Spanning 176.8 miles across the Pacific Coast region, this trip from Blythe to Fontana is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 14 minutes. It functions perfectly as a one-day drive, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $41 for fuel to cover the distance. You will primarily navigate via the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, the Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway, and the San Bernardino Freeway. Since the route remains entirely within California, the transition between these two points is consistent and manageable for most drivers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.4 miles from Blythe, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
132.5 mi
2h 23m
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
33.7 mi
36m
San Bernardino Freeway
7.5 mi
8m
Sierra Avenue
1.7 mi
2m
East Hobsonway
0.6 mi
1m
South Lovekin Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
Merrill Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 132.5 mi, about 2h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Blythe, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on I 10 Business
273 ft·13 sec·East Hobsonway
2
Continue on I 10 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·East Hobsonway
3
Turn left onto South Lovekin Boulevard
0.2 mi·22 sec·South Lovekin Boulevard
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
5
Merge onto I 10
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
6
Continue on I 10
34 mi·36 min·Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 10
40 mi·43 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 10
7.5 mi·8 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 64Toward Sierra AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
1.7 mi·2 min·Sierra Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto Merrill Avenue
205 ft·4 sec·Merrill Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Merrill Avenue
Trip Plan
Because this drive is easily completed in a single day, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. With only one recommended stop planned, try to time your break to break up the longest 132.5-mile stretch of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. Before heading out from Blythe, ensure your fuel tank is ready for the $41 estimated cost to reach Fontana. Pay close attention to the shift in road complexity as you move from the freeway portions onto the more local, turn-heavy sections near your destination. Planning for a single, well-timed stop will help you stay fresh and alert behind the wheel.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 88.4 miles from Blythe, CA, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 39 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.4 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 37m
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 Blythe, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Blythe, CA
This is one driving day of about 176.8 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Blythe, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 132.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 176.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|South Lovekin Boulevard
Turn left onto South Lovekin Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
7
174.8 mi into trip|~3h 10m 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 64
Toward Sierra Avenue
4
175 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|Sierra Avenue
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
176.7 mi into trip|~3h 14m in|Merrill Avenue
Turn right onto Merrill Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.64 one way
$81.27 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$41.88
$83.75
premium
$6.18
$43.00
$85.99
diesel
$5.61
$39.04
$78.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53
0
$18.56
$8.49
Efficient EV
44.2
0
$15.47
$7.07
EV Truck/SUV
70.7
0
$24.75
$11.32
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Blythe, CA
Late night
in Blythe on Tuesday
Local time
3:15 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fontana, CA
Late night
in Fontana on Tuesday
Local time
3:15 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 15 mph0% chanceLive 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.
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
19 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
3h 14m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Joshua Tree National Park
National Park
Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds...
17 mi from route
~44 min detour
$30
near mile 73.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by a distinct mix of fast highway cruising and turn-heavy local segments. While you spend 23% of the journey on major highways, you will encounter a significant 132.5-mile stretch along the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway that demands steady focus. As you transition from the open desert stretches into the more built-up areas toward Fontana, the character of the road shifts from high-speed transit to a more technical, turn-heavy local drive. Keep your eyes on the road, as the driving conditions require constant attention throughout the duration of the trip.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 132.5 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near South Lovekin Boulevard.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Blythe, CA to Fontana, CA is easy. At 3h 14m with 23% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (South Lovekin Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 174.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 132.5 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (South Lovekin Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 174.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Joshua Tree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Fontana, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
