Origin
Thousand Oaks, CA
Morning in Thousand Oaks on Tuesday
Local time
6:27 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thousand Oaks, CA to San Bernardino, 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
1h 51m
Distance
94.7 mi
152 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 44m
★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thousand Oaks, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Thousand Oaks to San Bernardino is 95 miles and takes about 1 hour 51 minutes via the Foothill Freeway, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California's Pacific Coast region, primarily on major freeways. It's a straightforward, mostly highway trip that's ideal for a single day. Expect a direct path with minimal detours, making it a practical choice for getting from one Southern California hub to another.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.3 miles from Thousand Oaks, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Foothill Freeway | 48.1 mi | 55m |
| Ventura Freeway | 41.9 mi | 48m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| West 5th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Hampshire Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Barstow Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Thousand Oaks Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Foothill Freeway
— 48.1 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thousand Oaks, CA and San Bernardino, CA.
1
Start on this road
63 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto East Thousand Oaks Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Thousand Oaks Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Hampshire Road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Hampshire Road
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward US 101 South, CA 23 South
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto US 101; CA 23
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 134
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Toward CA 134 East: Pasadena
Use the slight left lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134
0.7 mi
·
51 sec
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 210
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the slight left lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 210
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 210
23 mi
·
26 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 74
Toward I 215: Barstow, Riverside
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 74
Toward I 215 South: Riverside
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 215
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Barstow Freeway
22
Continue on I 215
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 44A
Toward CA 66 West: 5th Street, Civic Center
Use the slight right lane.
24
Turn left onto CA 66
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West 5th Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
25
Arrive at destination
West 5th Street
Trip Plan
Given that this 95-mile drive can be completed in under two hours, it's perfect for a same-day trip. You have the flexibility to leave whenever is convenient, but consider departing earlier in the day to avoid peak traffic. The fuel cost is estimated at $22, so ensure your tank is full before you begin. With no recommended stops, you can easily power through the entire distance without needing to refuel, but it's always wise to check your gauge, especially before hitting the longest stretch on the Foothill Freeway.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.3 miles from Thousand Oaks, CA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.1 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.3 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Bernardino, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Thousand Oaks, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Thousand Oaks, CA
This is one driving day of about 94.7 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Thousand Oaks, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Foothill Freeway for about 48.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.3 miles from Thousand Oaks, 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 93.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left toward US 101 South, CA 23 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 101 South, CA 23 South
7
28.1 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
CA 134 / Ventura Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 134 / Ventura Freeway toward CA 134 East: Pasadena
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward CA 134 East: Pasadena
8
90.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 215: Barstow, Riverside
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 74
Toward I 215: Barstow, Riverside
8
90.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 215 South: Riverside
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 74
Toward I 215 South: Riverside
8
93.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward CA 66 West: 5th Street, Civic Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 44A
Toward CA 66 West: 5th Street, Civic Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.77 one way
$43.53 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $22.43 | $44.86 |
| premium | $6.18 | $23.03 | $46.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.91 | $41.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.94 | $4.55 |
| Efficient EV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.29 | $3.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.9 | 0 | $13.26 | $6.06 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% 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
San Bernardino, CA
Morning in San Bernardino on Tuesday
Local time
6:27 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Pasadena, CA
47 mi in
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
3 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 51m 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 trip is almost entirely on the highway, with 97% of the 95 miles covered on freeways like the Foothill Freeway and San Bernardino Freeway. You'll encounter a 48.1-mile stretch on the Foothill Freeway before potentially transitioning to surface streets. The high percentage of highway driving means you'll experience consistent cruising speeds, punctuated by frequent exits common in Southern California's urban and suburban corridors.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.1 mi on Foothill Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Foothill Freeway and Ventura Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.
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 94.7 miles you will encounter 22 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 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.1 miles (CA 134 / Ventura Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Thousand Oaks, CA
Full guide →Founded 1964
Thousand Oaks is a city in Ventura County in Southern California. It is the largest city in the Conejo Valley, which it shares with Agoura Hills and Westlake Village, nestled within the Santa Monica Mountains. Newbury Park on the west and Oak Park on the east are districts of Thousand Oaks.
Arriving in San Bernardino, CA
Full guide →Founded 1854
San Bernardino is a city in the Inland Empire in California. It is the site of the first McDonald Brothers Hamburger Stand
Top landmarks
- • San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot — railway station in San Bernardino, the United States of America
- • California Theatre of the Performing Arts — theater and performing arts center in San Bernardino, California
- • San Bernardino County Court House — courthouse in San Bernardino, 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 51m. Total distance: 94.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.1 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 San Bernardino, 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 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.1 miles (CA 134 / Ventura Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 90.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at San Bernardino, 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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