Origin
Carson, CA
Late night in Carson on Tuesday
Local time
2:27 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carson, 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
1h 11m
Distance
58.4 mi
94 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carson, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Carson, CA to Riverside, CA is 58.4 miles and takes about 1h 11m via the Riverside Freeway, Artesia Freeway, and Gardena Freeway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive connecting two points within Southern California's vast Pacific Coast region. Expect a highway-focused experience that's very manageable for a single day. Given the relatively short distance and duration, it's an easy trip to fit into your schedule without needing an overnight stay. This route is ideal if you're looking for a simple, efficient transit between these two California cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside Freeway | 35.2 mi | 40m |
| Artesia Freeway | 13.1 mi | 15m |
| Gardena Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Harbor Freeway | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| Magnolia Avenue | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Figueroa Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Madison Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Carson Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Riverside Freeway
— 35.2 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carson, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on West Carson Street
94 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Carson Street
2
Continue on West Carson Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Carson Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto US 6 Hist
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Figueroa Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 110 North: Los Angeles
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 110
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Harbor Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward CA 91 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto CA 91
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Gardena Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on CA 91
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Artesia Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on CA 91
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 91
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 60
Toward Madison Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto Madison Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Magnolia Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Magnolia Avenue
14
Turn right
102 ft
·
8 sec
15
At end of road, turn left
181 ft
·
13 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.2 miles from Carson, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 56.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn left toward I 110 North: Los Angeles
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 110 North: Los Angeles
6
2.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward CA 91 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 91 East
6
30.1 mi into trip
|
~36m 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
56.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m 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
56.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
Madison Street
Turn left onto Madison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.42 one way
$26.85 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $13.83 | $27.66 |
| premium | $6.18 | $14.20 | $28.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.89 | $25.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.13 | $2.80 |
| Efficient EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.11 | $2.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.18 | $3.74 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Late night in Riverside on Tuesday
Local time
2:27 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 11m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with a 94% highway share, making it a predominantly fast-paced journey. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 35.2 miles on the Riverside Freeway, offering a consistent cruising experience for a significant portion of the trip. The route utilizes major freeways like the Artesia Freeway and Gardena Freeway, indicating a modern, well-maintained driving environment. Expect smooth sailing with minimal traffic interruptions for much of the drive, characteristic of Southern California's extensive freeway network.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.2 mi on Riverside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Riverside Freeway and Artesia Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.4 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.1 miles (CA 91 / Riverside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
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 1h 11m. Total distance: 58.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.2 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 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.1 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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