How far is Riverside, CA from Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?
The driving distance from Riverside, CA to Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA is about 375.6 miles (604.4 km), with a travel time of about 07h 23m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 312.3 miles (502.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 07h 23m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Census-designated place in Kern County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Riverside and Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside and Carmel-by-the-Sea.
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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 right to continue on Westside Freeway
57.7 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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23
Take the exit slight right toward CA 46: Lost Hills, Paso Robles
1799 ft · 28 sec
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24
Turn left onto Paso Robles Highway
2.6 mi · 4 min · Paso Robles Highway
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25
Continue straight
1539 ft · 20 sec
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26
Merge slight left onto Paso Robles Highway
29.7 mi · 35 min · Paso Robles Highway
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27
Continue on Antelope Road
6.8 mi · 9 min · Antelope Road
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28
Keep slight right
24.4 mi · 29 min
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29
Take the exit right
1183 ft · 29 sec
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30
Merge slight left onto El Camino Real
94.5 mi · 1 hr 49 min · El Camino Real
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31
Take the exit slight right toward Fairview Avenue
948 ft · 27 sec
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32
Turn left onto Fairview Avenue
773 ft · 17 sec · Fairview Avenue
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33
Turn left onto South Sanborn Road
1.3 km · 1 min · South Sanborn Road
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34
Continue on East Blanco Road
1.6 mi · 2 min · East Blanco Road
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35
Turn left onto South Main Street
3198 ft · 47 sec · South Main Street
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36
Continue on Monterey Salinas Highway
19.5 mi · 25 min · Monterey Salinas Highway
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37
Turn right onto Ocean Avenue
1.1 km · 2 min · Ocean Avenue
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38
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Ocean Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Riverside and Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
El Camino Real
Merge slight left onto El Camino Real
94.5 mi · 01h 49m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Riverside and Patchy Fog near Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Riverside to Carmel-by-the-Sea?
The road trip is about 375.6 miles (604.4 km) and usually takes 07h 23m 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?
Lost Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 187.7 miles from Riverside and 187.8 miles from Carmel-by-the-Sea.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 312.3 miles (502.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 63.3 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 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 $76.44 one way or $152.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 117.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Riverside and Patchy Fog near Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Stop Ideas Near Lost Hills
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 Lost Hills.
Wasco station
Kettleman City, California
Corcoran station
Bakersfield
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Riverside and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Straight-line distance: 312.28 mi (502.57 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea
City in Monterey County, California
| Population | 3,744 |
| Coordinates | 36.5552400, -121.9232900 |
| Altitude | 68 |
| Country | United States |
End: Carmel-by-the-Sea (-121.92329, 36.55524)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 604 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 30m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 23m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 15m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 21m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 41m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $76.44 | $152.88 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $80.37 | $160.75 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $82.72 | $165.44 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $100.26 | $200.53 |
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 16, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.