This 77-mile drive from Palmdale, CA to Riverside, CA takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, making it a perfect one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate the Antelope Highway, Pearblossom Highway, and Barstow Freeway. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, this journey is quite budget-friendly. The route offers a mixed driving experience as you traverse the Pacific Coast region from start to finish. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.5 miles from Palmdale, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Antelope Highway
20.5 mi
28m
Pearblossom Highway
18 mi
25m
Barstow Freeway
9.5 mi
10m
Riverside Freeway
8.9 mi
10m
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
6.3 mi
6m
San Bernardino Freeway
5.6 mi
6m
East Palmdale Boulevard
3.3 mi
4m
47th Street East
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Antelope Highway
— 20.5 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmdale, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on CA 138
3.3 mi·4 min·East Palmdale Boulevard
2
Turn right onto 40th Street East
0.5 mi·59 sec·40th Street East
3
Turn left onto East Avenue R
0.7 mi·1 min·East Avenue R
4
Turn slight right
292 ft·13 sec
5
At end of road, turn right onto CA 138
1.3 mi·1 min·47th Street East
6
Continue on CA 138
1.1 mi·1 min·Fort Tejon Road
7
Continue on CA 138
18 mi·25 min·Pearblossom Highway
8
Continue on CA 138
21 mi·28 min·Antelope Highway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
10
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist
6.3 mi·6 min·Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 215
0.2 mi·13 sec·Barstow Freeway
Exit 123
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 215
9.3 mi·10 min·Barstow Freeway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 215
5.6 mi·6 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 215
5.3 mi·6 min·Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on CA 91
3.6 mi·4 min·Riverside Freeway
Exit 34BUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 62Toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto Central Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Central Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn slight left
171 ft·12 sec
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 1 hour and 40-minute drive, flexibility is key. You can depart at your leisure, but consider leaving mid-morning to avoid potential rush hour traffic in the Palmdale or Riverside areas. With no specific stops recommended, you can adjust your pace as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $18; however, it's always wise to fill up before you depart Palmdale to ensure you have ample range. A good tip for this route is to be aware of the transition points between the different highways mentioned, as these can sometimes involve slight changes in speed limits or road conditions.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.5 miles from Palmdale, CA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.5 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 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.5 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Riverside, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Palmdale, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Palmdale, CA
This is one driving day of about 77 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Palmdale, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Antelope Highway for about 20.5 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 76.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.3 mi into trip|~4m in|40th Street East
Turn right onto 40th Street East
Navigation decision point
4
3.8 mi into trip|~5m in|East Avenue R
Turn left onto East Avenue R
Navigation decision point
6
52.4 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|I 215 / Barstow Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 215 / Barstow Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza 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 62
Toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza Avenue
5
76.3 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|Central Avenue
Turn right onto Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.70 one way
$35.40 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$18.24
$36.47
premium
$6.18
$18.73
$37.45
diesel
$5.61
$17.00
$34.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.1
0
$8.08
$3.70
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.74
$3.08
EV Truck/SUV
30.8
0
$10.78
$4.93
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Palmdale, CA
Late night
in Palmdale on Tuesday
Local time
3:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Riverside, CA
Late night
in Riverside on Tuesday
Local time
3:38 AM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
SE 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 2:07AM PDT until April 17 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 1:48AM PDT until April 17 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Medford OR
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
4 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
1h 40m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a mixed driving profile, with 39% of the journey on highways. You'll experience stretches that feel more like open highway cruising, including one uninterrupted segment of 20.5 miles on the Antelope Highway. The character of the road will evolve, transitioning between faster freeway sections and potentially more local road segments as you progress toward Riverside. Expect a varied experience behind the wheel, rather than a monotonous journey.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.5 mi on Antelope Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near 40th Street East.
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 77 miles you will encounter 9 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 3.3 miles (40th Street East): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (East Avenue R): Navigation decision point; at 52.4 miles (I 215 / Barstow Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Top landmarks
•Mission Inn — hotel in Riverside, California
•Universalist Unitarian Church of Riverside — church building in Riverside, California, USA
•First Congregational Church of Riverside — church building in Riverside, California, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 77 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.5 miles on Antelope Highway. 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 3.3 miles (40th Street East): Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (East Avenue R): Navigation decision point; at 52.4 miles (I 215 / Barstow 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.
