Origin
Monterey, CA
Late night in Monterey on Tuesday
Local time
1:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monterey, CA to Fontana, 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
7h 7m
Distance
366.5 mi
590 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$84
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 56m
★
6 AM
7h 7m
8 AM
7h 30m
10 AM
7h 15m
12 PM
7h 13m
3 PM
7h 16m
5 PM
7h 28m
8 PM
7h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monterey, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 366.5-mile drive from Monterey, CA, to Fontana, CA, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 7 hours and 7 minutes to complete. You'll primarily be on highways, with 62% of the route being on them, making it a highway-focused experience. The estimated fuel cost is around $84, and with two planned stops, it should be a manageable journey. This route connects two points within the Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward path across California.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
183.3 miles from Monterey, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 38m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| El Camino Real | 94.6 mi | 1h 49m |
| Foothill Freeway | 67 mi | 1h 17m |
| I 5 Truck | 58.4 mi | 1h 6m |
| Westside Freeway | 56.8 mi | 1h |
| Paso Robles Highway | 32.3 mi | 38m |
| CA 46 | 24.5 mi | 28m |
| CA 68 | 16 mi | 21m |
| Antelope Road | 5.3 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
El Camino Real
— 94.6 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monterey, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on West Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
West Franklin Street
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Washington Street
3
Continue on Abrego Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Abrego Street
4
Turn left onto CA 1 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Fremont Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward CA 1 North
6
Merge onto CA 1; CA 68
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
Cabrillo Highway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 68
16 mi
·
21 min
·
CA 68
Exit 401B
Toward CA 68: North Fremont Street, Salinas
8
Turn right onto East Blanco Road
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Blanco Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on South Sanborn Road
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
South Sanborn Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
11
Merge onto US 101
95 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
·
El Camino Real
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward CA 46 East: Fresno, Bakersfield
13
Turn left onto CA 46
24 mi
·
28 min
·
CA 46
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
Merge onto CA 41; CA 46
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 41; CA 46
15
Turn slight right
490 ft
·
6 sec
16
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 46
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Antelope Road
17
Continue on CA 46
32 mi
·
38 min
·
Paso Robles Highway
Use the slight left lane.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
19
Merge onto I 5
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 161A
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
Use the slight right lane.
23
Continue on I 210
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura
Use the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 67
Toward Sierra Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
32
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
Use the left lane.
33
Arrive at destination
Merrill Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour duration, leaving Monterey early in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Fontana before evening. With two stops planned, factor in about 30 minutes for each to keep your total travel time closer to the estimated 7 hours and 7 minutes. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 94.6-mile stretch on El Camino Real, as services might be less frequent than on the interstate. This drive is well-suited for a single-day effort, so enjoy the flexibility of stopping when you need a break.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 183.3 miles from Monterey, CA, or about 3h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.6 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 81 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 183.3 miles or 3h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fontana, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Monterey, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Monterey, CA
This is one driving day of about 366.5 miles and 7h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Monterey, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on El Camino Real for about 94.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
183 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 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 183.3 miles from Monterey, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before El Camino Real if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 94.6 miles.
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 265 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 363.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
CA 68
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 68 toward CA 68: North Fremont Street, Salinas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 401B
Toward CA 68: North Fremont Street, Salinas
6
17.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
East Blanco Road
Turn right onto East Blanco Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
296 mi into trip
|
~5h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 210 East: Pasadena
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161A
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
8
320.7 mi into trip
|
~6h 12m in
|
I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino,...
7
363.2 mi into trip
|
~7h 1m in
Take the exit toward Sierra Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 67
Toward Sierra Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$84.24 one way
$168.47 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
128 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $86.81 | $173.61 |
| premium | $6.18 | $89.13 | $178.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $80.92 | $161.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$84
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$109–$134
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 110 | 1 | $38.48 | $17.59 |
| Efficient EV | 91.6 | 1 | $32.07 | $14.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 146.6 | 1 | $51.31 | $23.46 |
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Fontana, CA
Late night in Fontana on Tuesday
Local time
1:16 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°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
7h 7m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 366.5-mile trip. You'll spend about 62% of your time on freeways, including stretches on the Foothill Freeway and I-5 Truck. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 94.6 miles on El Camino Real, offering a solid period of consistent travel. While largely highway-based, the inclusion of El Camino Real suggests some variation from purely interstate conditions.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.6 mi on El Camino Real.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on El Camino Real and Foothill Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near CA 68.
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 366.5 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 1.6 miles (CA 68): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.6 miles (East Blanco Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 296 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Monterey, CA and Fontana, CA, road signs point toward Bakersfield and Ventura.
Bakersfield
114.7 mi in
|
~2h 17m
Ventura
320.7 mi in
|
~6h 12m
|
via I 210
About the Cities
Starting in Monterey, CA
Full guide →Founded 1770
Monterey is a city (population 28,000 in 2018) in the Monterey County area of Monterey Bay in California. Monterey is one of the more beautiful coastal cities of California, and then a historic city can make for a great two-day trip for those visiting San Francisco or a weekend getaway for California natives. It has more historic buildings in its downtown than any other city west of Santa Fe, and a world-class aquarium.
Top landmarks
- • Monterey Bay Aquarium — nonprofit public aquarium in Monterey, California
- • Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo — historic church in California, United States
- • Old Customhouse — custom house in Monterey, United States of America
Arriving in Fontana, CA
Full guide →Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County in Southern California.
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 7h 7m. Total distance: 366.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.6 miles on El Camino Real. 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 Fontana, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (CA 68): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.6 miles (East Blanco Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 296 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fontana, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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