Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 10m
Distance
216.4 mi
348 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Lindsay, CA
Wikimedia Commons
This 216.4-mile journey from Fontana to Lindsay, California, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 10 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Foothill Freeway, Porterville Highway, and Golden State Freeway, this drive is heavily highway-focused, with 73% of it on major roadways. With an estimated fuel cost of $50, it's an accessible trip for a day excursion. You'll experience a straightforward drive through the Pacific Coast region, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Plan for one main stop to break up the drive.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
108.2 miles from Fontana, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Foothill Freeway | 67.2 mi | 1h 17m |
| Porterville Highway | 54 mi | 1h 1m |
| Golden State Freeway | 52.8 mi | 58m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.1 mi | 42m |
| Sierra Avenue | 3 mi | 4m |
| West Hermosa Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Mirage Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Hermosa Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and Lindsay, CA.
Start on Merrill Avenue
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Take the exit
Continue on CA 65
Turn sharp right onto J29
Enter roundabout onto J29
Continue on J29
Enter roundabout onto J29
Continue on J29
Turn right onto J29
Turn left onto East Honolulu Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Given the 4-hour, 10-minute duration, leaving Fontana in the morning is your best bet for a day trip to Lindsay. This allows you to arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can be strategic; consider a mid-point break around the halfway mark to stretch your legs and refuel. The fuel cost is estimated at $50, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing. Keep an eye on traffic, especially as you approach and navigate the Golden State Freeway, as it can experience significant volume.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 48 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.2 miles or 2h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lindsay, CA than in the middle of the route.
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 216.4 miles and 4h 10m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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.
A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 108.2 miles from Fontana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Foothill Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 160.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210 / Foothill Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210 / Foothill Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CA 65: Porterville, Sequoia National Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$49.74 one way
$99.48 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $51.25 | $102.51 |
| premium | $6.18 | $52.63 | $105.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.78 | $95.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 64.9 | 0 | $22.72 | $10.39 |
| Efficient EV | 54.1 | 0 | $18.94 | $8.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.6 | 1 | $30.30 | $13.85 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Fontana on Sunday
Local time
9:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Lindsay on Sunday
Local time
9:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 216.4-mile route, accounting for 73% on major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 67.2 miles on the Foothill Freeway, offering a consistent pace. While largely a freeway experience, the transition to the Porterville Highway and Golden State Freeway means you'll be navigating a mix of high-speed travel and potentially busier sections. This isn't a winding, scenic byway, but rather a direct path designed for efficient travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Foothill Freeway and Porterville Highway. 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 216.4 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 19.4 miles (CA 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fontana, CA to Lindsay, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Sequoia National Park along the way.
Sequoia National Park
Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County in Southern California.
Founded 1910
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 10m. Total distance: 216.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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