Origin
Susanville, CA
Morning in Susanville on Sunday
Local time
11:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Susanville, CA to Fontana, CA
Drive Time
10h 53m
Distance
534.1 mi
860 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$124
one way
Trip Overview
The drive from Susanville, CA to Fontana, CA covers 534.1 miles and takes about 10h 53m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on US 395, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, Blue Star Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 109.1 miles on US 395. At current regular gas prices, budget about $123.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
267.1 miles from Susanville, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 534.1 miles and 10h 53m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are US 395 and Grand Army of the Republic Highway.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 395 is the longest continuous segment at about 109.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 10h 53m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 131.9 miles in near US 395.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 534.1 miles you will encounter 17 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 131.9 miles (US 395): Lane positioning matters here; at 198 miles (US 395 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 410.1 miles (US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
131.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 36m in
|
US 395
At end of road, turn right onto US 395
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / none lanes.
6
198 mi into trip
|
~4h 7m in
|
US 395 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 395 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
410.1 mi into trip
|
~8h 23m in
|
US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway toward US 395 South: San Bernardino
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 395 South: San Bernardino
7
507.3 mi into trip
|
~10h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
7
527.6 mi into trip
|
~10h 43m 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 119
Toward Sierra Avenue
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Susanville, CA to Fontana, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Los Angeles along the way.
Los Angeles
507.3 mi in
|
~10h 20m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 395 | 109.1 mi | 2h 21m |
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | 104.6 mi | 2h 2m |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 103.3 mi | 2h 3m |
| Route 395 | 64.2 mi | 1h 14m |
| Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway | 50.9 mi | 57m |
| Main Street | 48 mi | 1h |
| South Carson Street | 11 mi | 14m |
| Barstow and Mojave Freeway | 9.7 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
US 395
— 109.1 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Susanville, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on Foss Street
61 ft
·
5 sec
·
Foss Street
2
Turn right onto CA 36
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 395
64 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Route 395
4
Continue on US 395
51 mi
·
57 min
·
Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway
5
Turn left onto US 395
11 mi
·
14 min
·
South Carson Street
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
488 ft
·
13 sec
7
Turn straight onto NV 88
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Woodfords Road
8
Enter roundabout onto County Road
144 ft
·
2 sec
·
County Road
9
Continue on County Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road
10
At end of road, turn right onto US 395
66 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
US 395
Use the left / none lanes.
11
Turn left onto Emigrant Street
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Emigrant Street
12
At end of road, turn right onto Sinclair Street
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Sinclair Street
13
Turn left onto US 395
44 mi
·
53 min
·
Main Street
Use the none lane.
14
Continue on US 395
44 mi
·
50 min
·
US 395
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto North Barlow Lane
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Barlow Lane
16
Turn left onto CA 168
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Line Street
17
Turn right onto US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
Use the none lane.
18
Continue on US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
El Camino Sierra
Use the none lane.
19
Continue on US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
North Main Street
21
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
26 mi
·
31 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Edwards Street
23
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Main Street
Use the none lane.
25
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
56 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
26
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 395
30 mi
·
34 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Toward US 395 South: San Bernardino
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on US 395
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Red Mountain Road
29
Continue on US 395
67 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
30
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
Use the straight lane.
31
Merge onto I 15; US 66 Hist
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist; US 91 Hist; US 395 Hist
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the none lane.
34
Take the exit onto I 15
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
I 15
Use the none lane.
35
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 119
Toward Sierra Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Turn left onto Sierra Avenue
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the none lane.
37
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
Use the left lane.
38
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 267.1 miles from Susanville, CA, or about 5h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.1 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 118 miles or 2h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 267.1 miles or 5h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 267.1 miles or 5h 30m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 40m
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 Susanville, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Susanville, CA
Aim for roughly 267 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Fontana, CA
Aim for roughly 267 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 118 miles from Susanville, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 395 for about 109.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 267.1 mi from Susanville, CA · 5h 30m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
176 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
353 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Sanger, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
267 mi · about 5.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near South Lake Tahoe, CA after about 267 miles or 5.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 118 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 267.1 miles from Susanville, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 395 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 267 miles or 5.4 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Fontana, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$123.68 one way
$247.37 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
187 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $127.55 | $255.11 |
| premium | $6.24 | $131.28 | $262.55 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $118.66 | $237.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$124
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$254–$364
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 186.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $56 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 160.2 | 1 | $56.08 | $25.64 |
| Efficient EV | 133.5 | 1 | $46.73 | $21.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 213.6 | 2 | $74.77 | $34.18 |
Gas CO2
187 kg
EV CO2
62 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 Sunday
Local time
11:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
10h 53m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Susanville, CA to Fontana, CA covers 534.1 miles and takes about 10h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 395, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, Blue Star Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 267 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 267.1 miles from Susanville, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $123.68 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 534.1 miles you will encounter 17 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 131.9 miles (US 395): Lane positioning matters here; at 198 miles (US 395 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 410.1 miles (US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Susanville, CA to Fontana, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Los Angeles along the way.
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