How far is Brea, CA from Riverside, CA?

The driving distance from Brea, CA to Riverside, CA is about 37.8 miles (60.8 km), with a travel time of about 00h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 29 miles (46.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
37.79 mi
00h 45m
Flight
29 mi
46.67 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Brea.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
29 mi
Kilometers
46.67 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
37.79 mi
Kilometers
60.82 km
Drive Time
00h 45m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Riverside
Sat, Apr 18, 9:17 PM PDT
Return by in Brea
Sat, Apr 18, 10:02 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Brea
2026-04-18T20:32
Arrive Riverside
Sat, Apr 18, 9:17 PM PDT
Route Timing
00h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:45 AM to 7:45 PM PDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:00 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Brea
10:00 PM PDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Corona
CA

The second most populous city in Riverside County, California.

From Brea
18.5 mi
00h 22m
To Riverside
19.3 mi
00h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
84°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Brea and Riverside.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brea and Riverside.

  1. 1

    Start on South Brea Boulevard

    562 ft · 14 sec · South Brea Boulevard

  2. 2

    Continue on South Brea Boulevard

    747 ft · 33 sec · South Brea Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East Imperial Highway

    1.4 km · 2 min · East Imperial Highway

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana

    2284 ft · 46 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Orange Freeway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · Orange Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 91 East: Riverside Freeway, Riverside

    2739 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway

    2.8 mi · 3 min · Riverside Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on Riverside Freeway

    26.4 mi · 30 min · Riverside Freeway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Madison Street

    1145 ft · 36 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Madison Street

    2568 ft · 1 min · Madison Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Magnolia Avenue

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Magnolia Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn right

    31 m · 8 sec

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn left

    55 m · 13 sec

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Brea and Riverside.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
14 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
37 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Riverside Freeway
29.2 mi · 77%
Orange Freeway
3.77 mi · 10%
Magnolia Avenue
1.11 mi · 3%
East Imperial Highway
0.85 mi · 2%
Madison Street
0.7 mi · 2%
CA 91 East
0.52 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Riverside Freeway

Keep slight right to continue on Riverside Freeway

26.4 mi · 00h 30m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 45m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8.8 mi
29 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Corona
00h 22m from Brea
Leave By
7:00 PM PDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Brea and Sunny near Riverside.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Brea to Riverside?

The road trip is about 37.8 miles (60.8 km) and usually takes 00h 45m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Corona is a useful midpoint, sitting about 18.5 miles from Brea and 19.3 miles from Riverside.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 29 miles (46.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:00 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.67 one way or $15.35 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 11.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Brea and Sunny near Riverside.

Stop Ideas Near Corona

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Corona and the surrounding midpoint area.
Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance
Stay option 14.4 mi away

Courtyard by Marriott Anaheim Theme Park Entrance

Anaheim , CA
1420 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States
Rating 4.7/5 998 reviews Hotel,Indoor lodging,Meeting planning service
City of Lake Forest
Practical stop 14.7 mi away

City of Lake Forest

Corona
Rating 4.8/5 12 reviews Government office,Service establishment
Chino City Hall
Meeting point 10 mi away

Chino City Hall

Chino , CA
13220 Central Ave, Chino, CA 91710
Rating 4.6/5 31 reviews City Hall,City government office,Local government office
Anaheim Downtown Community Center
Nearby stop 13.9 mi away

Anaheim Downtown Community Center

Anaheim , CA
250 E Center St, Anaheim, CA 92805, United States
Rating 4.6/5 218 reviews Community center

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Corona.

RAIL

Riverside–Downtown

21 mi away
4066 Vine St.
RAIL

Ontario

22 mi away
228 South Plum Street
BUS

Moreno Valley, California

26 mi away
2650 East Alessandro Blvd.
RAIL

Pomona station

27 mi away
100 West Commercial Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Brea and Riverside. Straight-line distance: 29 mi (46.67 km).

Brea

#1 Brea

A city in Orange County, California.

Population44,484
Coordinates33.9166800, -117.9000600
Altitude110
CountryUnited States
Riverside

#2 Riverside

The most populous city in Riverside County, California and the center of the Riverside metropolitan area.

Population330,786
Coordinates33.9533500, -117.3961600
Altitude252
CountryUnited States
Start: South Brea Boulevard (-117.900139, 33.916709)
End: (-117.396162, 33.953244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 61 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 45m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.33 gal
5.05 L · about $7.67
Round trip
$15.35
2.66 gal · 10.1 L
Estimated CO2
11.8 kg one way
Round trip: 23.6 kg / 52 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $7.67 $15.35
Mid-grade $6.07 $8.07 $16.14
Premium $6.24 $8.30 $16.61
Diesel $7.57 $10.06 $20.13

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in California · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Brea and Riverside. The current time is 20:32:26.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.