Water
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Fontana, CA to Fair Oaks, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 12m
Distance
436 mi
702 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$105
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 5m
★
6 AM
8h 12m
8 AM
8h 28m
10 AM
8h 18m
12 PM
8h 16m
3 PM
8h 19m
5 PM
8h 28m
8 PM
8h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Fair Oaks, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Fontana, CA to Fair Oaks, CA is 436 miles and takes about 8h 12m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $97 and enough daylight to finish in a day if you start early, though an overnight is recommended. This trip keeps you within California's Pacific Coast region for its entirety. You'll spend most of your time on major freeways, making it a straightforward drive. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct connection between Southern and Northern California with minimal navigation challenges. It's a solid choice for a quick transit.
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
218 miles from Fontana, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 251.1 mi | 4h 29m |
| Foothill Freeway | 67.2 mi | 1h 17m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.1 mi | 42m |
| CA 99 | 29.4 mi | 33m |
| Golden State Freeway | 22.3 mi | 25m |
| Bradshaw Road | 11.3 mi | 16m |
| El Dorado Freeway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Sierra Avenue | 3 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 251.1 mi, about 4h 29m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 178 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
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Fontana, CA and Fair Oaks, CA.
1
Start on Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
6 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
2
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward CA 210 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto CA 210
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
26 mi
·
29 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Westside Freeway
17
Take the exit onto CA 4
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
CA 4
Toward CA 4 East: Downtown Stockton
18
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 4
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
CA 4
19
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 4
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
CA 4
20
Merge onto CA 4
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Crosstown Freeway
21
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 99 North
22
Merge onto CA 99
29 mi
·
33 min
·
CA 99
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward Grant Line Road
24
Turn right onto E2
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Grant Line Road
25
Turn left onto Bradshaw Road
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Bradshaw Road
26
Enter roundabout onto Bradshaw Road
91 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bradshaw Road
27
Continue on Bradshaw Road
8.7 mi
·
12 min
·
Bradshaw Road
Use the left / uturn lanes.
28
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward US 50 East: South Lake Tahoe
29
Merge onto US 50
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
El Dorado Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 18
Toward Sunrise Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Turn left onto CR E2
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Sunrise Boulevard
Use the left lane.
32
Continue on CR E2
152 ft
·
19 sec
·
Sunrise Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
33
Arrive at destination
CR E2
Trip Plan
For this 436-mile drive, splitting it into two days is advisable to avoid fatigue, with an overnight stop around the halfway point. Aim to depart Fontana early in the morning to maximize daylight hours. You'll have 2 planned stops, so use them to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 251.1 miles on the Westside Freeway, as services can be spaced out. Remember that I 5 Truck is a designated route for commercial vehicles, so be mindful of truck traffic.
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 218 miles from Fontana, CA, or about 4h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 251.1 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 96 miles or 1h 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 218 miles or 4h 5m 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 218 miles or 4h 5m
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 6h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fair Oaks, 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.
+
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 Fontana, CA
Aim for roughly 218 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Fair Oaks, CA
Aim for roughly 218 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Fontana, 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 251.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
218 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Reedley, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
218 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Reedley, CA after about 218 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 96 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 218 miles from Fontana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 251.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 218 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Dos Amigos Vista Point
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Castaic Truck Stop
0.1 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Coalinga Avenal Safety Roadside Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Lost Hills Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Northbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.4 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.7 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.3 mi from route
Rest Area
1.6 mi from route
Rest Area
1.8 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 305 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 433 — 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.
6
18.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
CA 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210 / Foothill Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
45 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26A
Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
7
130.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
|
I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
7
433 mi into trip
|
~8h 6m in
Take the exit toward Sunrise Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward Sunrise Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$105.48 one way
$210.96 round trip
$6.15/gal
25.4 MPG avg
153 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.34 | $108.81 | $217.62 |
| premium | $6.50 | $111.51 | $223.01 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $106.06 | $212.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$105
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$235–$345
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 152.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 130.8 | 1 | $45.78 | $20.93 |
| Efficient EV | 109 | 1 | $38.15 | $17.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 174.4 | 2 | $61.04 | $27.90 |
Gas CO2
153 kg
EV CO2
51 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.
Origin
Fontana, CA
Afternoon in Fontana on Tuesday
Local time
3:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Clear
0 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 19 at 1:23AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:31PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Fair Oaks, CA
Afternoon in Fair Oaks on Tuesday
Local time
3:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 7 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 19 at 1:23AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:31PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard 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
11 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
8h 12m 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.
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 75.2
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
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
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 135.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly highway, with 95% of the 436 miles on freeways like the Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. You'll experience a longest stretch of 251.1 miles on the Westside Freeway before encountering any surface roads. Expect a steady stream of exits and merges as you traverse urban and suburban areas for much of the route. The transition to non-highway driving will occur around mile 414.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 251.1 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 early in the drive near Sierra Avenue.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 436 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: near the start (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles (CA 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,786 ft
17 ft
Total Climb
2,747 ft
Total Descent
3,810 ft
Highest Point
2,786 ft
~93.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,769 ft
Notable High Points
2,786 ft at ~93.4 miles
+1,022 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in Fontana, CA
Full guide →Founded 1913
Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County in Southern California.
Top landmarks
- • Bono's Restaurant and Deli
Arriving in Fair Oaks, CA
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 251.1 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 218 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 Fair Oaks, 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: near the start (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles (CA 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 45 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area 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 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fair Oaks, CA before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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