How far is Riverside, CA from Calipatria, CA?
The driving distance from Riverside, CA to Calipatria, CA is about 153.2 miles (246.6 km), with a travel time of about 03h 04m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 122.5 miles (197.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 08m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PST.
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 03h 04m.
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.
A city in Riverside County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Riverside and Calipatria.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside and Calipatria.
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1
Start on the route
27 m · 8 sec
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2
Turn slight right onto Central Avenue
1.2 km · 2 min · Central Avenue
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3
Take the ramp left toward CA 91 East: San Bernardino
1454 ft · 37 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway
2.6 mi · 3 min · Riverside Freeway
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5
Take the exit slight right toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio
1 km · 1 min
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6
Merge slight left onto Pomona Freeway
1689 ft · 22 sec · Pomona Freeway
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7
Continue on Escondido Freeway
3.9 mi · 5 min · Escondido Freeway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Escondido Freeway
2346 ft · 31 sec · Escondido Freeway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Moreno Valley Freeway
15.6 mi · 19 min · Moreno Valley Freeway
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10
Continue on Moreno Valley Expressway
2 mi · 2 min · Moreno Valley Expressway
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11
Continue on Moreno Valley Freeway
1 km · 42 sec · Moreno Valley Freeway
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12
Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
18.2 mi · 19 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
32.5 mi · 35 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
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14
Keep slight right to continue on CA 86 South: CA 86 South, Brawley, El Centro
63.2 mi · 1 hr 14 min
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15
Turn left onto North Center Street
2636 ft · 55 sec · North Center Street
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16
Continue on North Forrester Road
2 mi · 4 min · North Forrester Road
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Forrester Road
621 ft · 12 sec · Forrester Road
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18
Continue on West Walker Road
1811 ft · 36 sec · West Walker Road
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19
Continue on Gentry Road
3.4 mi · 6 min · Gentry Road
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20
Keep slight right
688 ft · 14 sec
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21
Continue on Eddins Road
4.9 mi · 9 min · Eddins Road
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22
Continue on West Main Street
1.3 km · 1 min · West Main Street
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23
Turn right onto North Sorenson Avenue
16 m · 1 sec · North Sorenson Avenue
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24
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · North Sorenson Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Riverside and Calipatria.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
CA 86 South
Keep slight right to continue on CA 86 South: CA 86 South, Brawley, El Centro
63.2 mi · 01h 14m
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.
Sunny leaving Riverside and Sunny near Calipatria.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Riverside to Calipatria?
The road trip is about 153.2 miles (246.6 km) and usually takes 03h 04m 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?
Indio is a useful midpoint, sitting about 76.6 miles from Riverside and 76.6 miles from Calipatria.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 122.5 miles (197.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.7 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 PST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:52 AM PST.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.08 one way or $62.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Riverside and Sunny near Calipatria.
Stop Ideas Near Indio
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Turtle Back Mesa Bed & Breakfast
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Cathedral City (Palm Springs), an IHG Hotel
Palm Springs Oasis RV Resort
United States Postal Service
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Indio.
Indio, California
La Quinta, CA
Palm Desert, CA
Palm Springs (Buses), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Riverside and Calipatria. Straight-line distance: 122.55 mi (197.22 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 Calipatria
City in Imperial County, California, United States
| Population | 6,781 |
| Coordinates | 33.1256000, -115.5141500 |
| Altitude | -55 |
| Country | United States |
End: Calipatria (-115.51415, 33.1256)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 247 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 06m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 49m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 03m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 33m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 11m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 54m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.74 | $31.08 | $62.15 |
| Mid-grade | $5.97 | $32.29 | $64.57 |
| Premium | $6.17 | $33.37 | $66.75 |
| Diesel | $8.15 | $44.06 | $88.13 |
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 · Nov 10, 2026