Origin
Rialto, CA
Late night in Rialto on Tuesday
Local time
4:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rialto, 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
19m
Distance
12.1 mi
19 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rialto, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Riverside, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Rialto to Riverside is 12.1 miles and takes about 19 minutes via North Riverside Avenue and Riverside Freeway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within California's Pacific Coast region, offering a straightforward connection between two Inland Empire cities. Given its brief duration, this route is ideal for a quick trip or as part of a larger travel plan, requiring minimal time commitment. You'll primarily be on surface streets, making it an accessible option for most vehicles.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Riverside Avenue | 6.1 mi | 10m |
| Riverside Freeway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Central Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Pomona Freeway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North Riverside Avenue
— 6.1 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rialto, CA and Riverside, CA.
1
Start on North Riverside Avenue
140 ft
·
31 sec
·
North Riverside Avenue
2
Continue on North Riverside Avenue
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
North Riverside Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on Main Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward CA 60 East: Indio
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto CA 60
168 ft
·
2 sec
·
Pomona Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 53A
Toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto CA 91
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 62
Toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto Central Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn slight left
171 ft
·
12 sec
Use the left lane.
11
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 7.7 and 11.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
7.7 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the ramp toward CA 60 East: Indio
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward CA 60 East: Indio
8
8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
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 53A
Toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
5
8.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
CA 91 / Riverside Freeway
Merge onto CA 91 / Riverside Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11.1 mi into trip
|
~17m 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
11.4 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
Central Avenue
Turn right onto Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.78 one way
$5.56 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $2.87 | $5.73 |
| premium | $6.18 | $2.94 | $5.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.67 | $5.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.27 | $0.58 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.06 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
4:40 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
19m 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?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only 23% of the total mileage on the highway. You'll experience a 6.1-mile stretch on North Riverside Avenue before transitioning to the Riverside Freeway. Expect frequent intersections and local traffic as you navigate the urban environment typical of Southern California. The highway portion offers a brief period of higher-speed cruising before you return to city streets.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.1 mi on North Riverside Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 12.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 19m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.4 miles (CA 91 / Riverside Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
On the drive from Rialto, CA to Riverside, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Beach Cities along the way.
Beach Cities
8 mi in
|
~13m
About the Cities
Starting in Rialto, CA
Full guide →Founded 1911
Rialto is a small city of about 100,000 people outside Los Angeles in San Bernardino County, California.
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 19m. Total distance: 12.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.1 miles on North Riverside Avenue. 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 7.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.4 miles (CA 91 / Riverside Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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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