How far is Fontana, CA from Salinas, CA?
The driving distance from Fontana, CA to Salinas, CA is about 349.3 miles (562.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 43m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 297.3 miles (478.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 27m 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 06h 43m.
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.
Place in Kern County California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Fontana and Salinas.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fontana and Salinas.
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1
Start on Merrill Avenue
63 m · 6 sec · Merrill Avenue
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2
Turn right onto Sierra Avenue
3 mi · 5 min · Sierra Avenue
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3
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 210 West
1784 ft · 45 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Foothill Freeway
14.8 mi · 17 min · Foothill Freeway
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5
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Foothill Freeway
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6
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
2.4 mi · 3 min · Foothill Freeway
-
7
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.4 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway
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8
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
20 mi · 23 min · Foothill Freeway
-
10
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
25.6 mi · 30 min · Foothill Freeway
-
11
Keep slight right
686 ft · 9 sec
-
12
Merge slight right
1.6 km · 1 min
-
13
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
-
14
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
57.7 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward CA 46: Lost Hills, Paso Robles
1799 ft · 28 sec
-
17
Turn left onto Paso Robles Highway
2.6 mi · 4 min · Paso Robles Highway
-
18
Continue straight
1539 ft · 20 sec
-
19
Merge slight left onto Paso Robles Highway
29.7 mi · 35 min · Paso Robles Highway
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20
Continue on Antelope Road
6.8 mi · 9 min · Antelope Road
-
21
Keep slight right
24.4 mi · 29 min
-
22
Take the exit right
1183 ft · 29 sec
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23
Merge slight left onto El Camino Real
95.9 mi · 1 hr 51 min · El Camino Real
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24
Take the exit slight right toward Market Street
731 ft · 22 sec
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25
Turn right onto Kern Street
592 ft · 10 sec · Kern Street
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26
Turn right onto East Market Street
3106 ft · 1 min · East Market Street
-
27
Turn left onto East Front Street
133 m · 11 sec · East Front Street
-
28
Keep slight right to continue on East Market Street
1441 ft · 33 sec · East Market Street
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Market Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fontana and Salinas.
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
95.9 mi · 01h 51m
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 then Partly Sunny leaving Fontana and Sunny near Salinas.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fontana to Salinas?
The road trip is about 349.3 miles (562.2 km) and usually takes 06h 43m 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?
Buttonwillow is a useful midpoint, sitting about 174.6 miles from Fontana and 174.7 miles from Salinas.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 297.3 miles (478.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 52 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 $71.13 one way or $142.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 109.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny around Fontana and Sunny near Salinas.
Stop Ideas Near Buttonwillow
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 Buttonwillow.
Wasco station
Bakersfield
Corcoran station
Kettleman City, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fontana and Salinas. Straight-line distance: 297.32 mi (478.49 km).
#1 Fontana
The second most populous city in San Bernardino County, California.
| Population | 216,173 |
| Coordinates | 34.0922300, -117.4350500 |
| Altitude | 377 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Salinas
The largest city in Monterey County, California.
| Population | 154,868 |
| Coordinates | 36.6777400, -121.6555000 |
| Altitude | 16 |
| Country | United States |
End: Salinas (-121.6555, 36.67774)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 562 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 38m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 44m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 59m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 49m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 59m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 21m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $71.13 | $142.26 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $74.79 | $149.59 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $76.98 | $153.95 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $93.30 | $186.60 |
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.