Origin
Scotts Valley, CA
Late night in Scotts Valley on Tuesday
Local time
5:50 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scotts Valley, CA to Fontana, 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
7h 31m
Distance
392.9 mi
632 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$90
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 21m
★
6 AM
7h 31m
8 AM
7h 52m
10 AM
7h 38m
12 PM
7h 36m
3 PM
7h 39m
5 PM
7h 51m
8 PM
7h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scotts Valley, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Fontana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 392.9-mile drive from Scotts Valley, CA to Fontana, CA is a solid day trip, estimated to take about 7 hours and 31 minutes of pure driving time. You'll be spending a good portion of your journey on major highways, with 79% of the route being on interstate or freeway. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $90. Given the distance and duration, it's definitely manageable in a single day, but you'll want to plan for at least two stops along the way. This route offers a straightforward transit through California, connecting two points within the Pacific Coast region. It's a practical choice if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
196.5 miles from Scotts Valley, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 181.1 mi | 3h 14m |
| Foothill Freeway | 67 mi | 1h 17m |
| I 5 Truck | 58.4 mi | 1h 6m |
| Pacheco Pass Highway | 35.8 mi | 42m |
| Cabrillo Highway | 14 mi | 16m |
| Riverside Road | 9.5 mi | 13m |
| Bloomfield Avenue | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| South Valley Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 181.1 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scotts Valley, CA and Fontana, CA.
1
Start on CA 17 Business
257 ft
·
9 sec
·
Scotts Valley Drive
2
Turn left
153 ft
·
14 sec
3
Turn right onto Macleod Way
65 ft
·
4 sec
·
Macleod Way
4
Turn right onto CA 17 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Scotts Valley Drive
5
Turn left onto CA 17 Business
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Hermon Road
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
7
Merge onto CA 17
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Cruz Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 1B
Toward Watsonville, Monterey
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on Cabrillo Highway
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Cabrillo Highway
10
Merge onto CA 1
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Cabrillo Highway
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 152: Watsonville, Gilroy
12
Continue on CA 152
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
13
Continue on CA 152
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Main Street
14
Turn left onto CA 152
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Beach Street
15
Turn right onto Blackburn Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Blackburn Street
16
Turn left onto CA 129
222 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Riverside Drive
17
Continue on CA 129
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Riverside Road
18
Enter roundabout onto Riverside Road
92 ft
·
1 sec
·
Riverside Road
19
Continue on Riverside Road
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Riverside Road
20
Continue on CA 129
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Chittenden Road
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
22
Merge onto US 101
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
El Camino Real
23
Continue on US 101
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Valley Freeway
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 353
Toward CA 25 East
25
At end of road, turn left onto CA 25
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
26
Continue on CR G7
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Bloomfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto CA 152
36 mi
·
42 min
·
Pacheco Pass Highway
28
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 5: Los Angeles
29
Merge onto I 5
181 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 161A
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
Use the slight right lane.
33
Continue on I 210
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura
Use the slight right lane.
35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 67
Toward Sierra Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Sierra Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
42
Turn left onto Merrill Avenue
205 ft
·
4 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
Use the left lane.
43
Arrive at destination
Merrill Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 7.5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Scotts Valley to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With two recommended stops, you can break up the 392.9 miles into manageable segments. The longest stretch of 181.1 miles on the Westside Freeway is a good point to plan your first break. Keep an eye on your fuel as you approach Fontana; the $90 estimated cost is a good benchmark, but local prices can vary. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but pacing yourself with those two stops will make the 7-hour journey much more comfortable.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 196.5 miles from Scotts Valley, CA, or about 3h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.1 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 86 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 196.5 miles or 3h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fontana, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scotts Valley, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Scotts Valley, CA
This is one driving day of about 392.9 miles and 7h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Scotts Valley, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 181.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
196 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 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 196.5 miles from Scotts Valley, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 181.1 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 325 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 389.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
4.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward Watsonville, Monterey
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 1B
Toward Watsonville, Monterey
6
262 mi into trip
|
~4h 59m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
322.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 8m in
Take the exit toward I 210 East: Pasadena
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 161A
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
8
347 mi into trip
|
~6h 36m in
|
I 210 / Foothill Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210 / Foothill Freeway toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino, Ventura
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 134 West, I 210 East: San Bernardino,...
7
389.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 25m in
Take the exit toward Sierra Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 67
Toward Sierra Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$90.31 one way
$180.61 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
138 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $93.06 | $186.12 |
| premium | $6.18 | $95.55 | $191.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $86.75 | $173.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$90
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$115–$140
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 137.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 117.9 | 1 | $41.25 | $18.86 |
| Efficient EV | 98.2 | 1 | $34.38 | $15.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 157.2 | 1 | $55.01 | $25.15 |
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 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.
Destination
Fontana, CA
Late night in Fontana on Tuesday
Local time
5:50 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 7:07AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 7:07AM PDT until April 17 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 31m 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 highway-focused drive for the most part on this route. You'll primarily navigate via the Westside Freeway and the Foothill Freeway, with a segment on I-5 Truck. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 181.1 miles on the Westside Freeway, meaning you can settle in for some uninterrupted driving. While the majority is high-speed freeway, the consistent road type means you won't find significant shifts in driving conditions, making it a predictable journey behind the wheel.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 181.1 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 4.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 392.9 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 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 262 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 322.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Scotts Valley, CA to Fontana, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.
Ventura
347 mi in
|
~6h 36m
|
via I 210
About the Cities
Starting in Scotts Valley, CA
Full guide →Founded 1966
Scotts Valley is a small city in Santa Cruz County in the Santa Cruz Mountains between Santa Cruz and the Silicon Valley.
Arriving in Fontana, CA
Full guide →Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County in Southern California.
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 7h 31m. Total distance: 392.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 31m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 181.1 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 Fontana, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 262 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 322.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 15.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fontana, 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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