Origin
Fontana, CA
Evening in Fontana on Saturday
Local time
6:25 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fontana, CA to Rosamond, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 51m
Distance
84.7 mi
136 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 43m
★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Rosamond, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Fontana to Rosamond is 84.7 miles and takes about 1h 51m via CA 138, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily takes you through California's Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward path from one point to another. Expect a predominantly highway experience, making it an efficient option for getting between these two locations without extensive detours. Given its relatively short duration, it's well-suited for a same-day trip, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination. Plan for a mostly highway cruise that bypasses major urban centers for much of its length.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.3 miles from Fontana, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 138 | 40.2 mi | 56m |
| Antelope Valley Freeway | 10.4 mi | 12m |
| Aerospace Highway | 9.4 mi | 10m |
| Barstow and Mojave Freeway | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| Sierra Avenue | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| East Palmdale Boulevard | 5 mi | 6m |
| Ontario Freeway | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| 47th Street East | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
CA 138
— 40.2 mi, about 56m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~5,301 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~1,169 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
4.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 46 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana, CA and Rosamond, CA.
1
Start on Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
6 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
2
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 15 North
4
Merge onto I 15
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Ontario Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 15
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 131
Toward CA 138: Palmdale, Silverwood Lake
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto CA 138
40 mi
·
55 min
·
CA 138
8
Continue on CA 138
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
47th Street East
9
Enter roundabout onto CA 138
287 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Palmdale Boulevard
10
Continue on CA 138
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
East Palmdale Boulevard
11
Take the exit onto CA 138
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
CA 138
Toward CA 14 North, CA 138 West: Mojave
12
Merge onto CA 14; CA 138
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Aerospace Highway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 55
Toward Rosamond Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
498 ft
·
12 sec
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto Rosamond Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Rosamond Boulevard
17
Turn right onto US 6 Hist
90 ft
·
1 sec
·
Sierra Highway
18
Arrive at destination
US 6 Hist
Trip Plan
For this 1h 51m drive, leaving Fontana in the morning is ideal to avoid any potential afternoon traffic. Since it’s a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to stop if needed, though no specific stops are noted on this route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $19, and refueling options might be more spread out on certain highway sections. The longest continuous stretch is over 40 miles on CA 138, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. This route is designed for efficiency, making it a quick point-to-point connection.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.3 miles from Fontana, CA, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.2 miles.
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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.3 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rosamond, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fontana, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fontana, CA
This is one driving day of about 84.7 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Fontana, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on CA 138 for about 40.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.3 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 84.2 — 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.
8
17 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward CA 138: Palmdale, Silverwood Lake
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 131
Toward CA 138: Palmdale, Silverwood Lake
6
74.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 40m in
|
CA 14 / Aerospace Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14 / Aerospace Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
84 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward Rosamond Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 55
Toward Rosamond Boulevard
7
84.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.20 one way
$38.40 round trip
$5.76/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.96 | $19.86 | $39.72 |
| premium | $6.09 | $20.31 | $40.63 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $18.02 | $36.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.89 | $4.07 |
| Efficient EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.41 | $3.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.86 | $5.42 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Rosamond, CA
Evening in Rosamond on Saturday
Local time
6:25 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
8 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
1h 51m 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 mostly highway, with 72% of the driving on freeways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 40.2 miles on CA 138, providing a good opportunity for steady cruising. The transition from freeway to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination, so be prepared for a change in driving environment. Expect a rural cruising feel for significant portions of this drive, punctuated by the Antelope Valley Freeway and Aerospace Highway segments.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.2 mi on CA 138.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 138 and Antelope Valley 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
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.7 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.6 miles (CA 14 / Aerospace Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fontana, CA to Rosamond, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Silverwood Lake along the way.
Silverwood Lake
17 mi in
|
~21m
About the Cities
Starting in Fontana, CA
Full guide →Founded 1913
Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County in Southern California.
Top landmarks
- • Bono's Restaurant and Deli
Arriving in Rosamond, CA
Full guide →Rosamond is a city in Antelope Valley, Southern 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 1h 51m. Total distance: 84.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.2 miles on CA 138. 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 Rosamond, 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 17 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.6 miles (CA 14 / Aerospace Highway): 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 Rosamond, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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