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Trip from Dana Point, CA to Riverside, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 8m

Distance

54.7 mi

88 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 3m ★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Orange County, California, United States

Dana Point, CA

Wikimedia Commons

county seat of Riverside County, California, United States

Riverside, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 54.7-mile drive from Dana Point to Riverside, California, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just about 1 hour and 8 minutes to complete. You'll primarily travel on the Riverside Freeway and San Diego Freeway, with a portion on the Eastern Transportation Corridor, dedicating about 62% of your journey to highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $13, making it an economical option for a short excursion. Given its brevity and lack of designated stops in the data, this drive offers flexibility for spontaneous detours or a direct journey. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so expect a continuation of coastal influences before heading inland.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Riverside Freeway 18.6 mi 21m
San Diego Freeway 11.9 mi 13m
Eastern Transportation Corridor 8.3 mi 9m
Foothill Transportation Corridor 5.3 mi 6m
I 5 Truck 3.3 mi 3m
Magnolia Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
Del Obispo Street 0.8 mi 1m
Stonehill Drive 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Riverside Freeway — 18.6 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Golden Lantern Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Golden Lantern Street
2

Turn left onto Del Prado Avenue

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Del Prado Avenue
3

Turn right onto PCH

0.4 mi · 54 sec · Pacific Coast Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Turn left onto Del Obispo Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Del Obispo Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5

Turn right onto Stonehill Drive

0.6 mi · 1 min · Stonehill Drive
6

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
7

Merge onto I 5

4.5 mi · 5 min · San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

7.4 mi · 8 min · San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

1.6 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck
Toward Bake Parkway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

1.7 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck
Use the slight right lane.
11

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 35 sec
Exit 95 Toward CA 133 North: Riverside Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto CA 133 Toll

2.9 mi · 3 min · Eastern Transportation Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork

1.3 mi · 2 min
Exit 14B Toward CA 241 North: Riverside
14

Merge onto CA 241 Toll

5.3 mi · 6 min · Foothill Transportation Corridor
15

Merge onto CA 241 Toll

5.5 mi · 6 min · Eastern Transportation Corridor
16

Keep slight right at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 39A Toward CA 91 East: Riverside Use the slight right lane.
17

Merge onto CA 91

19 mi · 21 min · Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Exit 60 Toward Madison Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Turn left onto Madison Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Madison Street
Use the left lane.
20

Turn right onto Magnolia Avenue

1.1 mi · 2 min · Magnolia Avenue
21

Turn right

102 ft · 8 sec
22

At end of road, turn left

181 ft · 13 sec
23

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

city in Orange County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Orange, CA

27 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.

Popular next leg

Orange, CA to Riverside, CA

33.6 mi · 42m

Pacing Suggestions

Mission Viejo, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Orange, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27.3 miles from Dana Point, 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 21

5 decision points cluster between mile 7 and 52.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
7 mi into trip | ~10m in | I 5 / San Diego Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / San Diego Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
14.4 mi into trip | ~19m in | I 5 Truck

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward Bake Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Bake Parkway
7
17.7 mi into trip | ~22m in

Take the exit toward CA 133 North: Riverside

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 95 Toward CA 133 North: Riverside
8
33.2 mi into trip | ~41m in

Keep slight right at fork toward CA 91 East: Riverside

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 39A Toward CA 91 East: Riverside
7
52.8 mi into trip | ~1h 3m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.57 one way

$25.14 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $12.96 $25.91
premium $6.18 $13.30 $26.60
diesel $5.61 $12.08 $24.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$13

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.4 0 $5.74 $2.63
Efficient EV 13.7 0 $4.79 $2.19
EV Truck/SUV 21.9 0 $7.66 $3.50

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (68% 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 21, 2026

Origin

Dana Point, CA

Morning in Dana Point on Tuesday

Local time

6:23 AM

PDT

Current temp

53°F

Mostly Cloudy

N 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 20 at 9:53PM PDT until April 22 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Phoenix AZ

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 20 at 9:39PM PDT until April 22 at 7:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Destination

Riverside, CA

Morning in Riverside on Tuesday

Local time

6:23 AM

PDT

Current temp

50°F

Partly Cloudy then Patchy Fog

W 0 to 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 20 at 9:53PM PDT until April 22 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Phoenix AZ

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 20 at 9:39PM PDT until April 22 at 7:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

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

3 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 8m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with approximately 62% of the drive utilizing freeway conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 18.6 miles on the Riverside Freeway, offering a consistent pace. While the data doesn't detail specific scenic changes, the profile suggests a transition from coastal proximity to more inland landscapes as you progress towards Riverside. This is a route characterized by efficient travel, designed for getting you to your destination with minimal fuss, rather than for leisurely sightseeing along the way.

62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.6 mi on Riverside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Riverside Freeway and San Diego Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7 miles in near I 5 / San Diego Freeway.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.7 miles you will encounter 21 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 7 miles (I 5 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 8m. Total distance: 54.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 18.6 miles on Riverside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 3 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.

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 7 miles (I 5 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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