Origin
Ontario, CA
Evening in Ontario on Friday
Local time
8:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ontario, CA to Parker Dam, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 41m
Distance
241.7 mi
389 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$54
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 28m
★
6 AM
4h 42m
8 AM
5h 9m
10 AM
4h 51m
12 PM
4h 48m
3 PM
4h 52m
5 PM
5h 7m
8 PM
4h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ontario, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Parker Dam, CA
K
Trip Overview
Ontario, CA to Parker Dam, CA is 241.7 miles and takes about 4h 41m via Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Pacific Coast region, moving from the urban edge of Southern California toward the desert landscapes near the Arizona border. Given its relatively short duration and mostly surface road profile, it’s a straightforward drive that can be completed comfortably in a single day. You’ll want to be prepared for the transition from freeway to local roads as you approach your destination.
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
120.8 miles from Ontario, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m 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 |
| Rio Vista Highway | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| Riverside Drive | 4 mi | 4m |
| Holt Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 85.9 mi, about 1h 33m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 77 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,287 veh/hr typical · worst 5,368
Quietest
4 AM
~1,728 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
2.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 63 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ontario, CA and Parker Dam, 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 Springs
Use 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
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Parker Dam Road
17
Turn right onto Arizona Street
517 ft
·
22 sec
·
Arizona Street
18
Arrive at destination
Arizona Street
Trip Plan
For this 4h 41m drive, leaving Ontario, CA in the morning is ideal, allowing you to reach Parker Dam, CA with plenty of daylight. With only one stop recommended, you have flexibility in timing, but consider a mid-trip break around the 2-hour mark. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you near Parker Dam, as services can become more spread out on the surface road sections. The $52 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you depart. Being able to complete this drive in a single day means you can depart on your own schedule.
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 120.8 miles from Ontario, CA, or about 2h 14m 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 53 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.8 miles or 2h 14m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parker Dam, 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 241.7 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 120.8 miles from Ontario, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 85.9 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 135 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
$53.58 one way
$107.17 round trip
$5.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.81 | $55.30 | $110.59 |
| premium | $5.98 | $56.93 | $113.87 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $53.28 | $106.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.5 | 0 | $25.38 | $11.60 |
| Efficient EV | 60.4 | 0 | $21.15 | $9.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.7 | 1 | $33.84 | $15.47 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 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.
Destination
Parker Dam, CA
Evening in Parker Dam on Friday
Local time
8:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
81°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
12 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
4h 41m 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...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
$30
near mile 108.3
Caution: Oasis of Mara Trail Partial Closure
Caution: Inaccurate Third-Party Apps
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a highway share of 21%, meaning you'll spend the majority of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a main highway is 85.9 miles on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. Expect to transition from freeway driving to more local streets fairly early in your trip. You’ll notice the change as exits become more frequent and speeds decrease on the non-freeway portions.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Holt Boulevard.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 241.7 miles you will encounter 13 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,257 ft
94 ft
Total Climb
3,241 ft
Total Descent
3,845 ft
Highest Point
2,257 ft
~34.5 mi in
Elevation Range
2,162 ft
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 Ontario, CA and Parker Dam, CA, road signs point toward Redlands, Palm Springs, Desert Center and Chuckwalla Valley Raceway.
Redlands
19.9 mi in
|
~25m
|
via I 10
Palm Springs
19.9 mi in
|
~25m
|
via I 10
Desert Center
139.4 mi in
|
~2h 34m
Chuckwalla Valley Raceway
139.4 mi in
|
~2h 34m
About the Cities
Starting in Ontario, CA
Full guide →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
Arriving in Parker Dam, CA
Full guide →Parker Dam is a community in the Desert region of 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 4h 41m. Total distance: 241.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 41m 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 Parker Dam, 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Parker Dam, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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