How far is Clearlake, CA from Riverside, CA?
Fastest route
The distance between Clearlake, California, and Riverside, California is approximately 535 miles (862 kilometers). The estimated travel time is 8 hours and 32 minutes via I-5 S.
Directions
To reach Riverside from Clearlake, follow these directions:
- Head west on Duncan Ave toward Jefferson Ave.
- Turn right onto Jefferson Ave.
- Turn right onto Old Hwy 53/Olympic Dr and continue to follow Olympic Dr.
- Turn right onto State Hwy 20 E.
- Merge onto I-5 S via the ramp to Sacramento.
- Keep left at the fork to stay on I-5 S, following signs for Woodland/Sacramento.
- Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 144 to merge onto CA-134 E toward Glendale/Pasadena.
- Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 45 for CA-57 S toward Santa Ana.
- Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 22C for CA-71 toward Corona.
- Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 12 to merge onto CA-60 E toward Riverside.
- Please note that parts of this road may be closed at certain times or days.
- Take exit 52A for Market Street toward Downtown.
- Follow Market Street to your destination.
Tips & Suggestions
- 🚗 Plan for regular breaks: It's a long journey, so plan for rest stops and stretches along the way to stay fresh.
- ⛽ Refuel before the trip: Ensure your vehicle has enough fuel before embarking on the journey to avoid unnecessary delays.
- 📅 Check for road closures: Stay updated on road closures or construction works that may affect your route and adjust accordingly.
- 🚧 Follow traffic signs: Pay attention to traffic signs and follow the indicated directions to ensure a safe and smooth journey.
- 🗺️ Use a navigation app: Consider using a reliable navigation app to guide you through the route and provide real-time traffic updates.
- 🍽️ Pack snacks and drinks: To keep yourself energized, pack some snacks and drinks for the road trip.
- 🚙 Check your vehicle: Before starting the trip, ensure your vehicle is in good condition, with properly inflated tires and all necessary fluids topped up.
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 08h 35m.
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.
City in Fresno County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Clearlake and Riverside.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clearlake and Riverside.
-
1
Start on Duncan Avenue
850 ft · 37 sec · Duncan Avenue
-
2
Continue on Lincoln Avenue
651 ft · 30 sec · Lincoln Avenue
-
3
Turn right onto Polk Avenue
101 m · 18 sec · Polk Avenue
-
4
Turn right
3.6 mi · 5 min
-
5
Continue straight
10.4 mi · 16 min
-
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route
15 m · 1 sec
-
7
Exit the roundabout
21.6 mi · 32 min
-
8
Turn left onto Saint Helena Highway
6.8 mi · 8 min · Saint Helena Highway
-
9
Continue on Main Street
2.4 mi · 3 min · Main Street
-
10
Continue on Saint Helena Highway South
21.7 mi · 26 min · Saint Helena Highway South
-
11
Continue on Napa–Vallejo Highway
1.3 mi · 1 min · Napa–Vallejo Highway
-
12
Continue on Broadway Street
4 mi · 5 min · Broadway Street
-
13
Continue on Sonoma Boulevard
1.8 mi · 2 min · Sonoma Boulevard
-
14
Continue on Sonoma Boulevard
1.1 mi · 2 min · Sonoma Boulevard
-
15
Turn left onto Redwood Street
1786 ft · 45 sec · Redwood Street
-
16
Turn right onto Broadway Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · Broadway Street
-
17
Turn slight left onto Alameda Street
1.1 km · 2 min · Alameda Street
-
18
Turn left onto Curtola Parkway
7.1 mi · 9 min · Curtola Parkway
-
19
Keep slight left to continue on I 680 South: Martinez, San Jose
1.1 km · 47 sec
-
20
Continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
8 mi · 9 min · Benicia-Martinez Bridge
-
21
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
4.8 mi · 6 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
-
22
Continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
-
23
Keep slight right to continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
13.4 mi · 16 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
-
24
Take the exit slight right toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
1362 ft · 33 sec
-
25
Keep slight left to continue on I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
1.1 km · 1 min
-
26
Keep slight left to continue on I 580: Stockton
1581 ft · 39 sec
-
27
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
-
28
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
-
29
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
-
30
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
-
31
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224.4 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
-
32
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
-
33
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
-
34
Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena
1347 ft · 18 sec
-
35
Continue on Foothill Freeway
24.4 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway
-
36
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
19.1 mi · 22 min · Foothill Freeway
-
37
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
2476 ft · 33 sec · Foothill Freeway
-
38
Take the exit slight right toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
1.4 km · 2 min
-
39
Continue on Orange Freeway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Orange Freeway
-
40
Take the exit slight right toward CA 71: Corona
1.1 mi · 2 min
-
41
Continue on Chino Valley Freeway
3.1 mi · 4 min · Chino Valley Freeway
-
42
Take the exit slight right toward CA 60 East: Riverside
1.4 mi · 3 min
-
43
Merge slight left onto Pomona Freeway
12 mi · 14 min · Pomona Freeway
-
44
Take the exit slight right toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
2448 ft · 1 min
-
45
Turn straight onto Mission Boulevard
852 ft · 15 sec · Mission Boulevard
-
46
Continue on Van Buren Boulevard
6.1 mi · 9 min · Van Buren Boulevard
-
47
Turn left onto Central Avenue
3.6 mi · 6 min · Central Avenue
-
48
Turn sharp right
52 m · 13 sec
-
49
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Clearlake and Riverside.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224 mi · 04h 00m
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.
Sunny leaving Clearlake and Mostly Sunny near Riverside.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Clearlake to Riverside?
The road trip is about 538.8 miles (867.1 km) and usually takes 08h 35m 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?
Coalinga is a useful midpoint, sitting about 255.5 miles from Clearlake and 283.3 miles from Riverside.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 451.6 miles (726.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 87.2 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 $109.67 one way or $219.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 168.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Clearlake and Mostly Sunny near Riverside.
Stop Ideas Near Coalinga
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 Coalinga.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Lemoore, California
Paso Robles station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Clearlake and Riverside. Straight-line distance: 451.55 mi (726.7 km).
#1 Clearlake
City in California
| Population | 15,179 |
| Coordinates | 38.9582300, -122.6263700 |
| Altitude | 432 |
| 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: (-117.396162, 33.953244)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 867 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 57m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 28m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 46m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 58m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 41m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 43m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $109.67 | $219.34 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $115.31 | $230.63 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $118.68 | $237.36 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $143.85 | $287.70 |
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 · May 22, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.