How far is Desert Hot Springs, CA from Riverside, CA?

The driving distance from Desert Hot Springs, CA to Riverside, CA is about 58.2 miles (93.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 51.1 miles (82.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
58.23 mi
01h 07m
Flight
51.16 mi
82.33 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Desert Hot Springs.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
51.16 mi
Kilometers
82.33 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
58.23 mi
Kilometers
93.72 km
Drive Time
01h 07m

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 01h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Riverside
Sat, Apr 18, 11:41 PM PDT
Return by in Desert Hot Springs
Sun, Apr 19, 12:48 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Desert Hot Springs
2026-04-18T22:34
Arrive Riverside
Sat, Apr 18, 11:41 PM PDT
Route Timing
01h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:07 AM to 11:07 AM PDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:16 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Desert Hot Springs
9:30 PM PDT
Morning start is best

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
Beaumont
CA

A city in San Bernardino County, California.

From Desert Hot Springs
29.1 mi
00h 33m
To Riverside
29.1 mi
00h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
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 Desert Hot Springs and Riverside.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Desert Hot Springs and Riverside.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    62 m · 17 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Pierson Boulevard

    5 mi · 9 min · Pierson Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 29 Palms Highway

    3 mi · 4 min · 29 Palms Highway

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on CA 62

    2996 ft · 36 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway

    4.4 mi · 5 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway

  6. 6

    Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    17.9 mi · 19 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight left toward CA 60 West: Riverside

    1022 ft · 13 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on Moreno Valley Freeway

    2677 ft · 33 sec · Moreno Valley Freeway

  9. 9

    Continue on Moreno Valley Expressway

    2 mi · 2 min · Moreno Valley Expressway

  10. 10

    Continue on Moreno Valley Freeway

    16 mi · 20 min · Moreno Valley Freeway

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Escondido Freeway

    3.9 mi · 5 min · Escondido Freeway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities

    1.5 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Riverside Freeway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza Avenue

    1280 ft · 33 sec

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · Central Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn slight left

    52 m · 13 sec

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Desert Hot Springs 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
17 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
29.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
17.9 mi · 31%
Moreno Valley Freeway
16.5 mi · 28%
Pierson Boulevard
4.99 mi · 9%
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
4.45 mi · 8%
Escondido Freeway
3.95 mi · 7%
29 Palms Highway
3.04 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

17.9 mi · 00h 19m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 07m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.1 mi
51.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Beaumont
00h 33m from Desert Hot Springs
Leave By
4:16 PM PDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Desert Hot Springs and Sunny near Riverside.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Desert Hot Springs to Riverside?

The road trip is about 58.2 miles (93.7 km) and usually takes 01h 07m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Beaumont is a useful midpoint, sitting about 29.1 miles from Desert Hot Springs and 29.1 miles from Riverside.

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

The direct path is about 51.1 miles (82.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:16 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.88 one way or $23.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 18.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Desert Hot Springs and Sunny near Riverside.

Stop Ideas Near Beaumont

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 Beaumont and the surrounding midpoint area.
Khyra Beaucrest Ranch
Coffee break 4.1 mi away

Khyra Beaucrest Ranch

Cherry Valley , CA
40335 Ave Altejo Bella, Cherry Valley, CA 92223, United States
Rating 5.0/5 23 reviews Bed & breakfast,Ranch,Wedding venue
Highland Springs Ranch & Inn
Food stop 2.9 mi away

Highland Springs Ranch & Inn

Cherry Valley , CA
10600 Highland Springs Ave, Cherry Valley, CA 92223, United States
Rating 4.3/5 359 reviews Ranch,Farm,Inn,Restaurant,Wedding venue
Hampton Inn & Suites Banning-Beaumont
Stay option 0.8 mi away

Hampton Inn & Suites Banning-Beaumont

Banning , CA
6071 Joshua Palmer Way, Banning, CA 92220, United States
Rating 4.3/5 718 reviews Hotel
Country Hills RV Park
Scenic stop 1.4 mi away

Country Hills RV Park

Beaumont , CA
14711 Manzanita Park Rd, Beaumont, CA 92223, United States
Rating 4.3/5 145 reviews RV park,Campground

Transit and Meeting Points

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

BUS

Cabazon, CA

17 mi away
49500 Seminole Drive
BUS

Hemet (West Florida Ave), California

20 mi away
3246 West Florida Avenue
BUS

Hemet (Devonshire Ave), California

20 mi away
308 East Devonshire Avenue
BUS

Perris, California

27 mi away
1688-J North Perris Blvd

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Desert Hot Springs and Riverside. Straight-line distance: 51.16 mi (82.33 km).

Desert Hot Springs

#1 Desert Hot Springs

City in Riverside County, California, United States

Population29,611
Coordinates33.9617300, -116.5035300
Altitude328
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: Pierson Boulevard (-116.50353, 33.961462)
End: (-117.396162, 33.953244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 94 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 43m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.06 gal
7.78 L · about $11.88
Round trip
$23.77
4.12 gal · 15.56 L
Estimated CO2
18.3 kg one way
Round trip: 36.6 kg / 81 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $11.88 $23.77
Mid-grade $6.07 $12.50 $24.99
Premium $6.24 $12.86 $25.72
Diesel $7.57 $15.59 $31.18

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 Desert Hot Springs and Riverside. The current time is 22:34:28.

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.