Origin
Pasadena, CA
Late night in Pasadena on Tuesday
Local time
2:07 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pasadena, CA to Riverside, 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 7m
Distance
50.8 mi
82 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pasadena, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 50.8 miles, this straightforward drive from Pasadena to Riverside typically takes about 1 hour and 7 minutes. It serves as an efficient connection within the Pacific Coast region, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $12 for fuel to complete the journey. Because the transit time is relatively brief, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations or multiple rest stops. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of exploration, this route offers a reliable path between the two cities without requiring extensive travel logistics.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Foothill Freeway | 18.2 mi | 21m |
| Pomona Freeway | 12 mi | 13m |
| Van Buren Boulevard | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Central Avenue | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Orange Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| Chino Valley Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| North Marengo Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Mission Boulevard | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Foothill Freeway
— 18.2 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pasadena, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on East Holly Street
441 ft
·
23 sec
·
East Holly Street
2
Turn right onto North Marengo Avenue
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
North Marengo Avenue
3
Turn right onto East Corson Street
28 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Corson Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 210 East: San Bernardino
5
Merge onto I 210
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
Foothill Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 44A
Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on CA 57
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 22C
Toward CA 71: Corona
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on CA 71
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Chino Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
2 min
Toward CA 60 East: Riverside
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto CA 60
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 42
Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto Mission Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Mission Boulevard
15
Continue on Van Buren Boulevard
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Van Buren Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto Central Avenue
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Turn sharp right
171 ft
·
12 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.4 miles from Pasadena, 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
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 18.8 and 47.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
18.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44A
Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
7
22.9 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward CA 71: Corona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22C
Toward CA 71: Corona
6
27.1 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward CA 60 East: Riverside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 60 East: Riverside
8
40.5 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda 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 42
Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
6
47.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.68 one way
$23.35 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $12.03 | $24.06 |
| premium | $6.18 | $12.35 | $24.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.22 | $22.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.33 | $2.44 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.11 | $3.25 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Riverside, CA
Late night in Riverside on Tuesday
Local time
2:07 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°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
17 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 7m 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 highway-focused experience, as roughly 72% of your trip will be spent on major thoroughfares. You will begin by navigating the Foothill Freeway, which includes the longest uninterrupted segment of your journey at 18.2 miles. From there, the route transitions onto the Pomona Freeway before eventually utilizing Van Buren Boulevard to reach your destination. The driving environment is functional and fast-paced, shifting from expansive freeway stretches into local arterial roads as you approach Riverside. You will spend the vast majority of your time behind the wheel focused on high-speed traffic flow.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.2 mi on Foothill Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Foothill Freeway and Pomona Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 18.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Pasadena, CA
Full guide →Founded 1886
Pasadena is one of the oldest cities adjoining Los Angeles and is the main population center of the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California. Known as the City of Roses, Pasadena is most famous for its New Year's Day Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game.
Top landmarks
- • Rose Bowl — football stadium in Pasadena, California, United States
- • Norton Simon Museum — art museum in Pasadena, California
- • Pasadena City Hall — serves as the central location for city government in the City of Pasadena, Cali...
Arriving in Riverside, CA
Full guide →Founded 1870
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
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 7m. Total distance: 50.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.2 miles on Foothill Freeway. 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 18.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
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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