Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
73.6 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lawndale, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Lawndale, CA to San Bernardino, CA is 73.6 miles and takes about 1h 28m via Riverside Freeway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily sticks to Southern California's freeway system, connecting two points within the expansive Pacific Coast region. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on highways, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. Expect a typical urban/suburban freeway experience as you make your way inland.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside Freeway | 46 mi | 53m |
| Artesia Freeway | 13.1 mi | 15m |
| Gardena Freeway | 5.6 mi | 6m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| West Artesia Boulevard | 3 mi | 4m |
| San Diego Freeway | 1 mi | 1m |
| West 5th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Hawthorne Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lawndale, CA and San Bernardino, CA.
Start on Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Turn right
Turn right onto Hawthorne Boulevard
Turn left onto Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Turn left onto Hawthorne Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 405
Take the exit
Turn right onto West Artesia Boulevard
Continue on CA 91
Continue on CA 91
Continue on CA 91
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 91
Continue on I 215
Take the exit
Turn right onto West 5th Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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.
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 36.8 miles from Lawndale, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 72.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 405 South: Long Beach
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CA 91 East: Artesia Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 91 / Riverside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward 5th Street, Civic Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto West 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$16.92 one way
$33.83 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $17.43 | $34.86 |
| premium | $6.18 | $17.90 | $35.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.25 | $32.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$17
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.73 | $3.53 |
| Efficient EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $2.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.30 | $4.71 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Lawndale on Tuesday
Local time
2:17 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Cloudy
Destination
Late night in San Bernardino on Tuesday
Local time
2:17 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey on freeways. You'll spend most of your time on the Riverside Freeway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 46 miles. The route is characterized by its consistent high-speed travel, typical of major California freeways. Expect a smooth, albeit potentially busy, experience as you navigate the urban landscape and transition towards the Inland Empire.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Riverside Freeway and Artesia Freeway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.1 miles (CA 91 / Riverside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Founded 1854
San Bernardino is a city in the Inland Empire in California. It is the site of the first McDonald Brothers Hamburger Stand
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 73.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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