How far is Grass Valley, CA from Fontana, CA?

The driving distance from Grass Valley, CA to Fontana, CA is about 486.2 miles (782.5 km), with a travel time of about 09h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 407.2 miles (655.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
486.24 mi
09h 06m
Flight
407.18 mi
655.3 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Grass Valley.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
407.18 mi
Kilometers
655.3 km
Flight Time
00h 49m

Driving Distance

Road route
486.24 mi
Kilometers
782.52 km
Drive Time
09h 06m

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 09h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fontana
Thu, Apr 16, 9:48 AM PDT
Return by in Grass Valley
Thu, Apr 16, 6:54 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Grass Valley
2026-04-16T00:42
Arrive Fontana
Thu, Apr 16, 9:48 AM PDT
Route Timing
09h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:06 PM to 4:36 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
5:48 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Grass Valley
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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
Huron
CA

Small city in Fresno County, California

From Grass Valley
243.2 mi
04h 33m
To Fontana
243 mi
04h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph NW
Destination
75°F
Thursday

Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Grass Valley and Fontana.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Grass Valley and Fontana.

  1. 1

    Start on Stewart Street

    36 m · 11 sec · Stewart Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    104 m · 13 sec · East Main Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto South Auburn Street

    1093 ft · 26 sec · South Auburn Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right

    1105 ft · 16 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Golden Center Freeway

    14.9 mi · 20 min · Golden Center Freeway

  6. 6

    Continue on Grass Valley Highway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway

    33 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Grass Valley Highway

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway

    32 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway

    5.6 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway

  11. 11

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 80 West: Sacramento

    1346 ft · 33 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Alan S. Hart Freeway

    16.8 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway

  13. 13

    Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    7.1 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway

    4.9 mi · 5 min · Capital City Freeway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Capital City Freeway

    3.7 mi · 4 min · Capital City Freeway

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Capital City Freeway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding

    803 ft · 15 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South: Los Angeles

    1.3 km · 2 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    59 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Westside Freeway

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway

    1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway

    236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway

  22. 22

    Keep slight right

    58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena

    1347 ft · 18 sec

  25. 25

    Continue on Foothill Freeway

    24.4 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway

  26. 26

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    19.1 mi · 22 min · Foothill Freeway

  27. 27

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Foothill Freeway

  28. 28

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway

  29. 29

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Foothill Freeway

  30. 30

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway

  31. 31

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    16.1 mi · 19 min · Foothill Freeway

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right toward Sierra Avenue

    1796 ft · 46 sec

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Sierra Avenue

    3 mi · 5 min · Sierra Avenue

  34. 34

    Turn left onto Merrill Avenue

    63 m · 4 sec · Merrill Avenue

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Merrill Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Grass Valley and Fontana.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
35 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
3 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
355 mi · 73%
Foothill Freeway
67 mi · 14%
Alan S. Hart Freeway
16.8 mi · 3%
Golden Center Freeway
14.9 mi · 3%
Capital City Freeway
10.6 mi · 2%
Grass Valley Highway
8.03 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway

237 mi · 04h 14m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
09h 06m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
18h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+79 mi
407.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Huron
04h 33m from Grass Valley
Leave By
5:48 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Grass Valley and Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny near Fontana.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Grass Valley to Fontana?

The road trip is about 486.2 miles (782.5 km) and usually takes 09h 06m 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?

Huron is a useful midpoint, sitting about 243.2 miles from Grass Valley and 243 miles from Fontana.

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

The direct path is about 407.2 miles (655.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 79 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 $99.00 one way or $197.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 152.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Grass Valley and Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny near Fontana.

Stop Ideas Near Huron

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Huron, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

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

BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

26 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198
BUS

Kettleman City, California

28 mi away
3300 Hubert Way
BUS

Lemoore, California

29 mi away
300 E Street
RAIL

Hanford station

43 mi away
200 Santa Fe Avenue #A

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Grass Valley and Fontana. Straight-line distance: 407.18 mi (655.3 km).

Grass Valley

#1 Grass Valley

City in Nevada County, California, United States

Population12,763
Coordinates39.2190600, -121.0610600
Altitude735
CountryUnited States
Fontana

#2 Fontana

The second most populous city in San Bernardino County, California.

Population216,173
Coordinates34.0922300, -117.4350500
Altitude377
CountryUnited States
Start: Grass Valley (-121.06106, 39.21906)
End: Fontana (-117.43505, 34.09223)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 783 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 03m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.16 gal
64.95 L · about $99.00
Round trip
$197.99
34.32 gal · 129.9 L
Estimated CO2
152.5 kg one way
Round trip: 305 kg / 672 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $99.00 $197.99
Mid-grade $6.07 $104.09 $208.19
Premium $6.24 $107.13 $214.26
Diesel $7.57 $129.85 $259.70

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 · Apr 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Grass Valley and Fontana. The current time is 00:42:01.

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.