Indian Wells to Riverside is 141.5 miles and takes about 2h 48m via Blue Star Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California's Pacific Coast region, offering a fairly direct connection between the two locations. Expect a route that requires frequent attention due to its turn-heavy nature, rather than a simple freeway cruise. Given the relatively short duration and straightforward mileage, this trip is ideal for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
70.7 miles from Indian Wells, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Blue Star Memorial Highway
97.1 mi
1h 56m
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
9.7 mi
10m
Barstow Freeway
9.5 mi
10m
Riverside Freeway
8.9 mi
10m
CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
5.6 mi
6m
San Bernardino Freeway
5.6 mi
6m
Aerospace Highway
2.6 mi
3m
Red Mountain Road
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Blue Star Memorial Highway
— 97.1 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indian Wells, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on CA 14; US 6 Hist
475 ft·11 sec·Aerospace Highway
2
Take the exit
157 ft·11 sec
3
Turn left onto CA 14; US 6 Hist
2.5 mi·2 min·Aerospace Highway
4
Merge onto US 395; US 6 Hist
0.2 mi·22 sec·Blue Star Memorial Highway
5
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.5 mi·43 sec·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the left lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 395
30 mi·34 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Toward US 395 South: San BernardinoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 395
0.9 mi·1 min·Red Mountain Road
8
Continue on US 395
67 mi·1 hr 20 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los AngelesUse the straight lane.
10
Merge onto I 15; US 66 Hist
3.4 mi·3 min·Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist; US 91 Hist; US 395 Hist
5.6 mi·6 min·CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist
6.3 mi·6 min·Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 215
0.2 mi·13 sec·Barstow Freeway
Exit 123
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 215
9.3 mi·10 min·Barstow Freeway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 215
5.6 mi·6 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 215
5.3 mi·6 min·Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on CA 91
3.6 mi·4 min·Riverside Freeway
Exit 34BUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 62Toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Central Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Central Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn slight left
171 ft·12 sec
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a 2h 48m estimated drive time and a $33 fuel cost, this trip offers flexibility for departure. Consider leaving in the morning to make the most of daylight, especially since it's a single-day route. While there's only one recommended stop, keep an eye on your fuel levels, as you'll be on local roads for a significant portion. A specific tip: pay close attention to navigation prompts as you transition between the Blue Star Memorial Highway, Barstow and Mojave Freeway, and Barstow Freeway to avoid missing any turns.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.7 miles from Indian Wells, CA, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.1 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.7 miles or 1h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverside, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Indian Wells, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Indian Wells, CA
This is one driving day of about 141.5 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Indian Wells, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Blue Star Memorial Highway for about 97.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 140.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
7
3.4 mi into trip|~4m in|US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway toward US 395 South: San Bernardino
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 395 South: San Bernardino
7
100.7 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
6
116.8 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|I 215 / Barstow Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 215 / Barstow Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
140.6 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza 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 62
Toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.52 one way
$65.05 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$33.51
$67.03
premium
$6.18
$34.41
$68.82
diesel
$5.61
$31.24
$62.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.4
0
$14.86
$6.79
Efficient EV
35.4
0
$12.38
$5.66
EV Truck/SUV
56.6
0
$19.81
$9.06
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Indian Wells, CA
Late night
in Indian Wells on Sunday
Local time
5:51 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Riverside, CA
Late night
in Riverside on Sunday
Local time
5:51 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
NE 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive 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
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
2h 48m 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?
This route leans heavily on local roads, with only a 24% highway share, meaning you'll navigate a more involved driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 97.1 miles on the Blue Star Memorial Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel before transitioning. Be prepared for a turn-heavy profile; this isn't a straight shot and will demand active navigation. The drive will feel more like a series of connected local journeys rather than a typical interstate experience.
Only 24% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.1 mi on Blue Star Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 141.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.4 miles (US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Indian Wells, CA to Riverside, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Los Angeles along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 141.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97.1 miles on Blue Star Memorial Highway. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.4 miles (US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Riverside, CA before heading back.
