Origin
Montebello, CA
Morning in Montebello on Sunday
Local time
9:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Montebello, CA to Riverside, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
46.9 mi
75 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
7 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Montebello, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Montebello to Riverside, you are looking at a straightforward 46.9-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 1 minute. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $11 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Pacific Coast locations. Because the drive is relatively short and efficient, it offers plenty of flexibility for your schedule. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, the simplicity of the trip makes it an easy transit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pomona Freeway | 33.2 mi | 38m |
| Van Buren Boulevard | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Central Avenue | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Montebello Boulevard | 3 mi | 5m |
| West Whittier Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Mission Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pomona Freeway
— 33.2 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montebello, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on West Whittier Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Whittier Boulevard
2
Turn right onto Montebello Boulevard
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Montebello Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
this road
Toward CA 60 East: Pomona
Use the straight lane.
4
Merge onto CA 60
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Pomona Freeway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 42
Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto Mission Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Mission Boulevard
13
Continue on Van Buren Boulevard
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Van Buren Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto Central Avenue
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn sharp right
171 ft
·
12 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.4 miles from Montebello, 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 7.6 and 36.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
7.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
CA 60 / Pomona Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60 / Pomona Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
9.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
CA 60 / Pomona Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60 / Pomona Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
11.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
CA 60 / Pomona Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60 / Pomona Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
14.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
CA 60 / Pomona Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60 / Pomona Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
36.6 mi into trip
|
~44m 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
$10.78 one way
$21.56 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $11.11 | $22.22 |
| premium | $6.18 | $11.41 | $22.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.35 | $20.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.92 | $2.25 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.8 | 0 | $6.57 | $3.00 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Morning in Riverside on Sunday
Local time
9:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 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 1m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with about 71% of your time spent on major routes. You will find yourself cruising along the Pomona Freeway for the majority of the trip, which includes a longest uninterrupted stretch of 33.2 miles. As you move away from the freeway, the experience transitions onto local roads like Central Avenue and Van Buren Boulevard. Expect a consistent, fast-paced drive that prioritizes efficiency over technical winding roads. It is a functional commute that keeps you moving steadily toward your destination in Riverside.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.2 mi on Pomona Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 around 7.6 miles in near CA 60 / Pomona Freeway.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 7.6 miles (CA 60 / Pomona Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles (CA 60 / Pomona Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.7 miles (CA 60 / Pomona Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Montebello, CA
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument — Monument in Montebello, California, USA
Arriving in Riverside, CA
Full guide →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.
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 1m. Total distance: 46.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.2 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 7.6 miles (CA 60 / Pomona Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles (CA 60 / Pomona Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.7 miles (CA 60 / Pomona Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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