Spanning 517.1 miles from Chico to Fontana, this cross-state journey requires roughly 9 hours and 40 minutes of pure driving time. Because the trip traverses the Pacific Coast region of California, you should expect a significant change in scenery as you head south. While a single-day push is technically possible, splitting the drive over two days is highly recommended to keep the pace manageable. Budget approximately $70 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating via local routes like Broadway Street, Oroville Avenue, and Park Avenue means you will be relying on surface streets rather than major interstates. It is a long-distance commitment that demands careful planning for your comfort and safety.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
258.5 miles from Chico, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
303.7 mi
5h 28m
Foothill Freeway
67 mi
1h 17m
I 5 Truck
58.4 mi
1h 6m
CA 70
49.2 mi
58m
CA 99
8 mi
9m
Golden State Highway
7.7 mi
8m
CA 149
5.5 mi
6m
Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
4.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 303.7 mi, about 5h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chico, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on East 5th Street
518 ft·30 sec·East 5th Street
2
Turn left onto Broadway Street
0.2 mi·48 sec·Broadway Street
3
Turn slight left onto Oroville Avenue
0.2 mi·18 sec·Oroville Avenue
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on Park Avenue
1.3 mi·2 min·Park Avenue
5
Continue on East Park Avenue
0.5 mi·55 sec·East Park Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·32 sec
7
Merge onto CA 99
8.0 mi·9 min·CA 99
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149
5.5 mi·6 min·CA 149
Toward Oroville, MarysvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto CA 70
19 mi·22 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on CA 70
11 mi·12 min·CA 70
11
Continue on CA 70
1.5 mi·3 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·5th Street
13
Turn left onto CA 70
4.2 mi·5 min·E Street
14
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
18 mi·20 min·CA 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto CA 99
4.9 mi·5 min·Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
16
Continue on CA 99
7.7 mi·8 min·Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 5
66 mi·1 hr 13 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi·48 sec·Westside Freeway
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi·4 hr 13 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.0 mi·2 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·17 sec
Exit 161AToward I 210 East: PasadenaUse the slight right lane.
23
Continue on I 210
24 mi·28 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
19 mi·22 min·Foothill Freeway
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, VenturaUse the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
2.9 mi·3 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.4 mi·1 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.2 mi·1 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.8 mi·2 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
16 mi·18 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 67Toward Sierra AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3.0 mi·4 min·Sierra Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
32
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
205 ft·4 sec·Merrill Avenue
Use the left lane.
33
Arrive at destination
Merrill Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 9-hour and 40-minute duration, plan to leave early in the morning to maximize daylight hours for your navigation. Incorporating two scheduled stops will help break up the fatigue of driving on non-highway roads. Since you are relying on local streets, keep a close watch on your GPS to avoid missing turns on Broadway Street or Oroville Avenue. If you choose to split the trip, look for lodging options halfway through the 517.1-mile journey to ensure a fresh start for the second half. Always keep your fuel budget of $70 in mind, as frequent stops in local areas may lead to varying gas prices along the route.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 258.5 miles from Chico, CA, or about 4h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 303.7 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 114 miles or 2h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 258.5 miles or 4h 51m 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 258.5 miles or 4h 51m
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 8h 29m
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 Chico, 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 Chico, CA
Aim for roughly 259 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Fontana, CA
Aim for roughly 259 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 114 miles from Chico, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 303.7 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.7 and 513.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
10.7 mi into trip|~15m in|CA 149
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149 toward Oroville, Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Oroville, Marysville
6
52.3 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|CA 70
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
446.5 mi into trip|~8h 17m 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
8
471.2 mi into trip|~8h 46m 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,...
7
513.7 mi into trip|~9h 34m 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 67
Toward Sierra Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$118.85 one way
$237.70 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg181 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$122.48
$244.95
premium
$6.18
$125.75
$251.51
diesel
$5.61
$114.17
$228.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$119
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$249–$359
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 180.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
155.1
1
$54.30
$24.82
Efficient EV
129.3
1
$45.25
$20.68
EV Truck/SUV
206.8
2
$72.39
$33.09
Gas CO2
181 kg
EV CO2
61 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Chico, CA
Night
in Chico on Saturday
Local time
9:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fontana, CA
Night
in Fontana on Saturday
Local time
9:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Woodlake, CA
171 mi in
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
9 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
9h 40m 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.
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 445.8
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...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 392.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a unique driving experience on this route, as it relies entirely on local roads rather than high-speed interstates. With a 0% highway share, you will navigate through various town environments rather than cruising along a monotonous freeway. The longest stretch you will encounter is on Broadway Street, where you will face continuous navigation rather than long, uninterrupted segments. Because the route is composed of local thoroughfares, your focus will remain on the changing road conditions of Oroville Avenue and Park Avenue. This is a deliberate, ground-level way to travel that requires more attention than a standard highway cruise.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 303.7 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.7 miles in near CA 149.
Driving Effort9/10
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 23 significant decision points across 517.1 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 10.7 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.3 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 446.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Chico, CA to Fontana, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.
Chico is in Butte County in California. Chico is the cultural and economic center of the northern Sacramento Valley, as well as the largest city in California north of Sacramento. The city is known as a college town, as the home of California State University, Chico, and for Bidwell Park, one of the largest urban parks in the world.
Top landmarks
•Chico station — railroad station in Chico, California
•Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park — state historic park in California, United States
•A. H. Chapman House — single-family detached home in Chico, California
The longest stretch is about 303.7 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 259 miles on day one.
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.
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 Fontana, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.7 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.3 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 446.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.7 hours each way, a round trip means 19.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fontana, CA before the return drive.
