How far is Riverside, CA from Barstow, CA?
The driving distance from Riverside, CA to Barstow, CA is about 281.5 miles (453 km), with a travel time of about 05h 28m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 245.2 miles (394.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 56m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 05h 28m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
City in Kern County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Riverside and Barstow.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside and Barstow.
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1
Start on the route
55 m · 14 sec
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2
Turn right
29 m · 7 sec
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3
Turn right onto Magnolia Avenue
70 m · 15 sec · Magnolia Avenue
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4
Turn left onto Central Avenue
3.5 mi · 6 min · Central Avenue
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5
Turn right onto Van Buren Boulevard
6.1 mi · 8 min · Van Buren Boulevard
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6
Continue on Mission Boulevard
1434 ft · 24 sec · Mission Boulevard
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7
Take the ramp slight left toward CA 60 West
1617 ft · 41 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Pomona Freeway
12.1 mi · 14 min · Pomona Freeway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward CA 71 South, CA 71 North: Corona, Pomona
1213 ft · 30 sec
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10
Keep slight right to continue on CA 71 North: Pomona
2510 ft · 1 min
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11
Keep slight left
811 ft · 20 sec
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12
Merge slight left onto Chino Valley Freeway
3.5 mi · 4 min · Chino Valley Freeway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on CA 57 North
1.2 km · 2 min
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14
Continue straight
3.4 mi · 4 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on I 210 West: Pasadena
1.1 mi · 2 min
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16
Merge slight left onto Foothill Freeway
18.3 mi · 21 min · Foothill Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
25.6 mi · 30 min · Foothill Freeway
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18
Keep slight right
686 ft · 9 sec
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19
Merge slight right
1.6 km · 1 min
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20
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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22
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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23
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
6 mi · 7 min · Golden State Freeway
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24
Continue on Golden State Highway
107.1 mi · 1 hr 56 min · Golden State Highway
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25
Take the exit slight right toward Shaw Avenue
1638 ft · 41 sec
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26
Turn right onto West Shaw Avenue
4.7 mi · 10 min · West Shaw Avenue
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27
Turn right onto North Dickenson Avenue
2638 ft · 1 min · North Dickenson Avenue
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28
Turn right onto West Barstow Avenue
46 m · 7 sec · West Barstow Avenue
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Barstow Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Riverside and Barstow.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Golden State Highway
Continue on Golden State Highway
107 mi · 01h 56m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Mostly Sunny leaving Riverside and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Barstow.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Riverside to Barstow?
The road trip is about 281.5 miles (453 km) and usually takes 05h 28m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Arvin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 140.8 miles from Riverside and 140.7 miles from Barstow.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 245.2 miles (394.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.3 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:04 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $57.29 one way or $114.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 88.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Riverside and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Barstow.
Stop Ideas Near Arvin
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 Arvin.
Bakersfield
Tehachapi, California
Mojave, California
Wasco station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Riverside and Barstow. Straight-line distance: 245.17 mi (394.56 km).
#1 Riverside
The most populous city in Riverside County, California and the center of the Riverside metropolitan area.
| Population | 330,786 |
| Coordinates | 33.9533500, -117.3961600 |
| Altitude | 252 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Barstow
City in San Bernardino County, California, United States
| Population | 23,581 |
| Coordinates | 36.8152200, -119.9698800 |
| Altitude | 84 |
| Country | United States |
End: Barstow (-119.96988, 36.81522)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 453 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 22m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 02m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 37m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 41m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 01m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 30m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $57.29 | $114.57 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $60.24 | $120.47 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $61.99 | $123.99 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $75.14 | $150.28 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.