Ontario, CA to Black Meadow Landing, CA is 250.9 miles and takes about 5h 9m via Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway and Rice Road, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within California, moving from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the Pacific Coast. Expect a drive with many turns, suggesting it's more of a local road experience than a pure interstate journey. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll have ample time to reach your destination without needing to break it up.
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
125.4 miles from Ontario, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
85.9 mi
1h 33m
Rice Road
84.1 mi
1h 42m
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
33.5 mi
35m
San Bernardino Freeway
16.6 mi
19m
Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
6.6 mi
7m
Trails End Camp Road
6.2 mi
14m
Rio Vista Highway
4.4 mi
5m
Riverside Drive
4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 85.9 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ontario, CA and Black Meadow Landing, CA.
1
Start on Holt Boulevard
2.7 mi·5 min·Holt Boulevard
Use the left lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East
3
Merge onto I 10
17 mi·19 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 10
40 mi·44 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Toward Redlands, Palm SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
32 mi·34 min·Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi·1 min·Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
7
Continue on I 10
46 mi·48 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·17 sec
Toward Desert Center, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
9
Turn left onto CA 177
84 mi·1 hr 42 min·Rice Road
10
Turn right onto CA 62
0.4 mi·46 sec·CA 62
11
Continue on AZ 95 Truck
0.9 mi·1 min·California Avenue
12
Turn left onto AZ 95
4.4 mi·5 min·Rio Vista Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on AZ 95
6.6 mi·7 min·Quartzsite–Parker–Topock Highway
14
Continue on AZ 95
4.0 mi·4 min·Riverside Drive
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto AZ 95S
158 ft·4 sec·Parker Dam Road
16
At end of road, turn right onto AZ 95S
1.4 mi·2 min·Parker Dam Road
17
Turn slight right onto Trails End Camp Road
6.2 mi·14 min·Trails End Camp Road
18
Continue on Black Meadow Road
2.9 mi·11 min·Black Meadow Road
19
Turn left
75 ft·5 sec
20
Turn right
0.3 mi·1 min
21
Turn left
124 ft·12 sec
22
Turn left
215 ft·15 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 9m duration, starting your drive in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility, but consider taking your only planned stop to refuel and stretch. The route involves many turns, so staying alert and keeping your navigation handy is key. With a fuel cost estimated around $58, plan your budget accordingly. A specific tip: pay close attention to signage, especially when transitioning from the Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway to Rice Road, as this is where the character of the drive changes significantly.
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 125.4 miles from Ontario, CA, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.9 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 55 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.4 miles or 2h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Black Meadow Landing, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ontario, 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 Ontario, CA
This is one driving day of about 250.9 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Ontario, 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 85.9 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 225 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Holt Boulevard
Depart onto Holt Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.3 mi into trip|~6m in|I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Merge onto I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
60.3 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|I 10 / Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
139.4 mi into trip|~2h 34m in
Take the exit toward Desert Center, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Desert Center, Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
6
225 mi into trip|~4h 20m in|AZ 95 / Rio Vista Highway
Turn left onto AZ 95 / Rio Vista Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.67 one way
$115.33 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$59.43
$118.85
premium
$6.18
$61.02
$122.03
diesel
$5.61
$55.40
$110.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.3
0
$26.34
$12.04
Efficient EV
62.7
0
$21.95
$10.04
EV Truck/SUV
100.4
1
$35.13
$16.06
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 19, 2026
Origin
Ontario, CA
Afternoon
in Ontario on Sunday
Local time
2:51 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Black Meadow Landing, CA
Afternoon
in Black Meadow Landing on Sunday
Local time
2:51 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°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
3 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 9m 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.
Joshua Tree National Park
National Park
Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
$30
near mile 112.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a turn-heavy local drive, with only 20% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time navigating local roads, so be prepared for frequent adjustments in speed and direction. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 85.9 miles along the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. As you progress, the character of the drive will likely shift from faster highway segments to more winding, local routes as you approach Black Meadow Landing.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.9 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Holt Boulevard.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 250.9 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 (Holt Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.3 miles (I 10 / Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Ontario, CA and Black Meadow Landing, CA, road signs point toward Redlands, Palm Springs, Desert Center and Chuckwalla Valley Raceway.
Ontario is in San Bernardino County and the Southern California region, more than 35 miles (50 km) east of Los Angeles. From a traveler's perspective, Ontario is noteworthy mainly as the home of a large mall and the Ontario International Airport, a less crowded alternative to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the main airport serving the Inland Empire.
Top landmarks
•Frankish Building — building in Ontario, United States of America
•Ontario State Bank Block — bank building in Ontario, California
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 9m. Total distance: 250.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.9 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial 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 Black Meadow Landing, 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Holt Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (I 10 / San Bernardino Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.3 miles (I 10 / Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Joshua Tree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Black Meadow Landing, CA before the return drive.
