Trip from Mentone, CA to Fresno, 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

5h 21m

Distance

282.4 mi

455 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$65

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 8m ★

6 AM

5h 21m

8 AM

5h 48m

10 AM

5h 31m

12 PM

5h 28m

3 PM

5h 32m

5 PM

5h 47m

8 PM

5h 13m

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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Mentone, CA

Efrem Efre

county seat of Fresno County, California, United States

Fresno, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 283.4-mile drive from Mentone, CA to Fresno, CA is a straightforward, single-day adventure covering approximately 5 hours of travel time. With a fuel cost estimated at $66, it's an economical choice for a quick trip. The route primarily utilizes local roads like East Lugonia Avenue and Orange Street, with a segment on I-10 West, but features a 0% highway share, indicating a more local, turn-heavy experience. Given its manageable duration and cost, this trip is perfectly suited for a one-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll be traveling within the Pacific Coast region for the entirety of this journey.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

141.2 miles from Mentone, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Golden State Highway	98.2 mi	1h 45m
Golden State Freeway	55.6 mi	1h 1m
Foothill Freeway	43.9 mi	50m
I 5 Truck	37.1 mi	42m
San Bernardino Freeway	19.9 mi	22m
I-10 Metro ExpressLanes	9.3 mi	9m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway	6.7 mi	7m
CA 57	3.4 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Golden State Highway — 98.2 mi, about 1h 45m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mentone, CA and Fresno, CA.

Start on CA 38

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Mentone Boulevard

Continue on CA 38

2.5 mi · 4 min · East Lugonia Avenue

Turn left onto CA 38

0.5 mi · 1 min · Orange Street

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles

Merge onto I 10

6.7 mi · 7 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 10

14 mi · 15 min · San Bernardino Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR

9.3 mi · 9 min · I-10 Metro ExpressLanes

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 10

1.2 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

0.9 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.3 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

0.8 mi · 55 sec · San Bernardino Freeway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward CA 57: Santa Ana Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 55 sec

Toward CA 57 North Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Continue on CA 57

3.4 mi · 3 min · CA 57

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

1.1 mi · 2 min

Exit 25C Toward I 210 West: Pasadena

Merge onto I 210

18 mi · 21 min · Foothill Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

26 mi · 29 min · Foothill Freeway

Exit 26A Toward I 210 West: Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 9 sec

Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 5 Truck

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck

Exit 161A

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

27 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99

6.0 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on CA 99

98 mi · 1 hr 45 min · Golden State Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 131 Toward CA 41 North: Yosemite Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto CA 41

1.1 mi · 1 min · Yosemite Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on CA 41

0.2 mi · 13 sec · Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Exit 127 Toward Tulare Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right onto East Tulare Avenue

0.2 mi · 25 sec · East Tulare Avenue

Turn left onto North 1st Street

390 ft · 15 sec · North 1st Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on North First Street

0.3 mi · 32 sec · North First Street

Turn right onto East Washington Avenue

28 ft · 1 sec · East Washington Avenue

Arrive at destination

East Washington Avenue

Trip Plan

With a 5-hour estimated duration, this 283.4-mile trip is comfortably achievable in a single day. To make the most of it, aim for an early morning departure from Mentone to avoid any potential midday traffic. While there's only one recommended stop on this route, you'll have flexibility to pull over as needed due to the local road nature of the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $66, and it’s always wise to top off before heading into less populated stretches. A practical tip for this turn-heavy route is to pre-program your GPS with all necessary turns, as relying solely on road signs might lead to missed connections.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 141.2 miles from Mentone, CA, or about 2h 46m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.2 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 62 miles or 1h 15m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 141.2 miles or 2h 46m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fresno, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Mentone, 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 Mentone, CA

This is one driving day of about 282.4 miles and 5h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Mentone, 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 Golden State Highway for about 98.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Los Angeles County, California, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Santa Clarita, CA

141 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

Pasadena, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bakersfield, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 141.2 miles from Mentone, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Golden State Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.2 miles.

