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Trip from La Quinta, CA to Riverside, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 37m

Distance

78.6 mi

126 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 30m ★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Riverside County, California, United States

La Quinta, CA

Wikimedia Commons

county seat of Riverside County, California, United States

Riverside, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 78.6-mile drive from La Quinta, CA, to Riverside, CA, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 37 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimate of $18, it's an economical option for a single-day excursion. The route is primarily highway-focused, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B. Since you'll spend about 64% of your time on major freeways, expect a smooth, albeit not particularly scenic, journey. This is a perfect route for a day trip, requiring no overnight stays and allowing for maximum flexibility.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

39.3 miles from La Quinta, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway 25.3 mi 27m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway 17.9 mi 19m
Moreno Valley Freeway 16.5 mi 20m
Washington Street 4.8 mi 8m
Escondido Freeway 3.9 mi 4m
Eisenhower Drive 2.8 mi 5m
Riverside Freeway 2.2 mi 2m
Moreno Valley Expressway 2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway — 25.3 mi, about 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between La Quinta, CA and Riverside, CA.

1

Start on Calle Chihuahua

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Calle Chihuahua
2

Turn left onto Eisenhower Drive

0.6 mi · 1 min · Eisenhower Drive
3

Enter roundabout onto Eisenhower Drive

101 ft · 2 sec · Eisenhower Drive
4

Continue on Eisenhower Drive

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Eisenhower Drive
5

Enter roundabout onto Eisenhower Drive

143 ft · 4 sec · Eisenhower Drive
6

Continue on Eisenhower Drive

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Eisenhower Drive
7

Enter roundabout onto Eisenhower Drive

107 ft · 3 sec · Eisenhower Drive
8

Continue on Eisenhower Drive

1.8 mi · 3 min · Eisenhower Drive
Use the left lane.
9

Turn left onto Washington Street

4.8 mi · 8 min · Washington Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
10

Turn left onto Varner Road

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Varner Road
11

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 10 West
12

Merge onto I 10

25 mi · 27 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Continue on I 10

18 mi · 19 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 13 sec
Exit 93 Toward CA 60 West: Riverside Use the slight left lane.
15

Continue on CA 60

0.5 mi · 33 sec · Moreno Valley Freeway
16

Continue on CA 60

2.0 mi · 2 min · Moreno Valley Expressway
Use the straight lane.
17

Continue on CA 60

16 mi · 20 min · Moreno Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Merge onto I 215; CA 60

3.9 mi · 4 min · Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

1.5 mi · 3 min
Exit 34B Toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Merge onto CA 91

2.2 mi · 2 min · Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Exit 62 Toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Turn right onto Central Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Central Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
23

Turn slight left

171 ft · 12 sec
Use the left lane.
24

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 37 minutes, this route offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, but aiming for mid-morning or early afternoon can help you avoid the worst of the commuter traffic. Since there are no specified stops, consider a brief fuel or rest break around the halfway point, perhaps after the 25.3-mile stretch on the Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is only $18, it’s always wise to know your nearest service area. This drive is best tackled in one go, so plan your departure to maximize your time at your destination.

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 39.3 miles from La Quinta, CA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.3 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 17 miles or 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 39.3 miles or 49m 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 21m

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 La Quinta, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from La Quinta, CA

This is one driving day of about 78.6 miles and 1h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from La Quinta, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway for about 25.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

census-designated place in Riverside County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cabazon, CA

39 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

Thousand Palms, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cabazon, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.3 miles from La Quinta, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · around the midpoint

Consuelo's Home Style Mexican Food

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Banning, California

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset · 56min in / 42min to go 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+19518493760

Visit website

Consuelo's Home Style Mexican Food

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Banning, California

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+19518493760

Visit website

Workshop Kitchen & Bar

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $50 to $10

Palm Springs, California

Hours: 5–10 pm

+17604593451

Visit website

Ash & Vine Restaurant

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

Early stretch 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $50 to $10

Palm Springs, California

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+17606997730

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Final third 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Beaumont, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Palm Desert, California

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Beaumont, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Riverside, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Moreno Valley, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Moreno Valley, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Moreno Valley, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

3.4 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.2 mi from route

Banning, California

+18668167584

Visit website

Cabazon Dinosaurs - World's Biggest Dinosaurs

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Cabazon, California

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+19092728164

Visit website

Escape Room Palm Springs

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Palm Springs, California

Hours: 2–7 pm

+17607798888

Visit website

Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour

La Quinta, California

+17605644712

Visit website

Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Rancho Mirage, California

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+17603210602

Visit website

Covered Wagon Tours

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Palm Desert, CA

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+17603472161

Visit website

Ruth Hardy Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

Early stretch 3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour

Palm Springs, California

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+17603238272

Visit website

Robolights

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Palm Springs, California

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+17607740318

Visit website

Museum of Ancient Wonders

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 4 mi from route ~10 min detour

Cathedral City, California

+14422685004

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 77.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | Eisenhower Drive

Enter roundabout onto Eisenhower Drive

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

6
7.9 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the ramp toward I 10 West

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Toward I 10 West
7
51.3 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in

Take the exit toward CA 60 West: Riverside

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 93 Toward CA 60 West: Riverside
8
73.9 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in

Take the exit toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities

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 34B Toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
8
77.6 mi into trip | ~1h 35m 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

$18.07 one way

$36.13 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $18.62 $37.23
premium $6.18 $19.11 $38.23
diesel $5.61 $17.35 $34.71

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.6 0 $8.25 $3.77
Efficient EV 19.7 0 $6.88 $3.14
EV Truck/SUV 31.4 0 $11.00 $5.03

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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

La Quinta, CA

Late night in La Quinta on Tuesday

Local time

3:49 AM

PDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Riverside, CA

Late night in Riverside on Tuesday

Local time

3:49 AM

PDT

Current temp

52°F

Mostly Clear

NE 5 to 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Lake Wind Advisory

Lake Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 10:33PM PDT until April 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 10:33PM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

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

1h 37m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

National Park

Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds...

29 mi from route ~72 min detour $30 near mile 8.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 78.6-mile journey. You'll be navigating major freeways like the Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, and Moreno Valley Freeway for roughly 64% of the total distance. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 25.3 miles on the Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway. While this makes for a quick trip, the character is predominantly that of efficient freeway travel rather than a winding scenic byway. The drive is designed for speed and directness, connecting you efficiently between Southern California communities.

64% 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: 25.3 mi on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway and Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near Eisenhower Drive.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.6 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 1.1 miles (Eisenhower Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.9 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 51.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

On the drive from La Quinta, CA to Riverside, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Beach Cities along the way.

Beach Cities

73.9 mi in | ~1h 29m

About the Cities

Starting in La Quinta, CA

Full guide →

La Quinta is a city in Riverside County in Southern California. It is a desert resort city about 30 minutes southeast of Palm Springs. La Quinta is one of the nation's leading golf destinations, having 28 golf courses within the city limits. Tourism is centered primarily on golf, hiking in the surrounding mountains, relaxing at the historic La Quinta Resort, and shopping and dining in the Village.

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 37m. Total distance: 78.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 25.3 miles on Sonny Bono Memorial 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 1.1 miles (Eisenhower Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.9 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 51.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Joshua Tree National Park. 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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