Discovery Bay to Fontana is 387.5 miles and takes about 7h 18m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $88 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive will take you across California, starting in the Pacific Coast region and ending in the same area. Given its predominantly highway profile and a single recommended day, this route is best suited for those looking for an efficient transit. Plan for a straightforward trip with minimal detours, focusing on covering the distance effectively.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
193.8 miles from Discovery Bay, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
224.4 mi
4h
Foothill Freeway
67 mi
1h 17m
I 5 Truck
58.4 mi
1h 6m
William Elton Brown Freeway
14 mi
15m
Byron Highway
6.7 mi
10m
Mountain House Parkway
3.4 mi
6m
Sierra Avenue
3 mi
4m
CA 4
2.1 mi
3m
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 Discovery Bay, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on this road
57 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Discovery Bay Boulevard
1.3 mi·3 min·Discovery Bay Boulevard
3
At end of road, turn right onto CA 4
1.1 mi·1 min·CA 4
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on CA 4
1.1 mi·1 min·CA 4
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Turn left onto J4
6.7 mi·10 min·Byron Highway
6
Continue on J4
1.5 mi·2 min·Byron-Bethany Road
7
Continue on J4
1.8 mi·2 min·Byron Road
8
Turn right onto Mountain House Parkway
2.7 mi·4 min·Mountain House Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
9
Continue on International Parkway
1.0 mi·1 min·International Parkway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on Mountain House Parkway
0.8 mi·1 min·Mountain House Parkway
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
12
Merge onto I 580
8.1 mi·8 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi·6 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
14
Merge onto I 5
224 mi·4 hr·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.0 mi·2 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·17 sec
Exit 161AToward I 210 East: PasadenaUse the slight right lane.
18
Continue on I 210
24 mi·28 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
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.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
2.9 mi·3 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.4 mi·1 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.2 mi·1 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.8 mi·2 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
16 mi·18 min·Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 67Toward Sierra AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3.0 mi·4 min·Sierra Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
27
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
205 ft·4 sec·Merrill Avenue
Use the left lane.
28
Arrive at destination
Merrill Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour drive, leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid traffic, especially as you get closer to Fontana. With only 2 recommended stops, you can be flexible with your breaks. Consider a longer stop around the halfway point to refuel and stretch. Since it's a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 200 miles.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 193.8 miles from Discovery Bay, CA, or about 3h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 85 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 193.8 miles or 3h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 7m
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 Discovery Bay, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Discovery Bay, CA
This is one driving day of about 387.5 miles and 7h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Discovery Bay, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 384.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in|CA 4
At end of road, turn right onto CA 4
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
13.5 mi into trip|~21m in|Mountain House Parkway
Turn right onto Mountain House Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
7
317 mi into trip|~5h 55m 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
341.6 mi into trip|~6h 23m 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
384.2 mi into trip|~7h 12m 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
$88.29 one way
$176.57 round trip
$5.79/gal25.4 MPG avg136 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.96
$90.91
$181.82
premium
$6.14
$93.67
$187.34
diesel
$5.97
$91.03
$182.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$88
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$113–$138
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 135.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
116.3
1
$40.69
$18.60
Efficient EV
96.9
1
$33.91
$15.50
EV Truck/SUV
155
1
$54.25
$24.80
Gas CO2
136 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (67% 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 Aug 31, 2026
Origin
Discovery Bay, CA
Afternoon
in Discovery Bay on Friday
Local time
4:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Clear
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued August 30 at 1:16PM PDT until August 31 at 3:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued August 30 at 12:56PM PDT until August 31 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Destination
Fontana, CA
Afternoon
in Fontana on Friday
Local time
4:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Clear
SW 0 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued August 30 at 1:16PM PDT until August 31 at 3:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued August 30 at 12:56PM PDT until August 31 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
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.
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
11 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
7h 18m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 320.7
Park Closure: Solstice Canyon Trail Weekday Closure for Repairs
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...
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 253.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 96% highway, so expect long stretches of consistent speed. You'll encounter a significant 224.4-mile segment on the Westside Freeway. After this extensive highway portion, the final few miles will transition to surface roads as you approach your destination. Drivers will notice the frequent merging and exiting typical of major freeway corridors.
96% 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: 224.4 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 1.3 miles in near CA 4.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 387.5 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 1.3 miles (CA 4): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (Mountain House Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 317 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
3,623 ft11 ft
Total Climb
5,159 ft
Total Descent
3,935 ft
Highest Point
3,623 ft
~276.8 mi in
Elevation Range
3,612 ft
Notable High Points
3,623 ft at ~276.8 miles+2,561 ft prominence
1,741 ft at ~332.2 miles+679 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 Discovery Bay, CA to Fontana, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.
Brentwood is an affluent, suburban city in eastern Contra Costa County, California with a popular downtown for visitors coming from the Sacramento Valley to the county. It serves as one of the eastern gateways to the East Bay, along with Livermore. Many in the city are commuters.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 18m. Total distance: 387.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 18m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 224.4 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 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. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (CA 4): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (Mountain House Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 317 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial 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 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.6 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.
