Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Late night in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
5:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Angeles, 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 9m
Distance
54.6 mi
88 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 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Riverside, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Los Angeles to Riverside covers 54.6 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes. This straightforward journey stays entirely within the Pacific Coast region, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel cost estimate of just $7, it is a budget-friendly option for commuters or casual travelers. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, keeping the navigation simple and predictable. Since the entire trip is easily manageable in well under two hours, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or complex logistics. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from the heart of Southern California to the Inland Empire efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pomona Freeway | 41.1 mi | 47m |
| Van Buren Boulevard | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Central Avenue | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Mission Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Aliso Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pomona Freeway
— 41.1 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on West 1st Street
69 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 1st Street
2
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto East Aliso Street
338 ft
·
13 sec
·
East Aliso Street
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward US 101 South, I 10 East, I 5 South
5
Merge onto US 101
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward CA 60 East: Soto Street, Pomona
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 60 East: Pomona
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Merge onto CA 60
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Pomona Freeway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 42
Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto Mission Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Mission Boulevard
17
Continue on Van Buren Boulevard
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Van Buren Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn left onto Central Avenue
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn sharp right
171 ft
·
12 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.3 miles from Los Angeles, 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 0 and 44.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Aliso Street
Turn right onto East Aliso Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward CA 60 East: Soto Street, Pomona
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.
Toward CA 60 East: Soto Street, Pomona
7
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CA 60 East: Pomona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward CA 60 East: Pomona
8
44.3 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
$12.55 one way
$25.10 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $12.93 | $25.86 |
| premium | $6.18 | $13.28 | $26.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.05 | $24.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.73 | $2.62 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.78 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.64 | $3.49 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Riverside, CA
Late night in Riverside on Tuesday
Local time
5:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Clear
SE 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 1:22AM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
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
3 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 9m 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?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 79% of the route spent on fast-moving arteries. You can expect a consistent pace, anchored by a lengthy 41.1-mile stretch along the Pomona Freeway. As you progress, the transit shifts from the dense infrastructure of Los Angeles toward the regional connections of Van Buren Boulevard and Central Avenue. While the experience is largely defined by interstate travel, the transition from urban sprawl to the Riverside area provides a clear change in the driving environment. Anticipate a steady, high-speed flow that requires minimal navigational adjustments once you settle onto the main freeway lanes.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.1 mi on Pomona Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pomona Freeway and Van Buren Boulevard. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Main Street.
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 54.6 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: near the start (North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (East Aliso Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
869 ft
220 ft
Total Climb
804 ft
Total Descent
260 ft
Highest Point
869 ft
~31.2 mi in
Elevation Range
650 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Los Angeles, CA
Full guide →“Tinseltown” · Founded 1781
Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have quipped, "Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles," a quote that has since been repeated both by those who love and hate L.A. The "City of Angels" is home to people who hail from all parts of the globe and an important center of culture, business, media, and international trade. However, it's most famous for being a major center of the world's television, motion picture, and music industry, which forms the base of the city's status and lures visitors for its show business history and celebrity culture. Visitors are also drawn to Los Angeles for its Mediterranean climate and numerous beaches, which gave birth to California's famed surf culture.
Top landmarks
- • Hollywood Walk of Fame — more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks...
- • Hollywood Sign — sign reading "HOLLYWOOD" located in Los Angeles, California, United States
- • Getty Center — campus of the Getty Museum and other programs of the Getty Trust in 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 9m. Total distance: 54.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.1 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: near the start (North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (East Aliso Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 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.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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