Spanning 44 miles across the Pacific Coast region, this drive from Fontana to Montebello is a straightforward journey typically taking about 54 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stops. Budget approximately $6 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southern California cities. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major arterial highways, making this a highly efficient transit corridor. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick excursion, the simplicity of this trip makes it a reliable choice for your schedule.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
San Bernardino Freeway
23.5 mi
27m
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
9.3 mi
9m
San Gabriel River Freeway
6.1 mi
7m
Whittier Boulevard
2.3 mi
5m
Sierra Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Esperanza Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Merrill Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
West Whittier Boulevard
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
San Bernardino Freeway
— 23.5 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and Montebello, 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 AngelesUse 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
1.9 mi·2 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.6 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.4 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.5 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
2.0 mi·2 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.6 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
1.3 mi·1 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 31AToward I 605: San Gabriel River FreewayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 605 South: San BernardinoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 605
6.1 mi·7 min·San Gabriel River Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 15Toward Whittier BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on Esperanza Avenue
223 ft·7 sec·Esperanza Avenue
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn right onto Whittier Boulevard
2.3 mi·5 min·Whittier Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
West Whittier Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 22 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 41.5 — 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.
6
7.8 mi into trip|~10m in|I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
34.8 mi into trip|~40m in
Take the exit toward I 605: San Gabriel River Freeway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31A
Toward I 605: San Gabriel River Freeway
7
35 mi into trip|~41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 605 South: San Bernardino
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 605 South: San Bernardino
7
41.5 mi into trip|~48m in
Take the exit toward Whittier Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 15
Toward Whittier Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.11 one way
$20.23 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg15 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$10.42
$20.84
premium
$6.18
$10.70
$21.40
diesel
$5.61
$9.71
$19.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
13.2
0
$4.62
$2.11
Efficient EV
11
0
$3.85
$1.76
EV Truck/SUV
17.6
0
$6.16
$2.82
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Fontana, CA
Morning
in Fontana on Sunday
Local time
9:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Montebello, CA
Morning
in Montebello on Sunday
Local time
9:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
73°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
1 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
54m 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 classic highway-focused experience, as 88% of this journey is spent on major freeways. You will navigate the San Bernardino Freeway, transition into the I-10 Metro ExpressLanes, and finish the final leg via the San Gabriel River Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 23.5 miles on the San Bernardino Freeway, providing a consistent pace for the bulk of your travel. This is a functional, high-speed drive designed for connectivity rather than leisurely winding roads. Staying alert is key as you maneuver through these interconnected metropolitan arteries.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.5 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 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.
Driving Effort10/10
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 22 decision points packed into just 44 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 54m.
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 34.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 44 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.5 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 Montebello, 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 7.8 miles (I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Montebello, CA before heading back.
