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Trip from Fontana, CA to Apple Valley, 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

55m

Distance

42.7 mi

69 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 51m ★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m

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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Download GPX
Downtown Fontana, CA, CA

Fontana, CA

Wikimedia Commons

incorporated town in San Bernardino County, California, United States

Apple Valley, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Fontana to Apple Valley, you can expect a straightforward journey covering 42.7 miles. This trip typically takes about 55 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily utilize Sierra Avenue, I-15 North, and the Ontario Freeway to navigate between these two Pacific Coast locations. With an estimated fuel cost of only $10, it is a highly economical route for a quick change of scenery. Because the drive is short and direct, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around local traffic patterns rather than worrying about lengthy travel logistics.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Barstow and Mojave Freeway 17 mi 18m
Sierra Avenue 6.1 mi 9m
CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway 5.4 mi 5m
Yucca Loma Road 4 mi 6m
Ontario Freeway 3.7 mi 4m
Yates Road 2.1 mi 3m
Green Tree Boulevard 2 mi 3m
Mariposa Road 1.1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Barstow and Mojave Freeway — 17 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and Apple Valley, CA.

1

Start on Merrill Avenue

205 ft · 6 sec · Merrill Avenue
2

Turn right onto Sierra Avenue

6.1 mi · 9 min · Sierra Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Toward I 15 North
4

Merge onto I 15

3.7 mi · 4 min · Ontario Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Continue on I 15

6.8 mi · 7 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist; US 91 Hist; US 395 Hist

5.4 mi · 5 min · CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist

10 mi · 10 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Exit 148 Toward La Mesa Road, Nisqualli Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn right onto Nisqualli Road

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Nisqualli Road
Use the right lane.
10

Turn left onto Mariposa Road

1.1 mi · 1 min · Mariposa Road
Use the left lane.
11

Turn right onto Yates Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Yates Road
12

At end of road, turn right onto Green Tree Boulevard

2.0 mi · 3 min · Green Tree Boulevard
13

Continue on Yates Road

1.2 mi · 1 min · Yates Road
14

Continue on Yucca Loma Road

4.0 mi · 6 min · Yucca Loma Road
Use the straight lane.
15

At end of road, turn right onto Navajo Road

276 ft · 11 sec · Navajo Road
16

Continue on Navajo Road

420 ft · 19 sec · Navajo Road
Use the left lane.
17

Turn right onto CA 18

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Happy Trails Highway
18

Turn slight left

358 ft · 14 sec
19

Turn right onto Outer Hwy 18 North

29 ft · 0 sec · Outer Hwy 18 North
20

Arrive at destination

Outer Hwy 18 North

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Wrightwood, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wrightwood, CA

21 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

Victorville, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 42.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hesperia, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.4 miles from Fontana, 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 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 33 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Sierra Avenue

Turn right onto Sierra Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
5
6.4 mi into trip | ~10m in | I 15 / Ontario Freeway

Merge onto I 15 / Ontario Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
32.6 mi into trip | ~38m in

Take the exit toward La Mesa Road, Nisqualli Road

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 148 Toward La Mesa Road, Nisqualli Road
5
32.9 mi into trip | ~38m in | Nisqualli Road

Turn right onto Nisqualli Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
33 mi into trip | ~39m in | Mariposa Road

Turn left onto Mariposa Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.81 one way

$19.63 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $10.11 $20.23
premium $6.18 $10.38 $20.77
diesel $5.61 $9.43 $18.86

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.8 0 $4.48 $2.05
Efficient EV 10.7 0 $3.74 $1.71
EV Truck/SUV 17.1 0 $5.98 $2.73

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (67% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Fontana, CA

Late night in Fontana on Tuesday

Local time

5:13 AM

PDT

Current temp

74°F

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

SW 0 to 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 7:07AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 7:07AM PDT until April 17 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Destination

Apple Valley, CA

Late night in Apple Valley on Tuesday

Local time

5:13 AM

PDT

Current temp

43°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

31 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

55m 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 turn-heavy local drive as you transition from the suburban sprawl of Fontana toward the high desert climate of Apple Valley. Unlike long-haul interstate routes, this trip features no extended, monotonous stretches, requiring your full attention as you navigate through various turning points. The entire route is comprised of surface streets and regional freeways, meaning you will not be relying on a single long-distance highway for the duration of the trip. The road personality shifts from dense local traffic to more open transit as you head north. Staying alert through these technical local sections is essential, as the route demands frequent adjustments rather than cruise-control driving.

48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17 mi on Barstow and Mojave Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Sierra Avenue.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.7 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: near the start (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (I 15 / Ontario Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

About the Cities

Starting in Fontana, CA

Full guide →

Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County in Southern California.

Arriving in Apple Valley, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1988

Apple Valley is a city in California's San Bernardino County. The apple orchards of the early 20th century have been replaced by housing developments: streets of ranch and traditional housed along with the mid-20th century modern and usonian architectural designs between Hwy 18 and Bear Valley Road. Urban development began in the mid-2000s bringing big-box retail, chain restaurants and movie theaters.

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 55m. Total distance: 42.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 17 miles on Barstow and Mojave 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 Apple Valley, 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: near the start (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (I 15 / Ontario Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Apple Valley, 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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