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 · first break window

Rail Side Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

San Dimas, California

Near the start, short detour

First break · 46min in 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+19095998637

Visit website

Sweet Savory Cafe & Bakery

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

San Dimas, California

2.2 mi

Taj Cafe Fontana CA

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fontana, California

2.3 mi

Rail Side Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

San Dimas, California

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+19095998637

Visit website

Sweet Savory Cafe & Bakery

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

San Dimas, California

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+19093059738

Visit website

Taj Cafe Fontana CA

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour Moderately

Fontana, California

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+19094528387

Cafe 91

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Walnut, California

Hours: Closed

+19092746243

Visit website

Restaurant Santa Fe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Pixley, California

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+15597571960

Casa Grande Restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Visalia, California

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+15597322272

Visit website

Rainforest Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $20 to $30

Ontario, California

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+19099417979

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

3.4 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Early stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Castaic, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Santa Clarita, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Santa Clarita, CA

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

EVCS Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Fresno, California

Visit website

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Valencia, California

+16612554100

Visit website

Veterans Memorial Community Regional Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Sylmar, California

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+18188337550

Visit website

Wat Thai of Los Angeles

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour

North Hollywood, California

Hours: 8 am–7 pm

Visit website

Unity Escape Rooms

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

First break 4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour

Rancho Cucamonga, California

Hours: 9:45 am–9:30 pm

+18773386489

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 26

5 decision points cluster between mile 24.1 and 281.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

24.1 mi into trip | ~30m in | I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

39.6 mi into trip | ~48m in

Keep slight right at fork toward CA 57 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward CA 57 North

62.9 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in | I 210 / Foothill Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 26A Toward I 210 West: Sacramento

279.6 mi into trip | ~5h 16m in

Take the exit toward CA 41 North: Yosemite

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 131 Toward CA 41 North: Yosemite

281.6 mi into trip | ~5h 19m in

Take the exit toward Tulare Street

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 127 Toward Tulare Street

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$64.91 one way

$129.82 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 99 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$66.89	$133.77
premium	$6.18	$68.68	$137.35
diesel	$5.61	$62.35	$124.70

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$65

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$90–$115

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 98.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	84.7	1	$29.65	$13.56
Efficient EV	70.6	0	$24.71	$11.30
EV Truck/SUV	113	1	$39.54	$18.07

Gas CO2

99 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 14, 2026

Origin

Mentone, CA

Morning in Mentone on Tuesday

Local time

9:58 AM

PDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fresno, CA

Morning in Fresno on Tuesday

Local time

9:58 AM

PDT

Current temp

73°F

Sunny

NW 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 11:57AM PDT until April 15 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 9:35AM PDT until April 15 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR

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

2 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 21m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...

23 mi from route ~56 min detour Free near mile 87.6

View on nps.gov

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...

25 mi from route ~63 min detour Free near mile 155.8

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 "turn-heavy local drive" for this 283.4-mile route, with a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating a series of local streets and roads, rather than cruising on high-speed interstates. The drive will likely involve frequent turns and changes in speed as you move through various communities. Without a significant longest uninterrupted stretch of highway, you can anticipate a more engaging, stop-and-go feel as you make your way from Mentone to Fresno. This type of driving requires more active attention and can feel like a tour through the heart of the landscape.

60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 98.2 mi on Golden State Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.1 miles in near I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 282.4 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 24.1 miles (I 10 EXPR / I-10 Metro ExpressLanes): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.9 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Mentone, CA

Full guide →

Arriving in Fresno, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1872

Fresno is in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Many visitors find themselves stopping in Fresno on the way to Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, or other destinations in the Sierras.

Top landmarks

• Holy Trinity Church, Fresno — church building in Fresno, United States of America
• Fresno station — train station in Fresno, California
• Kearney Park — park in Fresno County, 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 5h 21m. Total distance: 282.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 98.2 miles on Golden State Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Fresno, 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.

Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fresno, CA before the return drive.

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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Trip from Mentone, CA to Fresno, CA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rail Side Cafe

Rail Side Cafe

Sweet Savory Cafe & Bakery

Taj Cafe Fontana CA

Cafe 91

Restaurant Santa Fe

Casa Grande Restaurant

Rainforest Cafe

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

EVCS Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

EVgo Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

EV Connect Charging Station

NHRA Motorsports Museum

Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles

Veterans Memorial Community Regional Park

Wat Thai of Los Angeles

Unity Escape Rooms

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Mentone, CA

Fresno, CA

Same local time

2 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 21m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

César E. Chávez National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

About the Cities

Starting in Mentone, CA

Arriving in Fresno, CA

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Fresno, CA

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