Origin
Palm Springs, CA
Late night in Palm Springs on Tuesday
Local time
2:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palm Springs, 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
1h 10m
Distance
60.5 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palm Springs, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 60.5-mile drive from Palm Springs, CA to Fontana, CA takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes and is easily manageable as a day trip. Primarily utilizing the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway and the San Bernardino Freeway, about 12% of this journey involves highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, this route offers a straightforward connection between the Pacific Coast regions of California. There are no planned stops, making it a direct transit between your origin and destination. The overall feel is a practical, turn-heavy local drive that gets you where you need to go efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 39.9 mi | 43m |
| North Palm Canyon Drive | 11 mi | 14m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| Sierra Avenue | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| East Alejo Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Merrill Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 39.9 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palm Springs, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on East Alejo Road
469 ft
·
19 sec
·
East Alejo Road
2
Turn right onto CA 111 Business
11 mi
·
14 min
·
North Palm Canyon Drive
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on I 10
40 mi
·
43 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 10
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 64
Toward Sierra Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
8
Arrive at destination
Merrill Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.2 miles from Palm Springs, 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
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 60.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CA 111 Business / North Palm Canyon Drive
Turn right onto CA 111 Business / North Palm Canyon Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
58.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m 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 64
Toward Sierra Avenue
4
58.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
Sierra Avenue
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
60.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
Merrill Avenue
Turn right onto Merrill Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.91 one way
$27.81 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $14.33 | $28.66 |
| premium | $6.18 | $14.71 | $29.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.36 | $26.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.35 | $2.90 |
| Efficient EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.47 | $3.87 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Fontana, CA
Late night in Fontana on Tuesday
Local time
2:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 10m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 60.5-mile trip. While only 12% of the route is on the highway, you'll encounter a mix of road types. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 39.9 miles on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. As you progress, the road will transition, moving from more local surface streets to faster highway sections before reaching your destination in Fontana. This route isn't about sweeping vistas, but rather about navigating efficiently through Southern California.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.9 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CA 111 Business / North Palm Canyon Drive.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Palm Springs, CA to Fontana, CA is easy. At 1h 10m with 12% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CA 111 Business / North Palm Canyon Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.7 miles (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Palm Springs, CA
Full guide →Palm Springs is a resort city in the California desert. It became a destination during the 1950s and 1960s when Hollywood movie stars flocked there in droves. Nowadays, the area offers entertainment for all ages, although the most common demographics consists of retirees. Palm Springs offers a wealth of indoor and outdoor activities. Known for its hiking, mid-century modern architecture, stunning natural beauty and sparkling pools, Palm Springs has the perfect blend of outdoor activities and casual relaxation. Palm Springs is a favorite for gay travelers, naturist communities, and many other people.
Top landmarks
- • Palm Springs Art Museum — art museum in Palm Springs, California
- • Twin Palms — historic house in California, United States
- • Tahquitz Canyon — canyon located in California
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 1h 10m. Total distance: 60.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (12%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.9 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (CA 111 Business / North Palm Canyon Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 58.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.7 miles (Sierra Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fontana, 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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