Clearlake, CA to Riverside, CA is 511 miles and takes about 9h 55m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $110 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive spans the length of California, moving from the Pacific Coast region inland. Given the 9h 55m estimated duration, this is best tackled over two days. Plan for a significant portion of your drive to be on major freeways. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct, efficient way to travel between Northern and Southern California.
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
255.5 miles from Clearlake, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
224.4 mi
4h
I 5 Truck
58.4 mi
1h 6m
Foothill Freeway
44 mi
50m
CA 29
32 mi
47m
Saint Helena Highway South
21.7 mi
25m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
19.2 mi
22m
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi
18m
Donald D Doyle Highway
14.8 mi
17m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 224.4 mi, about 4h
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 162 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,824 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,650
Quietest
2 AM
~367 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 89 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 Clearlake, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on Duncan Avenue
0.2 mi·37 sec·Duncan Avenue
2
Continue on Lincoln Avenue
0.1 mi·29 sec·Lincoln Avenue
3
Turn right onto Polk Avenue
331 ft·18 sec·Polk Avenue
4
Turn right onto CA 53
3.6 mi·5 min·CA 53
5
Continue on CA 29
10 mi·15 min·CA 29
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Enter roundabout onto CA 29
48 ft·0 sec·CA 29
7
Continue on CA 29
22 mi·32 min·CA 29
8
Turn left onto CA 29; CA 128
6.8 mi·7 min·Saint Helena Highway
9
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
2.4 mi·2 min·Main Street
10
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
22 mi·25 min·Saint Helena Highway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on CA 12; CA 29
1.3 mi·1 min·Napa–Vallejo Highway
12
Continue on CA 29
4.0 mi·4 min·Broadway Street
13
Continue on CA 29
1.8 mi·2 min·Sonoma Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on CA 29
1.1 mi·1 min·Sonoma Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto Redwood Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·Redwood Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
16
Turn right onto US 40 Hist
1.1 mi·1 min·Broadway Street
17
Turn slight left onto US 40 Hist
0.7 mi·1 min·Alameda Street
18
Turn left onto Curtola Parkway
7.1 mi·9 min·Curtola Parkway
Use the straight lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 780
0.7 mi·46 sec·I 780
Exit 7BToward I 680 South: Martinez, San Jose
20
Continue on I 680
8.0 mi·9 min·Benicia-Martinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
4.8 mi·5 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 680
1.4 mi·1 min·Donald D Doyle Highway
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
13 mi·15 min·Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 30AToward I 580 East: Livermore, StocktonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 580 East: Livermore, StocktonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I 580: StocktonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto I 580
1.4 mi·1 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
11 mi·11 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi·6 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
31
Merge onto I 5
224 mi·4 hr·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.0 mi·2 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Take the exit
0.3 mi·17 sec
Exit 161AToward I 210 East: PasadenaUse the slight right lane.
35
Continue on I 210
24 mi·28 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
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.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
0.5 mi·32 sec·Foothill Freeway
38
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 44AToward CA 57 South: Santa AnaUse the slight right lane.
39
Continue on CA 57
3.2 mi·3 min·Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 22CToward CA 71: CoronaUse the slight right lane.
41
Continue on CA 71
3.1 mi·3 min·Chino Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Take the exit
1.4 mi·2 min
Toward CA 60 East: RiversideUse the slight right lane.
43
Merge onto CA 60
12 mi·13 min·Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 42Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Turn straight onto Mission Boulevard
0.2 mi·15 sec·Mission Boulevard
46
Continue on Van Buren Boulevard
6.1 mi·8 min·Van Buren Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
47
Turn left onto Central Avenue
3.6 mi·6 min·Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
48
Turn sharp right
171 ft·12 sec
49
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a 9h 55m drive time, breaking this trip into two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight hours. Plan for at least two stops to refuel and stretch your legs, especially considering the longest stretch without a break is over 200 miles. The fuel cost estimate of $110 is based on current averages, so check prices along your route. Factor in potential traffic delays, particularly when passing through larger cities.
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 255.5 miles from Clearlake, CA, or about 5h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 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 112 miles or 2h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 255.5 miles or 5h 2m 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 255.5 miles or 5h 2m
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 38m
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 Clearlake, 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 Clearlake, CA
Aim for roughly 256 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Riverside, CA
Aim for roughly 256 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 112 miles from Clearlake, 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 224.4 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 30
5 decision points cluster between mile 84.3 and 500.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
84.3 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|I 780
Keep slight left at fork onto I 780 toward I 680 South: Martinez, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7B
Toward I 680 South: Martinez, San Jose
8
112.6 mi into trip|~2h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
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 30A
Toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
8
112.9 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
8
459.5 mi into trip|~8h 48m 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,...
8
500.7 mi into trip|~9h 39m 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
$123.63 one way
$247.25 round trip
$6.15/gal25.4 MPG avg179 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.34
$127.53
$255.06
premium
$6.50
$130.69
$261.37
diesel
$6.28
$126.26
$252.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$124
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$254–$364
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 178.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
153.3
1
$53.66
$24.53
Efficient EV
127.8
1
$44.71
$20.44
EV Truck/SUV
204.4
2
$71.54
$32.70
Gas CO2
179 kg
EV CO2
60 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 Oct 21, 2026
Origin
Clearlake, CA
Evening
in Clearlake on Thursday
Local time
7:01 PM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 3 mph43% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 21 at 4:19PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 21 at 1:45PM PDT until October 22 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Destination
Riverside, CA
Evening
in Riverside on Thursday
Local time
7:01 PM
PDT
Current temp
80°F
Rain Showers Likely
S 10 mph66% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 21 at 4:19PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued October 21 at 1:45PM PDT until October 22 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford 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
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 55m 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.
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 92.9
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 92.9
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 92.9
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...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 464.5
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
$15
near mile 74.3
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 390.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip involves 83% highway driving, meaning you'll spend most of your time on major freeways. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 224.4 miles on Westside Freeway. You'll transition from freeway to surface roads after this point. Expect a busy driving experience with frequent exits and merges, particularly as you approach urban areas.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
49 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 224.4 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 84.3 miles in near I 780.
Driving Effort10/10
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 30 significant decision points across 511 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 84.3 miles (I 780): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,846 ft33 ft
Total Climb
3,674 ft
Total Descent
4,274 ft
Highest Point
2,846 ft
~423.3 mi in
Elevation Range
2,813 ft
Notable High Points
2,846 ft at ~423.3 miles+1,472 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clearlake, CA and Riverside, CA, road signs point toward San Jose, Stockton and Ventura.
Clearlake is a city in Lake County inland in the North Coast region of California. It is located at the southern end of Clear Lake, which is more than 1.5 million years old.
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
The longest stretch is about 224.4 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 256 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 35 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 84.3 miles (I 780): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.9 hours each way, a round trip means 19.9 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.
