Origin
Fontana, CA
Late night in Fontana on Tuesday
Local time
2:15 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fontana, CA to Pasadena, 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
55m
Distance
45.6 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Pasadena, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fontana, CA to Pasadena, CA is 45.6 miles and takes about 55m via Foothill Freeway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Pacific Coast region, connecting two California cities. For the most part, you'll be on highway, making it a straightforward drive. With a duration under an hour, this route is ideal for a quick trip with minimal planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Foothill Freeway | 41.4 mi | 47m |
| Sierra Avenue | 3 mi | 4m |
| North Marengo Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| East Holly Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Merrill Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Maple Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Foothill Freeway
— 41.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and Pasadena, 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
·
22 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 25B
Toward Fair Oaks Avenue North, Marengo Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto East Maple Street
204 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Maple Street
12
Turn left onto North Marengo Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Marengo Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto East Holly Street
441 ft
·
19 sec
·
East Holly Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
East Holly Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.8 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 44.8 — 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.
6
19.4 mi into trip
|
~24m 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.
6
21.8 mi into trip
|
~27m 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
44.8 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward Fair Oaks Avenue North, Marengo Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 25B
Toward Fair Oaks Avenue North, Marengo Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.48 one way
$20.96 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $10.80 | $21.60 |
| premium | $6.18 | $11.09 | $22.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.07 | $20.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Pasadena, CA
Late night in Pasadena on Tuesday
Local time
2:15 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°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
16 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
55m 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?
This route is predominantly highway, with 91% of the drive on freeways. You'll experience a long stretch of 41.4 miles on the Foothill Freeway. Expect to transition from highway to surface streets like Sierra Avenue and North Marengo Avenue as you approach your destination. The drive features a high density of exits throughout the freeway portion.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.4 mi on Foothill Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Foothill Freeway and Sierra Avenue. 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
9/10
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 11 decision points packed into just 45.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
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.
About the Cities
Starting in Fontana, CA
Full guide →Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County in Southern California.
Arriving in Pasadena, CA
Full guide →Founded 1886
Pasadena is one of the oldest cities adjoining Los Angeles and is the main population center of the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California. Known as the City of Roses, Pasadena is most famous for its New Year's Day Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game.
Top landmarks
- • Rose Bowl — football stadium in Pasadena, California, United States
- • Norton Simon Museum — art museum in Pasadena, California
- • Pasadena City Hall — serves as the central location for city government in the City of Pasadena, Cali...
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 55m. Total distance: 45.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.4 miles on Foothill 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 Pasadena, 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 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pasadena, 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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