How far is Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA from Riverside, CA?
The driving distance from Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA to Riverside, CA is about 375.3 miles (604 km), with a travel time of about 07h 24m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 312.3 miles (502.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 48m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 07h 24m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Census-designated place in Kern County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Riverside.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Riverside.
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1
Start on Ocean Avenue
25 m · 10 sec · Ocean Avenue
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2
Continue on Ocean Avenue
1.1 km · 2 min · Ocean Avenue
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3
Turn left onto Cabrillo Highway
4 mi · 5 min · Cabrillo Highway
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4
Keep slight right to continue on CA 68: North Fremont Street, Salinas
16 mi · 21 min
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5
Turn right onto East Blanco Road
1.6 mi · 2 min · East Blanco Road
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6
Continue on South Sanborn Road
1.2 km · 59 sec · South Sanborn Road
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7
Take the exit right
1061 ft · 26 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto El Camino Real
94.6 mi · 1 hr 49 min · El Camino Real
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9
Take the exit slight right toward CA 46 East: Fresno, Bakersfield
968 ft · 30 sec
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10
Turn left
24.5 mi · 29 min
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11
Merge slight left
1.4 mi · 2 min
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12
Turn slight right
149 m · 6 sec
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Antelope Road
5.3 mi · 7 min · Antelope Road
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14
Continue on Paso Robles Highway
32.3 mi · 39 min · Paso Robles Highway
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15
Take the exit slight right
2047 ft · 25 sec
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16
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
56.8 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway
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17
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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19
Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena
1347 ft · 18 sec
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20
Continue on Foothill Freeway
24.4 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway
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21
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
19.1 mi · 22 min · Foothill Freeway
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22
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
2476 ft · 33 sec · Foothill Freeway
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23
Take the exit slight right toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
1.4 km · 2 min
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24
Continue on Orange Freeway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Orange Freeway
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25
Take the exit slight right toward CA 71: Corona
1.1 mi · 2 min
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26
Continue on Chino Valley Freeway
3.1 mi · 4 min · Chino Valley Freeway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward CA 60 East: Riverside
1.4 mi · 3 min
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28
Merge slight left onto Pomona Freeway
12 mi · 14 min · Pomona Freeway
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29
Take the exit slight right toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
2448 ft · 1 min
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30
Turn straight onto Mission Boulevard
852 ft · 15 sec · Mission Boulevard
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31
Continue on Van Buren Boulevard
6.1 mi · 9 min · Van Buren Boulevard
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32
Turn left onto Central Avenue
3.6 mi · 6 min · Central Avenue
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33
Turn sharp right
52 m · 13 sec
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Riverside.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
El Camino Real
Merge slight left onto El Camino Real
94.6 mi · 01h 49m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Patchy Fog leaving Carmel-by-the-Sea and Sunny near Riverside.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Carmel-by-the-Sea to Riverside?
The road trip is about 375.3 miles (604 km) and usually takes 07h 24m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Lost Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 187.6 miles from Carmel-by-the-Sea and 187.7 miles from Riverside.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 312.3 miles (502.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 63 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $76.38 one way or $152.76 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 117.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog around Carmel-by-the-Sea and Sunny near Riverside.
Stop Ideas Near Lost Hills
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lost Hills.
Wasco station
Kettleman City, California
Corcoran station
Bakersfield
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Riverside. Straight-line distance: 312.28 mi (502.57 km).
#1 Carmel-by-the-Sea
City in Monterey County, California
| Population | 3,744 |
| Coordinates | 36.5552400, -121.9232900 |
| Altitude | 68 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Riverside
The most populous city in Riverside County, California and the center of the Riverside metropolitan area.
| Population | 330,786 |
| Coordinates | 33.9533500, -117.3961600 |
| Altitude | 252 |
| Country | United States |
End: Riverside (-117.39616, 33.95335)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 604 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 30m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 22m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 15m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 21m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 40m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $76.38 | $152.76 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $80.31 | $160.63 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $82.66 | $165.31 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $100.19 | $200.37 |
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 16, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.