Origin
Glendale, CA
Morning in Glendale on Tuesday
Local time
9:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glendale, CA to Riverside, 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
1h 17m
Distance
57.3 mi
92 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glendale, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Glendale to Riverside, expect a straightforward 57.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 17 minutes. This highway-focused route stays entirely within the Pacific Coast region, making it an efficient day trip that requires no overnight stay. You should budget approximately $13 for fuel to complete the drive. Because the trip is relatively short and direct, you can easily complete it in a single afternoon or morning. It is a practical choice for those who need to move between these two California cities without the hassle of a multi-day itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Foothill Freeway | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| Pomona Freeway | 12 mi | 13m |
| Van Buren Boulevard | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Ventura Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Central Avenue | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Orange Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| Chino Valley Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| East Broadway | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Foothill Freeway
— 18.4 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glendale, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on South Brand Boulevard
43 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Brand Boulevard
2
Turn right
211 ft
·
17 sec
3
Turn right onto East Colorado Street
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
East Colorado Street
4
Turn left onto South Glendale Avenue
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
South Glendale Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto East Broadway
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Broadway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto Harvey Drive
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Harvey Drive
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward CA 134 East
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto CA 134
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 210
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
Foothill Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 44A
Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on CA 57
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 22C
Toward CA 71: Corona
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on CA 71
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Chino Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
2 min
Toward CA 60 East: Riverside
Use the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto CA 60
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 42
Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto Mission Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Mission Boulevard
19
Continue on Van Buren Boulevard
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Van Buren Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto Central Avenue
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Turn sharp right
171 ft
·
12 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.7 miles from Glendale, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 47 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward CA 134 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward CA 134 East
7
25.4 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44A
Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
7
29.4 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward CA 71: Corona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22C
Toward CA 71: Corona
6
33.6 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward CA 60 East: Riverside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 60 East: Riverside
8
47 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda 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 42
Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.17 one way
$26.34 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $13.57 | $27.14 |
| premium | $6.18 | $13.93 | $27.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.65 | $25.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Riverside, CA
Morning in Riverside on Tuesday
Local time
9:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 17m 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?
You will spend about 73% of your time on the highway, ensuring a consistent pace as you transition between major thoroughfares. The journey relies on a combination of the Foothill Freeway, the Pomona Freeway, and Van Buren Boulevard to reach your destination. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch during an 18.4-mile segment on the Foothill Freeway. While the drive is functional and focused on speed, the shift from freeway transit to local roads like Van Buren Boulevard marks the final approach into Riverside. Expect a standard interstate-style experience that prioritizes efficiency over meandering backroads.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.4 mi on Foothill Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Foothill Freeway and Pomona Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57.3 miles you will encounter 16 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: at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 25.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Glendale, CA
Full guide →Founded 1884
Glendale is a suburban city of 205,000 people (2019) in the southeastern corner of the San Fernando Valley of Southern California between Burbank and Downtown Los Angeles. Glendale has one of the largest communities of Armenian descent in the United States. In addition to central Glendale, this article covers the Crescenta Valley communities of La Crescenta, Montrose, Verdugo City, and the part of Glendale in the Crescenta Valley.
Top landmarks
- • Forest Lawn Memorial Park — cemetery in Glendale, California
- • Glendale Transportation Center — railway station
- • Grand Central Airport — airport in Glendale, Los Angeles
Arriving in Riverside, CA
Full guide →Founded 1870
Riverside is a city in Riverside County in California. With a population of over 300,000, the city plays host to a diverse cross-section of people and has a rich history. Riverside is approximately 55 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. It is a center for higher education, with one community college, a large state university, and two private universities. A hub of regional commerce and transportation, it is a city with an intriguing past and a promising future, and is worth a visit.
Top landmarks
- • Mission Inn — hotel in Riverside, California
- • Universalist Unitarian Church of Riverside — church building in Riverside, California, USA
- • First Congregational Church of Riverside — church building in Riverside, California, United States of America
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 17m. Total distance: 57.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.4 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 Riverside, 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: at 1.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 25.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Riverside, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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