Trip from Burney, CA to Riverside, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

12h 9m

Distance

645.9 mi

1,039 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$158

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

11h 58m ★

6 AM

12h 9m

8 AM

12h 31m

10 AM

12h 17m

12 PM

12h 15m

3 PM

12h 18m

5 PM

12h 30m

8 PM

12h 3m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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Burney, CA

Stephen Leonardi

county seat of Riverside County, California, United States

Riverside, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Burney, CA to Riverside, CA is 645.9 miles and takes about 12 hours 9 minutes via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $143 and an overnight recommendation. This long-haul drive takes you south through California's Pacific Coast region, connecting two areas with similar geographic characteristics. It's a substantial trip that requires careful planning to ensure a comfortable experience. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct path and are prepared for a full day or two of driving.

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

322.9 miles from Burney, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 3m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Westside Freeway	424.9 mi	7h 38m
I 5 Truck	58.4 mi	1h 6m
Foothill Freeway	44 mi	50m
Cascade Wonderland Highway	33.8 mi	36m
State Route 299	26.1 mi	35m
CA 299	23.1 mi	29m
Pomona Freeway	12 mi	13m
Van Buren Boulevard	6.1 mi	8m

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 424.9 mi, about 7h 38m

Traffic on I-5

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 554 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~2,708 veh/hr typical · worst 3,643

Quietest

2 AM

~359 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

7.5×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 96 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Burney, CA and Riverside, CA.

Start on CA 299

1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Continue on CA 299

26 mi · 35 min · State Route 299

Turn right onto CA 299

23 mi · 29 min · CA 299

Turn left

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Merge onto I 5

34 mi · 36 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway

Continue on I 5

93 mi · 1 hr 39 min · Westside Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

16 mi · 16 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

79 mi · 1 hr 27 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

0.8 mi · 48 sec · Westside Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

237 mi · 4 hr 13 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

2.0 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 17 sec

Exit 161A Toward I 210 East: Pasadena Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 210

24 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

0.5 mi · 32 sec · Foothill Freeway

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min

Exit 44A Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana Use the slight right lane.

Continue on CA 57

3.2 mi · 3 min · Orange Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 2 min

Exit 22C Toward CA 71: Corona Use the slight right lane.

Continue on CA 71

3.1 mi · 3 min · Chino Valley Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.4 mi · 2 min

Toward CA 60 East: Riverside Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto CA 60

12 mi · 13 min · Pomona Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Exit 42 Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto Mission Boulevard

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Mission Boulevard

Continue on Van Buren Boulevard

6.1 mi · 8 min · Van Buren Boulevard

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto Central Avenue

3.6 mi · 6 min · Central Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn sharp right

171 ft · 12 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

For this 12-hour drive, splitting it over two days is strongly recommended. Aim to depart Burney early in the morning on your first day to make good progress. With 3 planned stops and a recommended 2-day itinerary, you can comfortably cover about half the distance each day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 424.9-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. Planning your overnight stop around the halfway point will break up the drive effectively.

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 322.9 miles from Burney, CA, or about 6h 3m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 424.9 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 142 miles or 2h 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 322.9 miles or 6h 3m 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 322.9 miles or 6h 3m

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 10h 51m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverside, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Burney, 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 Burney, CA

Aim for roughly 323 miles and 6.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Riverside, CA

Aim for roughly 323 miles and 6.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 142 miles from Burney, 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 Westside Freeway for about 424.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Orland, CA

213 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.

Popular next leg

Orland, CA to Riverside, CA

534.9 mi · 9h 56m

county seat of Fresno County, California, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Fresno, CA

426 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, CA

Popular next leg

Fresno, CA to Riverside, CA

270 mi · 5h 11m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Galt, CA

323 mi · about 6.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Galt, CA after about 323 miles or 6.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Woodland, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 142 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Modesto, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 322.9 miles from Burney, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 424.9 miles.

Overnight split

2 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 569.7 and 635.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

569.7 mi into trip | ~10h 33m 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

594.4 mi into trip | ~11h 1m 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,...

614 mi into trip | ~11h 24m in

Take the exit toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 44A Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana

618 mi into trip | ~11h 29m in

Take the exit toward CA 71: Corona

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 22C Toward CA 71: Corona

635.6 mi into trip | ~11h 52m in

Take the exit toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda 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 42 Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$158.07 one way

$316.13 round trip

$6.22/gal 25.4 MPG avg 226 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.40	$162.77	$325.54
premium	$6.57	$166.97	$333.94
diesel	$6.18	$157.13	$314.25

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$158

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$288–$398

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 226 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.

Driving Electric?

About $68 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	193.8	2	$67.82	$31.00
Efficient EV	161.5	1	$56.52	$25.84
EV Truck/SUV	258.4	3	$90.43	$41.34

Gas CO2

226 kg

EV CO2

76 kg (66% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Oct 18, 2026

Origin

Burney, CA

Evening in Burney on Sunday

Local time

5:47 PM

PDT

Current temp

35°F

Mostly Clear

E 2 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:59AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued October 17 at 7:32PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Destination

Riverside, CA

Evening in Riverside on Sunday

Local time

5:47 PM

PDT

Current temp

63°F

Mostly Clear

SE 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:59AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued October 17 at 7:32PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

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

28 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

12h 9m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Whiskeytown Lake’s crystal-clear waters are iconic, but this 42,000-acre National Recreation Area offers much more. Explore waterfalls, hike rugged trails, uncover Gold Rush history, and witness the r...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour $15 near mile 44.5

Caution: Public Health Advisory for Upper Clear Creek above Whiskeytown Lake

View on nps.gov

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...

26 mi from route ~66 min detour Free near mile 579.1

View on nps.gov

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...

28 mi from route ~69 min detour Free near mile 512.2

View on nps.gov

Lassen Volcanic National Park

National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to steaming fumaroles, meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Jagged peaks tell the story of its eruptive past while hot...

30 mi from route ~75 min detour $30

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 92% of the route on major freeways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 424.9 miles on the Westside Freeway, indicating long, uninterrupted cruising. Expect a significant amount of time on the I 5 Truck and Foothill Freeway as well. Given the extensive highway mileage, be prepared for the potential for dense traffic merging and exiting, especially as you approach urban areas.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 424.9 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 569.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 645.9 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 569.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 594.4 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 614 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

3,128 ft 30 ft

Total Climb

1,790 ft

Total Descent

4,090 ft

Highest Point

3,128 ft

Elevation Range

3,098 ft

Notable High Points

1,386 ft at ~553.6 miles +700 ft prominence

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Burney, CA to Riverside, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.

Ventura

594.4 mi in | ~11h 1m | via I 210

About the Cities

Starting in Burney, CA

Full guide →

Burney is a town in the Shasta Cascades region of California.

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
• Riverside Fox Theater — theater and movie theater in Riverside, California, United States

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 424.9 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 323 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 58 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 3 meaningful breaks. There are 58 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 12.2 hours each way, a round trip means 24.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Riverside, CA before the return drive.

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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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