Origin
Ukiah, CA
Morning in Ukiah on Sunday
Local time
11:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ukiah, CA to Fontana, CA
Drive Time
10h 2m
Distance
533.5 mi
859 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$124
one way
Trip Overview
The drive from Ukiah, CA to Fontana, CA covers 533.5 miles and takes about 10h 2m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Westside Freeway, Redwood Highway, Foothill Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 224.4 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $123.55 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
266.8 miles from Ukiah, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 4m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 533.5 miles and 10h 2m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Westside Freeway and Redwood Highway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 224.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Redwood Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 97.9 miles in near I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 533.5 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: at 97.9 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.2 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
97.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
8
115.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...
8
115.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m 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
463 mi into trip
|
~8h 39m 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
487.6 mi into trip
|
~9h 8m 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,...
Towns Along This Route
Between Ukiah, CA and Fontana, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose and Ventura.
Oakland
97.9 mi in
|
~1h 56m
|
via I 580
Hayward
115.2 mi in
|
~2h 18m
|
via I 580
Stockton
115.2 mi in
|
~2h 18m
|
via I 580
Alameda
115.2 mi in
|
~2h 18m
|
via I 580
San Jose
115.2 mi in
|
~2h 18m
|
via I 580
Ventura
487.6 mi in
|
~9h 8m
|
via I 210
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 224.4 mi | 4h |
| Redwood Highway | 97.2 mi | 1h 55m |
| 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 |
| John T. Knox Freeway | 13.6 mi | 17m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 224.4 mi, about 4h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ukiah, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on US 101 Business
57 ft
·
8 sec
·
North State Street
2
Turn left onto East Perkins Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Perkins Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
4
Merge onto US 101
97 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
14 mi
·
17 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 80; I 580
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the none lane.
7
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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Merge onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the none lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
11 mi
·
11 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
13
Merge onto I 5
224 mi
·
4 hr
·
Westside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the none lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 161A
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on I 210
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the none lane.
18
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.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the none lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the none lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 67
Toward Sierra Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
26
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 266.8 miles from Ukiah, CA, or about 5h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 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 117 miles or 2h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 266.8 miles or 5h 4m 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 266.8 miles or 5h 4m
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 8h 51m
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 Ukiah, 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 Ukiah, CA
Aim for roughly 267 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Fontana, CA
Aim for roughly 267 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 117 miles from Ukiah, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 266.8 mi from Ukiah, CA · 5h 4m 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
352 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 Fresno, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
267 mi · about 5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Hayward, CA after about 267 miles or 5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 117 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 266.8 miles from Ukiah, 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.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 267 miles or 5 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
$123.55 one way
$247.09 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
187 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $127.41 | $254.82 |
| premium | $6.24 | $131.13 | $262.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $118.53 | $237.05 |
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: 186.7 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 | 1 | $56.02 | $25.61 |
| Efficient EV | 133.4 | 1 | $46.68 | $21.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 213.4 | 2 | $74.69 | $34.14 |
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
11:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
46°F
Richmond, CA
176 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.
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
5 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
10h 2m 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 Ukiah, CA to Fontana, CA covers 533.5 miles and takes about 10h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Redwood Highway, Foothill Freeway. 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 266.8 miles from Ukiah, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $123.55 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 533.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 97.9 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.2 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.5 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ukiah, CA and Fontana, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose and Ventura.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Fontana, CA
More from Ukiah, CA
More trips to Fontana, CA
Explore more options from Ukiah, CA or browse trips ending in Fontana, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Ukiah, CA or Fontana, CA on MapSof.net.