CA to Riverside, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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