This 260-mile journey from Riverside, CA to Bishop, CA will take approximately 5 hours and 11 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, Blue Star Memorial Highway, and the Barstow and Mojave Freeway, this route is best suited as a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $60, you'll find this drive to be a turn-heavy local experience rather than a monotonous interstate grind. You'll spend about 13% of your time on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 104.5 miles on the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. Consider this a manageable drive for a single day, offering a direct path through California.
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
130 miles from Riverside, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
104.5 mi
2h 2m
Blue Star Memorial Highway
103.3 mi
2h 3m
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
9.7 mi
10m
Barstow Freeway
8.9 mi
9m
Riverside Freeway
8.6 mi
9m
San Bernardino Freeway
5.5 mi
6m
CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
5.4 mi
5m
El Camino Sierra
5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
— 104.5 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside, CA and Bishop, CA.
1
Start on this road
87 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn slight right onto Central Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Central Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward CA 91 East: San BernardinoUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto CA 91
8.6 mi·9 min·Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 215
5.5 mi·6 min·San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 215
8.9 mi·9 min·Barstow Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·13 sec
8
Continue on I 15
6.8 mi·7 min·Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist; US 91 Hist; US 395 Hist
5.4 mi·5 min·CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist
2.8 mi·3 min·Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 141Toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
12
Continue on this road
0.9 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 141Toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
13
Continue on US 395
67 mi·1 hr 20 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 395
0.9 mi·1 min·Red Mountain Road
15
Continue on US 395
37 mi·42 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
56 mi·1 hr 4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
2.2 mi·4 min·South Main Street
18
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
15 mi·17 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.7 mi·1 min·South Edwards Street
20
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
26 mi·31 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.2 mi·32 sec·North Main Street
22
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
7.4 mi·8 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
23
Continue on US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
5.0 mi·5 min·El Camino Sierra
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
2.6 mi·4 min·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn right onto May Street
54 ft·2 sec·May Street
26
Arrive at destination
May Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 11-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Riverside to maximize your daylight hours and allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to decide when and where to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 104.5 miles on the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, as services might be spaced out. The $60 fuel cost is an estimate, so be prepared for slight variations. This route is manageable in one day, so you can enjoy the drive without feeling rushed.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 130 miles from Riverside, CA, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.5 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 57 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bishop, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Riverside, 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 Riverside, CA
This is one driving day of about 260 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Riverside, 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 Grand Army of the Republic Highway for about 104.5 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 39.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward CA 91 East: San Bernardino
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward CA 91 East: San Bernardino
5
1 mi into trip|~2m 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.
4
24 mi into trip|~28m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
39.4 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 141
Toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
3
39.7 mi into trip|~45m in
Continue toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 141
Toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.76 one way
$119.52 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$61.58
$123.16
premium
$6.18
$63.23
$126.46
diesel
$5.61
$57.40
$114.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
7 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Mission Square Parking Garage - Tesla Supercharger
Riverside, CA
Tesla
24 DCFC
Hyatt Place Riverside
Riverside, CA
EVCS
3 DCFC
US Bank Riverside
Riverside, CA
EVCS
2 DCFC
G&M OIL CHEVRON#29
Riverside, CA
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
AMPM ARCO CENTRAL 1
Riverside, CA
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
AMPM ARCO CENTRAL 2
Riverside, CA
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
AMPM ARCO ALESSANDRO 1
Riverside, CA
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 4
EVCS: 2
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78
0
$27.30
$12.48
Efficient EV
65
0
$22.75
$10.40
EV Truck/SUV
104
1
$36.40
$16.64
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 19, 2026
Origin
Riverside, CA
Late night
in Riverside on Sunday
Local time
12:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Partly Cloudy
E 0 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bishop, CA
Late night
in Bishop on Sunday
Local time
12:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
17 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
5h 11m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a driving experience that leans towards a turn-heavy local feel, with only 13% of the journey on high-speed highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 104.5 miles along the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. This means you'll be navigating a variety of road types, moving from wider freeways to potentially more winding local roads as you progress toward Bishop. The character of the drive will likely shift, requiring your attention to be on the road and its changing conditions.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.5 mi on Grand Army of the Republic Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 11m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (CA 91 / Riverside Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 104.5 miles on Grand Army of the Republic Highway. 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.
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 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles (CA 91 / Riverside Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bishop, CA before the return drive.
