How far is Modesto, CA from Fontana, CA?

The driving distance from Modesto, CA to Fontana, CA is about 357.4 miles (575.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 315.9 miles (508.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 28m 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
357.39 mi
06h 44m
Flight
315.91 mi
508.4 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Modesto.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
315.91 mi
Kilometers
508.4 km
Flight Time
00h 38m

Driving Distance

Road route
357.39 mi
Kilometers
575.16 km
Drive Time
06h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fontana
Sat, Apr 18, 10:18 AM PDT
Return by in Modesto
Sat, Apr 18, 5:02 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Modesto
2026-04-18T03:34
Arrive Fontana
Sat, Apr 18, 10:18 AM PDT
Route Timing
06h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:44 PM to 2:14 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
10:32 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Modesto
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
McFarland
CA

City in Kern County, California, United States

From Modesto
178.8 mi
03h 22m
To Fontana
178.6 mi
03h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 mph N
Destination
83°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
10 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Modesto and Fontana.

  1. 1

    Start on 11th Street

    25 m · 11 sec · 11th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto H Street

    2262 ft · 1 min · H Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left

    1163 ft · 28 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    93.9 mi · 1 hr 47 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight left

    41 mi · 44 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway

    58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Golden State Freeway

    5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    58.2 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Golden State Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena

    1347 ft · 18 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on Foothill Freeway

    24.4 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    19.1 mi · 22 min · Foothill Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Foothill Freeway

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Foothill Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    16.1 mi · 19 min · Foothill Freeway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward Sierra Avenue

    1796 ft · 46 sec

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Sierra Avenue

    3 mi · 5 min · Sierra Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Merrill Avenue

    63 m · 4 sec · Merrill Avenue

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Merrill Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Modesto 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
22 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
H Street
135 mi · 38%
Golden State Freeway
92.8 mi · 26%
Foothill Freeway
67 mi · 19%
Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 16%
Sierra Avenue
3.3 mi · 1%
I 210 East
0.26 mi
Longest Stretch

H Street

Merge slight left

93.9 mi · 01h 47m

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
06h 44m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.5 mi
315.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
McFarland
03h 22m from Modesto
Leave By
10:32 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Modesto and Sunny near Fontana.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Modesto to Fontana?

The road trip is about 357.4 miles (575.2 km) and usually takes 06h 44m 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?

McFarland is a useful midpoint, sitting about 178.8 miles from Modesto and 178.6 miles from Fontana.

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

The direct path is about 315.9 miles (508.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.5 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 $72.75 one way or $145.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 112.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Modesto and Sunny near Fontana.

Stop Ideas Near McFarland

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around McFarland, 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 McFarland.

RAIL

Wasco station

13 mi away
700 G Street
RAIL

Bakersfield

39 mi away
601 Truxtun Ave
RAIL

Corcoran station

55 mi away
1099 Otis Ave.
BUS

Visalia, California

72 mi away
425 E. Oak Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Modesto and Fontana. Straight-line distance: 315.91 mi (508.4 km).

Modesto

#1 Modesto

The third most populous city in Stanislaus County, California.

Population215,666
Coordinates37.6391000, -120.9968800
Altitude28
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: Modesto (-120.99688, 37.6391)
End: Fontana (-117.43505, 34.09223)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 575 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.61 gal
47.74 L · about $72.75
Round trip
$145.49
25.22 gal · 95.48 L
Estimated CO2
112.1 kg one way
Round trip: 224.1 kg / 494 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $72.75 $145.49
Mid-grade $6.07 $76.49 $152.98
Premium $6.24 $78.72 $157.45
Diesel $7.57 $95.42 $190.84

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Modesto and Fontana. The current time is 03:34:11.

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.