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Trip from Pomona, CA to Stockton, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 44m

Distance

364.3 mi

586 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$84

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
6h 32m ★
6 AM
6h 44m
8 AM
7h 8m
10 AM
6h 52m
12 PM
6h 50m
3 PM
6h 54m
5 PM
7h 7m
8 PM
6h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Pomona, CA

Wikimedia Commons

county seat of San Joaquin County, California, United States

Stockton, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 364.3-mile journey from Pomona, CA to Stockton, CA is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 6 hours and 44 minutes of driving time. The route is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 98% of the drive on major freeways, making it a straightforward trip across the Pacific Coast region. You can expect to spend around $84 on fuel for this drive. With just one recommended stop, it’s designed for efficient travel, allowing you to cover long distances without frequent interruptions. Consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and minimize traffic.

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

182.1 miles from Pomona, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 26m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 250.5 mi 4h 28m
Foothill Freeway 43.9 mi 50m
I 5 Truck 37.1 mi 42m
Golden State Freeway 22.3 mi 25m
CA 57 3.4 mi 3m
West Mission Boulevard 1.6 mi 2m
South El Dorado Street 1 mi 1m
Chino Valley Freeway 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 250.5 mi, about 4h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pomona, CA and Stockton, CA.

1

Start on South Main Street

90 ft · 8 sec · South Main Street
2

Turn right onto West Mission Boulevard

1.6 mi · 2 min · West Mission Boulevard
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward CA 71 North Use the right lane.
4

Merge onto CA 71

1.0 mi · 1 min · Chino Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward CA 57 North
6

Continue on CA 57

3.4 mi · 3 min · CA 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork

1.1 mi · 2 min
Exit 25C Toward I 210 West: Pasadena
8

Merge onto I 210

18 mi · 21 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

26 mi · 29 min · Foothill Freeway
Exit 26A Toward I 210 West: Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 9 sec
Use the slight right lane.
11

Merge onto I 5 Truck

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

226 mi · 4 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

25 mi · 26 min · Westside Freeway
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Exit 471 Toward CA 4 West
17

Keep slight right at fork

407 ft · 5 sec
18

Turn straight onto West Charter Way

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Charter Way
Use the straight / left lanes.
19

Turn left onto South El Dorado Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · South El Dorado Street
20

Continue on North El Dorado Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · North El Dorado Street
21

Turn right onto East Fremont Street

117 ft · 5 sec · East Fremont Street
22

Arrive at destination

East Fremont Street

Trip Plan

Planning to drive 364.3 miles in under 7 hours means you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Aim to leave Pomona early to take advantage of lighter traffic and make the most of the daylight. While the drive is efficient, be mindful of the longest stretch of 250.5 miles on the Westside Freeway; ensure you're fueled up before heading into this segment. With only one stop recommended, plan your breaks strategically to stay refreshed throughout the approximately 6 hours and 44 minutes of travel time.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 182.1 miles from Pomona, CA, or about 3h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 250.5 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 182.1 miles or 3h 26m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 37m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stockton, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Pomona, 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 Pomona, CA

This is one driving day of about 364.3 miles and 6h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Pomona, 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 Westside Freeway for about 250.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Los Angeles County, California, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Santa Clarita, CA

182 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

Santa Clarita, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Avenal, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 182.1 miles from Pomona, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 250.5 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 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 111.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
1.6 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward CA 71 North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward CA 71 North
6
7 mi into trip | ~10m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 210 West: Pasadena

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 25C Toward I 210 West: Pasadena
8
26.4 mi into trip | ~33m in | I 210 / Foothill Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward I 210 West: Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 26A Toward I 210 West: Sacramento
6
52 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
7
111.6 mi into trip | ~2h 11m in | I 5 / Westside Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 5 North

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$83.73 one way

$167.46 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 128 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $86.28 $172.57
premium $6.18 $88.59 $177.19
diesel $5.61 $80.43 $160.87

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$84

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$109–$134

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 127.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 109.3 1 $38.25 $17.49
Efficient EV 91.1 1 $31.88 $14.57
EV Truck/SUV 145.7 1 $51.00 $23.32

Gas CO2

127 kg

EV CO2

43 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 16, 2026

Origin

Pomona, CA

Morning in Pomona on Tuesday

Local time

6:53 AM

PDT

Current temp

74°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 0 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Destination

Stockton, CA

Morning in Stockton on Tuesday

Local time

6:53 AM

PDT

Current temp

52°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

22 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

6h 44m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 364.3-mile route. You'll spend 98% of your time on major freeways, primarily utilizing the Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 250.5 miles on the Westside Freeway, meaning extended periods of consistent driving. This profile suggests a route built for covering ground efficiently rather than for winding scenic byways.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 250.5 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Foothill Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 364.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 26.4 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Starting in Pomona, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1888

Pomona is in the San Gabriel Valley, near Los Angeles, California. Named after the Roman goddess of fruit, in the 1920s it was indeed known as "the Queen of the Citrus Belt." However, its origins preceded that epoch as an allotment given to two ranchers, Ricardo Véjar and Ygnacio Palomares, in the 1830s, when the territory was still part of Mexico. After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and becoming part of the USA, it eventually became absorbed into the megalopolis of southern California, with perhaps its main standout nowadays being the site of the LA County Fair, or the location of Cal Polytechnic U.

Top landmarks

  • • Pomona Fox Theater — movie theater in Pomona, Los Angeles County, California
  • • Ygnacio Palomares Adobe — historic house in California, United States
  • • Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum — automotive museum in California, United States

Arriving in Stockton, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1849

Stockton is a city in the San Joaquin Valley in northern California. Sitting on the San Joaquin Delta, Stockton is the world's most inland natural port and used to be a major port city. One of the larger cities along I-5 through the Central Valley, it is a convenient stop and offers a variety of restaurants and accommodations for road-trippers. There are several shopping centers and movie theaters and one art museum but few major attractions.

Top landmarks

  • • Haggin Museum — art museum in Stockton, California
  • • USCGC Fir — Lighthouse tender
  • • USS Lucid — 1953 Aggressive-class minesweeper

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 6h 44m. Total distance: 364.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 44m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 250.5 miles on Westside Freeway. 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 Stockton, 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: at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 26.4 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Stockton, CA before the return drive.

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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