Origin
Anaheim, CA
Morning in Anaheim on Tuesday
Local time
7:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Anaheim, CA to Riverside, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
44m
Distance
34.4 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Riverside, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 34.4-mile drive from Anaheim to Riverside, California, is designed as a single-day adventure, taking approximately 44 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate along the Riverside Freeway, with portions on East Lincoln Avenue and Magnolia Avenue contributing to the journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $8, this highway-focused route offers an efficient way to travel between these two Pacific Coast communities. Since it's a short trip, you won't need an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside Freeway | 29 mi | 33m |
| East Lincoln Avenue | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Magnolia Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Madison Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Orange Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Anaheim Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Riverside Freeway
— 29 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anaheim, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on this road
200 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto South Anaheim Boulevard
422 ft
·
23 sec
·
South Anaheim Boulevard
3
Turn right onto East Lincoln Avenue
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East Lincoln Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward CA 57 North: Pomona
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto CA 57
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
·
Orange Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 5A
Toward CA 91 East: Riverside Freeway, Riverside
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto CA 91
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 91
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 60
Toward Madison Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto Magnolia Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Magnolia Avenue
12
Turn right
102 ft
·
8 sec
13
At end of road, turn left
181 ft
·
13 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 32.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Lincoln Avenue
Turn right onto East Lincoln Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward CA 91 East: Riverside Freeway, Riverside
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 5A
Toward CA 91 East: Riverside Freeway, Riverside
6
6.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
CA 91 / Riverside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 91 / Riverside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
32.5 mi into trip
|
~40m 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
32.7 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
Madison Street
Turn left onto Madison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.91 one way
$15.81 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $8.15 | $16.30 |
| premium | $6.18 | $8.37 | $16.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.60 | $15.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 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 | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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 Tuesday
Local time
7:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
N 15 to 20 mph
0% chance
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
24 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
44m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 86% of the drive taking place on freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 29 miles on the Riverside Freeway, offering a consistent pace. While the majority of the drive is on high-speed roads, you will encounter segments on East Lincoln Avenue and Magnolia Avenue, which may offer a slightly different driving feel as you transition between major thoroughfares. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes directness over varied scenery.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29 mi on Riverside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Riverside Freeway and East Lincoln Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Lincoln Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
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 34.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Lincoln Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.1 miles (CA 91 / Riverside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Anaheim, CA
Full guide →Founded 1857
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. It is best known for being the home of Disneyland. Its second claim to fame is hosting the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks and Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels.
Top landmarks
- • Disneyland — American theme park in California owned by The Walt Disney Company
- • Disney California Adventure — theme park in California, part of Disneyland Resort
- • Soarin' — flight motion simulator attraction at Disney parks
Arriving in Riverside, CA
Full guide →Founded 1870
Riverside is a city in Riverside County in California. With a population of over 300,000, the city plays host to a diverse cross-section of people and has a rich history. Riverside is approximately 55 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. It is a center for higher education, with one community college, a large state university, and two private universities. A hub of regional commerce and transportation, it is a city with an intriguing past and a promising future, and is worth a visit.
Top landmarks
- • Mission Inn — hotel in Riverside, California
- • Universalist Unitarian Church of Riverside — church building in Riverside, California, USA
- • First Congregational Church of Riverside — church building in Riverside, California, United States of America
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 44m. Total distance: 34.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29 miles on Riverside 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 Riverside, 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 0.1 miles (East Lincoln Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.1 miles (CA 91 / Riverside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Riverside, CA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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