How far is Modesto, CA from Riverside, CA?

The driving distance from Modesto, CA to Riverside, CA is about 364.4 miles (586.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 324.9 miles (522.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 05m 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
364.35 mi
06h 02m
Flight
324.85 mi
522.8 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
324.85 mi
Kilometers
522.8 km
Flight Time
00h 39m

Driving Distance

Road route
364.35 mi
Kilometers
586.36 km
Drive Time
06h 02m

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 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Riverside
Wed, Apr 22, 9:34 PM PDT
Return by in Modesto
Thu, Apr 23, 3:36 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Modesto
2026-04-22T15:31
Arrive Riverside
Wed, Apr 22, 9:34 PM PDT
Route Timing
06h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:03 PM to 1:33 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
11:54 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
181.6 mi
03h 01m
To Riverside
182.8 mi
03h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Wednesday

Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph NE
Destination
72°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    2476 ft · 33 sec · Foothill Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana

    1.4 km · 2 min

  16. 16

    Continue on Orange Freeway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Orange Freeway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 71: Corona

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Continue on Chino Valley Freeway

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Chino Valley Freeway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 60 East: Riverside

    1.4 mi · 3 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Pomona Freeway

    12 mi · 14 min · Pomona Freeway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue

    2448 ft · 1 min

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto Mission Boulevard

    852 ft · 15 sec · Mission Boulevard

  23. 23

    Continue on Van Buren Boulevard

    6.1 mi · 9 min · Van Buren Boulevard

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Central Avenue

    3.6 mi · 6 min · Central Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn sharp right

    52 m · 13 sec

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Modesto and Riverside.

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
26 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
H Street
135 mi · 37%
Golden State Freeway
92.8 mi · 25%
Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 16%
Foothill Freeway
44 mi · 12%
Pomona Freeway
12 mi · 3%
Van Buren Boulevard
6.52 mi · 2%
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 02m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+39.5 mi
324.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
McFarland
03h 01m from Modesto
Leave By
11:54 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly Sunny leaving Modesto 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 Modesto to Riverside?

The road trip is about 364.4 miles (586.4 km) and usually takes 06h 02m 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 181.6 miles from Modesto and 182.8 miles from Riverside.

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

The direct path is about 324.9 miles (522.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 39.5 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 $74.19 one way or $148.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 114.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly Sunny around Modesto and Mostly Sunny near Riverside.

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 Riverside. Straight-line distance: 324.85 mi (522.8 km).

Modesto

#1 Modesto

The third most populous city in Stanislaus County, California.

Population215,666
Coordinates37.6391000, -120.9968800
Altitude28
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: 11th Street (-120.996829, 37.639137)
End: (-117.396162, 33.953244)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 586 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 17m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 04m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.86 gal
48.67 L · about $74.19
Round trip
$148.38
25.72 gal · 97.34 L
Estimated CO2
114.3 kg one way
Round trip: 228.6 kg / 504 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $74.19 $148.38
Mid-grade $6.07 $78.01 $156.02
Premium $6.24 $80.28 $160.57
Diesel $7.57 $97.31 $194.62

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Modesto and Riverside. The current time is 15:31:39.

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.