Embarking on the 111.3-mile journey from Mojave, CA, to Riverside, CA, will take you approximately 2 hours and 19 minutes. This drive is easily manageable as a single-day trip, with a projected fuel cost of around $26. You'll navigate primarily along Antelope Highway, Pearblossom Highway, and Aerospace Highway. The route offers a mixed driving experience, so be prepared for varied road conditions. Given its relatively short length and straightforward nature, this trip is ideal for a spontaneous day out or a quick transfer between the Pacific Coast regions.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.6 miles from Mojave, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Antelope Highway
20.5 mi
28m
Pearblossom Highway
18 mi
25m
Aerospace Highway
15.7 mi
16m
Antelope Valley Freeway
13.7 mi
15m
Barstow Freeway
9.5 mi
10m
Riverside Freeway
8.9 mi
10m
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
6.3 mi
6m
San Bernardino Freeway
5.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Antelope Highway
— 20.5 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mojave, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on CA 14; CA 58 BUS; US 6 Hist
3.7 mi·4 min·Sierra Highway
2
Continue on CA 14
16 mi·16 min·Aerospace Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Continue on CA 14; CA 138
14 mi·15 min·Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit onto CA 138
0.2 mi·29 sec·CA 138
Exit 35Toward CA 138 East: Palmdale BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 138
194 ft·9 sec·CA 138
Toward CA 138 East: Palmdale BoulevardUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto CA 138
1.1 mi·1 min·West Palmdale Boulevard
Use the left lane.
7
Take the exit
411 ft·11 sec
8
Merge onto US 6 Hist
1.4 mi·1 min·Sierra Highway
9
Turn left onto East Avenue S
3.9 mi·6 min·East Avenue S
10
Turn right onto CA 138
0.3 mi·26 sec·47th Street East
11
Continue on CA 138
1.1 mi·1 min·Fort Tejon Road
12
Continue on CA 138
18 mi·25 min·Pearblossom Highway
13
Continue on CA 138
21 mi·28 min·Antelope Highway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
15
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist
6.3 mi·6 min·Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 215
0.2 mi·13 sec·Barstow Freeway
Exit 123
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 215
9.3 mi·10 min·Barstow Freeway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 215
5.6 mi·6 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 215
5.3 mi·6 min·Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on CA 91
3.6 mi·4 min·Riverside Freeway
Exit 34BUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 62Toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza AvenueUse 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
For this 2-hour, 19-minute drive, consider departing in the morning to make the most of your day, especially since it's a single-day trip. With no designated stops provided, you can be flexible with breaks, perhaps planning one around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, with an estimated cost of $26 for the 111.3 miles. A specific tip for this route: be aware that Aerospace Highway can sometimes have periods of moderate traffic, so factor that into your departure time if you're aiming for a specific arrival in Riverside.
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 55.6 miles from Mojave, CA, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.5 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 24 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.6 miles or 1h 9m 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 55m
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 Mojave, 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 Mojave, CA
This is one driving day of about 111.3 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Mojave, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Antelope Highway for about 20.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 33.1 and 110.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
33.1 mi into trip|~36m in|CA 138
Take the exit onto CA 138 toward CA 138 East: Palmdale Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 35
Toward CA 138 East: Palmdale Boulevard
8
33.3 mi into trip|~37m in|CA 138
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 138 toward CA 138 East: Palmdale Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 138 East: Palmdale Boulevard
5
33.4 mi into trip|~37m in|CA 138 / West Palmdale Boulevard
Turn left onto CA 138 / West Palmdale Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
86.6 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|I 215 / Barstow Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 215 / Barstow Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
110.4 mi into trip|~2h 17m 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
$25.58 one way
$51.16 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$26.36
$52.72
premium
$6.18
$27.07
$54.13
diesel
$5.61
$24.57
$49.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.4
0
$11.69
$5.34
Efficient EV
27.8
0
$9.74
$4.45
EV Truck/SUV
44.5
0
$15.58
$7.12
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Mojave, CA
Late night
in Mojave on Tuesday
Local time
2:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Riverside, CA
Late night
in Riverside on Tuesday
Local time
2:36 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2h 19m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 111.3-mile route presents a mixed driving profile, with about 40% of it being highway driving. You'll encounter stretches like the 20.5-mile segment on Antelope Highway, which offers a longer, uninterrupted drive. As you progress, expect the character of the road to shift, moving from potentially more open highway sections to areas with more local traffic and intersections. The blend of highway and local road conditions means you'll need to stay adaptable behind the wheel, adjusting your speed and awareness as the drive evolves.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.5 mi on Antelope Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 33.1 miles in near CA 138.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 111.3 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 33.1 miles (CA 138): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.3 miles (CA 138): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.4 miles (CA 138 / West Palmdale Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Mojave is a city of 4,200 people (2010) in Kern County in the Desert region of California. Mojave has a rich aerospace history because of nearby Edwards Air Force Base, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, and Palmdale Regional Airport.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 111.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.5 miles on Antelope Highway. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 33.1 miles (CA 138): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.3 miles (CA 138): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.4 miles (CA 138 / West Palmdale Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — César E. Chávez National Monument. 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.
