Origin
Wrightwood, CA
Morning in Wrightwood on Friday
Local time
11:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wrightwood, 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
54m
Distance
42.8 mi
69 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wrightwood, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Riverside, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to head from the mountain elevation of Wrightwood down to Riverside, you are looking at a 42.8-mile journey that takes about 54 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a one-day trip, meaning there is no need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $6 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Pacific Coast locations. Because the drive is relatively short and direct, it serves as a straightforward transition between the high-altitude terrain and the city. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a quick, efficient connection rather than a multi-day excursion.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 42.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route contains zero highway miles. You will navigate primarily via Angeles Crest Highway, Lone Pine Canyon Road, and Thrush Road to reach your destination. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on the Angeles Crest Highway is zero miles, you should be prepared for frequent changes in direction and pace. The road's personality is defined by these technical, local segments that demand your full attention behind the wheel. It is a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes local navigation over high-speed highway travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Barstow Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 9.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Barstow Freeway and Lone Pine Canyon Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Lone Pine Canyon Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 42.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Lone Pine Canyon Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Heath Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 18.1 miles (I 215 / Barstow Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Lone Pine Canyon Road
Turn right onto Lone Pine Canyon Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Heath Creek Road
Turn right onto Heath Creek Road
Navigation decision point
6
18.1 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
I 215 / Barstow Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 215 / Barstow Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
41.8 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza 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 62
Toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza Avenue
5
42.1 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
Central Avenue
Turn right onto Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Barstow Freeway | 9.5 mi | 10m |
| Lone Pine Canyon Road | 9.2 mi | 13m |
| Riverside Freeway | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| Barstow and Mojave Freeway | 6.3 mi | 6m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| CA 138 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Angeles Crest Highway | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Barstow Freeway
— 9.5 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wrightwood, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on Park Drive
107 ft
·
6 sec
·
Park Drive
2
Turn right onto CA 2
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Angeles Crest Highway
3
Turn right onto Lone Pine Canyon Road
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Lone Pine Canyon Road
4
Turn left onto Thrush Road
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Thrush Road
5
Turn right onto Heath Creek Road
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Heath Creek Road
6
Turn left onto Lone Pine Canyon Road
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
Lone Pine Canyon Road
7
Turn right onto CA 138
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 138
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
9
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 215
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Barstow Freeway
Exit 123
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 215
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Barstow Freeway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 215
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 215
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on CA 91
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Exit 34B
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 62
Toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto Central Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn slight left
171 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.4 mi from Wrightwood, CA · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.4 miles from Wrightwood, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Riverside, CA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Riverside, CA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.84 one way
$19.67 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $10.14 | $20.27 |
| premium | $6.18 | $10.41 | $20.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.45 | $18.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.49 | $2.05 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.74 | $1.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.99 | $2.74 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Morning in Riverside on Friday
Local time
11:58 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
54m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Wrightwood, CA to Riverside, CA covers 42.8 miles and takes about 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Barstow Freeway, Lone Pine Canyon Road, Riverside 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 21.4 miles from Wrightwood, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.84 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 is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 42.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Lone Pine Canyon Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Heath Creek Road): Navigation decision point; at 18.1 miles (I 215 / Barstow Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wrightwood, CA to Riverside, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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