Origin
Ladera Heights, CA
Late night in Ladera Heights on Tuesday
Local time
5:51 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ladera Heights, 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 23m
Distance
64.9 mi
104 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ladera Heights, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Ladera Heights to Riverside covers 64.9 miles across the Pacific Coast region, typically taking about 1 hour and 23 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete the journey as a one-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to cover the distance. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, making it a straightforward transit rather than a leisurely scenic tour. Whether you are heading inland for business or visiting family, this direct drive offers a reliable way to navigate between the two Southern California hubs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pomona Freeway | 42.1 mi | 48m |
| Santa Monica Freeway | 8.1 mi | 9m |
| Van Buren Boulevard | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Central Avenue | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| South La Cienega Boulevard | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| South Fairfax Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Bedford Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| West Slauson Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pomona Freeway
— 42.1 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ladera Heights, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on Bedford Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Bedford Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto West 57th Street
319 ft
·
15 sec
·
West 57th Street
3
Turn right onto South Sherbourne Drive
402 ft
·
23 sec
·
South Sherbourne Drive
4
At end of road, turn left onto West Slauson Avenue
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
West Slauson Avenue
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
Use the left lane.
6
Turn straight onto South La Cienega Boulevard
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
South La Cienega Boulevard
7
Turn slight right onto South Fairfax Avenue
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
South Fairfax Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn right onto West Washington Boulevard
335 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Washington Boulevard
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 10 East: Los Angeles, Santa Monica Freeway
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 10
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
Toward Western Avenue, Normandie Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 10
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Toward SR-60 East, I-5 South: Pomona, Santa Ana
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Pomona Freeway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 42
Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn straight onto Mission Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Mission Boulevard
22
Continue on Van Buren Boulevard
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Van Buren Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn left onto Central Avenue
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Turn sharp right
171 ft
·
12 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.4 miles from Ladera Heights, 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 54.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West Slauson Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto West Slauson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
4.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 East: Los Angeles, Santa Monica Freeway
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 10 East: Los Angeles, Santa Monica Fre...
8
7.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway toward Western Avenue, Normandie Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Western Avenue, Normandie Avenue
8
12.5 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
CA 60 / Pomona Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60 / Pomona Freeway toward SR-60 East, I-5 South: Pomona, Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward SR-60 East, I-5 South: Pomona, Santa Ana
8
54.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m 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
$14.92 one way
$29.83 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $15.37 | $30.74 |
| premium | $6.18 | $15.78 | $31.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.33 | $28.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.81 | $3.12 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.68 | $2.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26 | 0 | $9.09 | $4.15 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Late night in Riverside on Tuesday
Local time
5:51 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
SE 0 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 2:07AM PDT until April 17 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 1:48AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Medford OR
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
19 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 23m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 77% of your travel time will be spent on high-speed roads. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Pomona Freeway, which accounts for a 42.1-mile stretch of the trip. The transition from the Santa Monica Freeway onto the Pomona Freeway provides a consistent, albeit busy, pace for the majority of the drive. As you approach the final leg, you will navigate via Van Buren Boulevard to reach your destination. While the route lacks the technical curves of mountain passes, it provides a functional and efficient path for those looking to move quickly between regions.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.1 mi on Pomona Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pomona Freeway and Santa Monica Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near West Slauson Avenue.
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 64.9 miles you will encounter 19 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 0.5 miles (West Slauson Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles (I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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 Ladera Heights, CA to Riverside, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Ana along the way.
Santa Ana
12.5 mi in
|
~19m
|
via CA 60
About the Cities
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 23m. Total distance: 64.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.1 miles on Pomona 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 0.5 miles (West Slauson Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles (I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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