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Trip from Sunland, CA to Riverside, 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

1h 26m

Distance

64.1 mi

103 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 20m ★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m

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

Downtown Sunland, CA, CA

Sunland, CA

Dominik Gryzbon

county seat of Riverside County, California, United States

Riverside, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 64.1-mile drive from Sunland, CA to Riverside, CA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 26 minutes. The journey primarily utilizes the Foothill Freeway and Pomona Freeway, with a final stretch on Van Buren Boulevard. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, this route is an economical option for a quick transition across the Pacific Coast region. It's a straightforward drive, perfect for those looking for efficiency and a predictable travel experience between these two Southern California locales.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Foothill Freeway 27.8 mi 32m
Pomona Freeway 12 mi 13m
Van Buren Boulevard 6.1 mi 8m
Central Avenue 3.6 mi 6m
Orange Freeway 3.2 mi 3m
Chino Valley Freeway 3.1 mi 3m
Foothill Boulevard 2.5 mi 5m
Lowell Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Foothill Freeway — 27.8 mi, about 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sunland, CA and Riverside, CA.

1

Start on Wentworth Street

117 ft · 10 sec · Wentworth Street
2

Turn left onto Mount Gleason Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Mount Gleason Avenue
3

Turn left onto Foothill Boulevard

2.5 mi · 5 min · Foothill Boulevard
4

Turn right onto Lowell Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lowell Avenue
5

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
6

Merge onto I 210

8.3 mi · 9 min · Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

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.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 210

0.5 mi · 32 sec · Foothill Freeway
9

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 44A Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana Use the slight right lane.
10

Continue on CA 57

3.2 mi · 3 min · Orange Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 2 min
Exit 22C Toward CA 71: Corona Use the slight right lane.
12

Continue on CA 71

3.1 mi · 3 min · Chino Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

1.4 mi · 2 min
Toward CA 60 East: Riverside Use the slight right lane.
14

Merge onto CA 60

12 mi · 13 min · Pomona Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 42 Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Turn straight onto Mission Boulevard

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Mission Boulevard
17

Continue on Van Buren Boulevard

6.1 mi · 8 min · Van Buren Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
18

Turn left onto Central Avenue

3.6 mi · 6 min · Central Avenue
Use the left lane.
19

Turn sharp right

171 ft · 12 sec
20

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pomona, CA

32 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.

Popular next leg

Pomona, CA to Riverside, CA

25.1 mi · 35m

Pacing Suggestions

Pasadena, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Covina, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32 miles from Sunland, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 12.6 and 53.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
12.6 mi into trip | ~19m 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
32.1 mi into trip | ~41m in

Take the exit toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 44A Toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
7
36.2 mi into trip | ~47m in

Take the exit toward CA 71: Corona

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 22C Toward CA 71: Corona
6
40.4 mi into trip | ~53m in

Take the exit toward CA 60 East: Riverside

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward CA 60 East: Riverside
8
53.8 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

Take the exit toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda 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 42 Toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.73 one way

$29.47 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $15.18 $30.36
premium $6.18 $15.59 $31.18
diesel $5.61 $14.15 $28.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$15

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.2 0 $6.73 $3.08
Efficient EV 16 0 $5.61 $2.56
EV Truck/SUV 25.6 0 $8.97 $4.10

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Sunland, CA

Late night in Sunland on Tuesday

Local time

2:36 AM

PDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Riverside, CA

Late night in Riverside on Tuesday

Local time

2:36 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

20 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

1h 26m 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?

Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 72% of the route utilizing major freeways. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 27.8 miles on the Foothill Freeway, offering a consistent pace. The transition to the Pomona Freeway and then Van Buren Boulevard will gradually shift the character of the drive, moving you from a high-speed freeway environment to more of a boulevard-style road as you approach Riverside. This blend ensures a dynamic, yet generally swift, driving experience.

72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.8 mi on Foothill Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Foothill Freeway and Pomona Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.6 miles in near I 210 / Foothill Freeway.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 12.6 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.2 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.

On the drive from Sunland, CA to Riverside, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Ventura along the way.

Ventura

12.6 mi in | ~19m | via I 210

About the Cities

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 1h 26m. Total distance: 64.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 27.8 miles on Foothill Freeway. 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 12.6 miles (I 210 / Foothill Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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