How far is Riverside, CA from Blythe, CA?

The driving distance from Riverside, CA to Blythe, CA is about 172.5 miles (277.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 162.5 miles (261.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 23m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
172.52 mi
03h 11m
Flight
162.52 mi
261.55 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Riverside.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
162.52 mi
Kilometers
261.55 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
172.52 mi
Kilometers
277.65 km
Drive Time
03h 11m

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 03h 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Blythe
Thu, Apr 23, 6:30 AM PDT
Return by in Riverside
Thu, Apr 23, 9:42 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Riverside
2026-04-23T03:18
Arrive Blythe
Thu, Apr 23, 6:30 AM PDT
Route Timing
03h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:12 AM to 11:12 AM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:36 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Riverside
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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
Coachella
CA

A city in Riverside County, California.

From Riverside
86.1 mi
01h 35m
To Blythe
86.4 mi
01h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 15 mph SW
Destination
87°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    27 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn slight right onto Central Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · Central Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left toward CA 91 East: San Bernardino

    1454 ft · 37 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Riverside Freeway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio

    1 km · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Pomona Freeway

    1689 ft · 22 sec · Pomona Freeway

  7. 7

    Continue on Escondido Freeway

    3.9 mi · 5 min · Escondido Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on Escondido Freeway

    2346 ft · 31 sec · Escondido Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Moreno Valley Freeway

    15.6 mi · 19 min · Moreno Valley Freeway

  10. 10

    Continue on Moreno Valley Expressway

    2 mi · 2 min · Moreno Valley Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue on Moreno Valley Freeway

    1 km · 42 sec · Moreno Valley Freeway

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    18.2 mi · 19 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway

    32.5 mi · 35 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway

  15. 15

    Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    92.6 mi · 1 hr 39 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Lovekin Boulevard

    1677 ft · 47 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto South Lovekin Boulevard

    1330 ft · 32 sec · South Lovekin Boulevard

  18. 18

    Turn right onto West Hobsonway

    2789 ft · 1 min · West Hobsonway

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Hobsonway

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
19 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
111 mi · 64%
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
33.5 mi · 19%
Moreno Valley Freeway
16.2 mi · 9%
Escondido Freeway
4.38 mi · 3%
Riverside Freeway
2.57 mi · 1%
Moreno Valley Expressway
2.01 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

92.6 mi · 01h 39m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
03h 11m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+10 mi
162.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Coachella
01h 35m from Riverside
Leave By
10:36 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Riverside and Sunny near Blythe.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Riverside to Blythe?

The road trip is about 172.5 miles (277.6 km) and usually takes 03h 11m 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?

Coachella is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.1 miles from Riverside and 86.4 miles from Blythe.

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

The direct path is about 162.5 miles (261.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 10 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 10:36 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.13 one way or $70.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Riverside and Sunny near Blythe.

Stop Ideas Near Coachella

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Coachella and the surrounding midpoint area.
Hotel Indigo Coachella, an IHG Hotel
Stay option 8.1 mi away

Hotel Indigo Coachella, an IHG Hotel

Coachella , CA
84141 Ave 48, Coachella, CA 92236, United States
Rating 4.3/5 3 reviews Hotel,Conference center,Pet friendly accommodation,Wedding venue
Indio City Hall
Meeting point 9.5 mi away

Indio City Hall

Indio , CA
100 Civic Center Mall, Indio, CA 92201, United States
Rating 5.0/5 5 reviews City or town hall,Building inspector,City government office,Economic development agency,Municipal administration office,Urban planning department
Coachella City Hall
Nearby stop 7 mi away

Coachella City Hall

Coachella , CA
1515 6th St, Coachella, CA 92236, United States
Rating 4.3/5 20 reviews City or town hall

Transit and Meeting Points

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

BUS

Indio, California

7 mi away
NE Corner Hywy-111 and Monroe Street
BUS

La Quinta, CA

11 mi away
78822 Highway 111
BUS

Palm Desert, CA

21 mi away
44449 Towne Center Way
BUS

Palm Springs (Buses), California

38 mi away
3400 East Tahquitz Canyon Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Riverside and Blythe. Straight-line distance: 162.52 mi (261.55 km).

Riverside

#1 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
Blythe

#2 Blythe

City in California

Population19,673
Coordinates33.6103000, -114.5963500
Altitude83
CountryUnited States
Start: Riverside (-117.39616, 33.95335)
End: Blythe (-114.59635, 33.6103)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 278 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.09 gal
23.04 L · about $35.13
Round trip
$70.27
12.18 gal · 46.08 L
Estimated CO2
54.1 kg one way
Round trip: 108.2 kg / 239 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $35.13 $70.27
Mid-grade $6.07 $36.94 $73.88
Premium $6.24 $38.02 $76.04
Diesel $7.57 $46.08 $92.17

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

There is no time difference between Riverside and Blythe. The current time is 03:18:41.

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.