This 100.7-mile drive from Fontana, CA to California City, CA will take you approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes. It's a straightforward, single-day trip with a manageable fuel cost of around $23. You'll primarily be on the Blue Star Memorial Highway and Mojave-Barstow Highway, with a short section of California City Boulevard near your destination. This route is a good option if you're looking for a relatively quick journey within the Pacific Coast region. Given its duration, it's perfectly suited for a day trip without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.3 miles from Fontana, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
41.8 mi
51m
Mojave-Barstow Highway
16.2 mi
17m
California City Boulevard
10.9 mi
16m
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
9.7 mi
10m
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
Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
4.8 mi
5m
Ontario Freeway
3.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 41.8 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and California City, 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
2.8 mi·3 min·Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 141Toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
9
Continue on this road
0.9 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 141Toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
10
Continue on US 395
42 mi·51 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 206Toward CA 58 West: MojaveUse the left lane.
12
Merge onto CA 58
4.8 mi·5 min·Barstow-Bakersfield Highway
13
Continue on CA 58
16 mi·17 min·Mojave-Barstow Highway
14
Turn right onto California City Boulevard
8.4 mi·12 min·California City Boulevard
15
Turn left onto California City Boulevard
2.5 mi·4 min·California City Boulevard
16
Turn left onto Neuralia Road
174 ft·15 sec·Neuralia Road
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right
66 ft·6 sec
18
Turn uturn onto California City Boulevard
94 ft·7 sec·California City Boulevard
19
Arrive at destination
California City Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 2-hour drive, you have the flexibility to leave whenever works best for you. With no designated stops, you can easily pull over as needed, perhaps after completing the longest stretch of 41.8 miles on the Blue Star Memorial Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $23, and plan for any necessary refueling stops in advance, especially since it's described as a 'turn-heavy local drive' which can sometimes mean less frequent services. Being in California, always be aware of local driving conditions and speed limits.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.3 miles from Fontana, CA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.8 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.3 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near California City, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fontana, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fontana, CA
This is one driving day of about 100.7 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Fontana, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 41.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 100.6 — 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.
6
25.3 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 141
Toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
7
68.2 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Turn left toward CA 58 West: Mojave
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 206
Toward CA 58 West: Mojave
7
100.6 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|California City Boulevard
Turn uturn onto California City Boulevard
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.15 one way
$46.29 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$23.85
$47.70
premium
$6.18
$24.49
$48.98
diesel
$5.61
$22.23
$44.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.2
0
$10.57
$4.83
Efficient EV
25.2
0
$8.81
$4.03
EV Truck/SUV
40.3
0
$14.10
$6.44
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Fontana, CA
Morning
in Fontana on Sunday
Local time
8:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
N 20 to 30 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
California City, CA
Morning
in California City on Sunday
Local time
8:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
2h 5m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 100.7-mile journey, with only about 13% of it being on highways. The majority of your time will be spent on local roads. The longest stretch without needing to make a significant turn or change roads is 41.8 miles along the Blue Star Memorial Highway. This suggests a route that winds through more populated or developed areas rather than open interstate cruising, so be prepared for frequent adjustments and a more connected driving experience.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.8 mi on Blue Star Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Sierra Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
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 100.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 25.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Fontana, CA to California City, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Bishop along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 100.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (13%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.8 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 25.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at California City, CA before heading back.
