Origin
Fontana, CA
Late night in Fontana on Tuesday
Local time
3:48 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fontana, CA to Fullerton, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
40.7 mi
66 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Fullerton, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Fontana to Fullerton covers 40.7 miles and typically takes about 52 minutes, making this an ideal day trip. You will navigate primarily via the San Bernardino Freeway, the Orange Freeway, and segments of the I-10 Metro ExpressLanes. Because the entire journey remains within the Pacific Coast region of California, the transition is seamless and straightforward. Budgeting around $9 for fuel is sufficient for the trip, allowing you to focus on the drive rather than logistics. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick outing, this route is efficient and requires no overnight stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino Freeway | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| Orange Freeway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| I-10 Metro ExpressLanes | 9.3 mi | 9m |
| Sierra Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Brea Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Pomona Freeway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| South State College Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| Bastanchury Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
San Bernardino Freeway
— 11.8 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and Fullerton, CA.
1
Start on Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
9 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
2
Turn left onto Sierra Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 10
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR
9.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 10
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
San Bernardino Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward CA 57: Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto CA 57
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto CA 60; CA 57
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 57
405 ft
·
5 sec
·
Orange Freeway
Toward CA 57 South, CA 60 Alt West: Santa Ana, Brea Canyon Road
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 57
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 57
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 57
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 9
Toward CA 90: Imperial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto CA 90
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
East Imperial Highway
Use the left / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto South State College Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South State College Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
22
Turn right onto Bastanchury Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Bastanchury Road
Use the right lane.
23
Turn left onto Brea Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Brea Boulevard
Use the left lane.
24
Turn left onto North Harbor Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Harbor Boulevard
25
Turn right onto West Commonwealth Avenue
312 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Commonwealth Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
West Commonwealth Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.4 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 235 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 36.1 — 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 left onto Sierra Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
23.4 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
8
28.5 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
CA 57 / Orange Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 57 / Orange Freeway toward CA 57 South, CA 60 Alt West: Santa Ana, Brea Canyon Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 57 South, CA 60 Alt West: Santa Ana,...
7
35.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward CA 90: Imperial Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9
Toward CA 90: Imperial Highway
7
36.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
CA 90 / East Imperial Highway
Turn right onto CA 90 / East Imperial Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.35 one way
$18.71 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $9.64 | $19.28 |
| premium | $6.18 | $9.90 | $19.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.99 | $17.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.70 | $2.60 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Fullerton, CA
Late night in Fullerton on Tuesday
Local time
3:48 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°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
14 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
52m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive, as approximately 80% of your time will be spent cruising on major thoroughfares. The personality of this route is defined by its fast-paced interstate nature rather than leisurely backroads. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 11.8 miles while traveling along the San Bernardino Freeway. As you navigate the transition between freeways, the road maintains a consistent, high-speed pace suited for those looking to reach their destination without technical detours. It is a functional, direct drive that keeps you moving steadily toward your destination.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.8 mi on San Bernardino Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Bernardino Freeway and Orange 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
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 23 decision points packed into just 40.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.5 miles (CA 57 / Orange Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Fullerton, CA
Full guide →Founded 1887
Fullerton is an inland city in north Orange County in Southern California. Situated just north of Anaheim and its far better-known tourist attractions, Fullerton has a few surprises up her sleeve.
Top landmarks
- • Fox Fullerton Theatre — theater and movie theater in Fullerton, California, United States
- • Fullerton Post Office
- • Hillcrest Park — historic park in Fullerton, California
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 52m. Total distance: 40.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.8 miles on San Bernardino 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 Fullerton, 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 23.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.5 miles (CA 57 / Orange Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Fullerton, 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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