How far is Riverside, CA from Cathedral City, CA?
The driving distance from Riverside, CA to Cathedral City, CA is about 65.2 miles (104.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 19m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 54.7 miles (88.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 39m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
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 01h 19m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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 Riverside County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Riverside and Cathedral City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside and Cathedral City.
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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
14.2 mi · 15 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward Date Palm Drive
1863 ft · 49 sec
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15
Turn right onto Date Palm Drive
3.2 mi · 5 min · Date Palm Drive
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16
Turn right onto Dinah Shore Drive
2665 ft · 1 min · Dinah Shore Drive
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17
Turn left onto Cathedral Canyon Drive
1.4 mi · 3 min · Cathedral Canyon Drive
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18
Turn left onto East Palm Canyon Drive
152 m · 14 sec · East Palm Canyon Drive
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19
Turn slight right
81 m · 10 sec
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20
Turn right onto W. Buddy Rogers Avenue
12 m · 4 sec · W. Buddy Rogers Avenue
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21
Turn right onto Cove Lane
60 m · 9 sec · Cove Lane
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22
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Cove Lane
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Riverside and Cathedral City.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
18.2 mi · 00h 19m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A comfortable day-trip route
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
Mostly Sunny leaving Riverside and Sunny near Cathedral City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Riverside to Cathedral City?
The road trip is about 65.2 miles (104.9 km) and usually takes 01h 19m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Banning is a useful midpoint, sitting about 32.6 miles from Riverside and 32.6 miles from Cathedral City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 54.7 miles (88.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 10.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:50 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.27 one way or $26.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 20.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Riverside and Sunny near Cathedral City.
Stop Ideas Near Banning
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Khyra Beaucrest Ranch
Highland Springs Ranch & Inn
Hampton Inn & Suites Banning-Beaumont
Country Hills RV Park
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Banning.
Cabazon, CA
Hemet (West Florida Ave), California
Hemet (Devonshire Ave), California
Palm Springs
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Riverside and Cathedral City. Straight-line distance: 54.74 mi (88.09 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 Cathedral City
A city in Riverside County, California.
| Population | 55,007 |
| Coordinates | 33.7797400, -116.4652900 |
| Altitude | 100 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cathedral City (-116.46529, 33.77974)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 105 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 02h 10m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 01h 37m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 01h 18m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 01h 05m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 55m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 48m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $13.27 | $26.54 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $13.95 | $27.90 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $14.36 | $28.72 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $17.40 | $34.81 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.