This 169.9-mile journey from San Bernardino to Blythe, California, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 7 minutes to complete. You'll navigate a route with a 20% highway share, making it a more localized experience. Expect a fuel cost of around $39 for this trip, which includes one recommended stop. Both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region, so you won't be crossing major geographical boundaries on this drive. This route is best suited for a straightforward day trip, offering a manageable distance and duration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.9 miles from San Bernardino, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
131.1 mi
2h 21m
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
33.5 mi
35m
North Waterman Avenue
3.1 mi
5m
West 5th Street
0.6 mi
1m
West Hobsonway
0.5 mi
1m
South Lovekin Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
East Hobsonway
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 131.1 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Bernardino, CA and Blythe, CA.
1
Start on West 5th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West 5th Street
2
Turn right onto North Waterman Avenue
3.1 mi·5 min·North Waterman Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 10 East: Redlands
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 10 East
5
Merge onto I 10
39 mi·42 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
32 mi·34 min·Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10
1.1 mi·1 min·Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
8
Continue on I 10
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward Lovekin Boulevard
10
Turn left onto South Lovekin Boulevard
0.3 mi·32 sec·South Lovekin Boulevard
11
Turn right onto I 10 Business
0.5 mi·1 min·West Hobsonway
12
Arrive at destination
I 10 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, this route is easily manageable as a single-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. Starting earlier in the day can help you avoid potential local traffic. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your break strategically along the longest stretch of 131.1 miles on the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $39, and it's always wise to refuel before embarking on longer segments, especially considering the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile which can sometimes extend travel times.
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 84.9 miles from San Bernardino, CA, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.1 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 37 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.9 miles or 1h 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 2h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blythe, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Bernardino, 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 San Bernardino, CA
This is one driving day of about 169.9 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from San Bernardino, 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 131.1 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 0.6 and 75.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|North Waterman Avenue
Turn right onto North Waterman Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3.9 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 10 East
5
4.2 mi into trip|~7m in|I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
42.7 mi into trip|~49m in|I 10 / Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
75.2 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|I 10 / Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 10 / Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.05 one way
$78.10 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$40.24
$80.48
premium
$6.18
$41.32
$82.64
diesel
$5.61
$37.51
$75.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51
0
$17.84
$8.16
Efficient EV
42.5
0
$14.87
$6.80
EV Truck/SUV
68
0
$23.79
$10.87
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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
San Bernardino, CA
Night
in San Bernardino on Saturday
Local time
9:38 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
NE 0 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Blythe, CA
Night
in Blythe on Saturday
Local time
9:38 PM
PDT
Current temp
87°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
36 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
3h 7m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Joshua Tree National Park
National Park
Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds...
17 mi from route
~44 min detour
$30
near mile 93.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is best described as 'turn-heavy local drive.' While only 20% of the route is on highways, you'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 131.1 miles along the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. This suggests a progression from more urban or local roads at the start and end, with a substantial middle section that offers a more consistent driving experience before re-engaging with local routes. Prepare for a drive that requires attention to turns and a mix of road types.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 131.1 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near North Waterman Avenue.
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 169.9 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 0.6 miles (North Waterman Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 7m. Total distance: 169.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 131.1 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial 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.
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 Blythe, 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 0.6 miles (North Waterman Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles (I 10 / Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Joshua Tree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Blythe, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
