Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
49.7 mi
80 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
This 50-mile drive from Fontana, CA to Los Angeles, CA is a straightforward, single-day trip, estimated to take about 55 minutes without significant traffic. You'll primarily navigate using Sierra Avenue and I-10 West, also known as the San Bernardino Freeway. With a fuel cost around $12, this route is an economical option for a quick journey within the Pacific Coast region. It's a turn-heavy local drive, so expect a more engaged driving experience than a simple highway cruise. This trip is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing ample time for your destination activities.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino Freeway | 37.2 mi | 42m |
| I-10 Metro ExpressLanes | 9.3 mi | 9m |
| Sierra Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Los Angeles Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Arcadia Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Merrill Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
Start on Merrill Avenue
Turn left onto Sierra Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR
Merge onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
Merge onto US 101
Take the exit
Continue on I 10 EXPR
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
Turn right onto East 1st Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 24.9 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 49 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Sierra Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$11.42 one way
$22.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $11.77 | $23.54 |
| premium | $6.18 | $12.09 | $24.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.97 | $21.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.39 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.35 | $1.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.96 | $3.18 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Fontana on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Clear
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Late night in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
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
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.
Expect a rather turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be on surface streets for the entire 50 miles. This implies a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate grind. Given the local road nature, traffic patterns and speed limits will vary considerably as you progress from Fontana into Los Angeles. While there's no 'longest stretch' data, the constant need for turns and potential for varied traffic conditions means you'll be actively navigating for the entire duration of the roughly 55-minute journey.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Bernardino Freeway and I-10 Metro ExpressLanes. 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.
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 22 decision points packed into just 49.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles (I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.5 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County in Southern California.
“Tinseltown” · Founded 1781
Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have quipped, "Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles," a quote that has since been repeated both by those who love and hate L.A. The "City of Angels" is home to people who hail from all parts of the globe and an important center of culture, business, media, and international trade. However, it's most famous for being a major center of the world's television, motion picture, and music industry, which forms the base of the city's status and lures visitors for its show business history and celebrity culture. Visitors are also drawn to Los Angeles for its Mediterranean climate and numerous beaches, which gave birth to California's famed surf culture.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 49.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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