How far is Riverside, CA from Cottonwood, CA?
The driving distance from Riverside, CA to Cottonwood, CA is about 465.8 miles (749.7 km), with a travel time of about 08h 51m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 412.8 miles (664.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 43m 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 08h 51m.
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.
City in Kings County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Riverside and Cottonwood.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside and Cottonwood.
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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
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
25.5 mi · 28 min · Westside Freeway
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24
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
53.8 mi · 1 hr · Westside Freeway
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25
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
11.2 mi · 13 min · Westside Freeway
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26
Take the exit slight right toward CA 113 South: Main Street, Woodland
1457 ft · 40 sec
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27
Continue on East Main Street
3.1 mi · 8 min · East Main Street
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28
Continue straight
9.2 mi · 13 min
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29
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route
71 m · 4 sec
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30
Exit the roundabout
48 m · 4 sec
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31
Continue on County Road 89
1.6 mi · 4 min · County Road 89
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32
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · County Road 89
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Riverside and Cottonwood.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi · 04h 02m
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 Mostly Sunny near Cottonwood.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Riverside to Cottonwood?
The road trip is about 465.8 miles (749.7 km) and usually takes 08h 51m 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?
Avenal is a useful midpoint, sitting about 233 miles from Riverside and 232.8 miles from Cottonwood.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 412.8 miles (664.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 53 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 $94.84 one way or $189.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 146.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Riverside and Mostly Sunny near Cottonwood.
Stop Ideas Near Avenal
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 Avenal.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Corcoran station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Riverside and Cottonwood. Straight-line distance: 412.86 mi (664.44 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 Cottonwood
Ghost town in Yolo County, California
| Population | 3,850 |
| Coordinates | 38.6582400, -121.9710800 |
| Altitude | 50 |
| Country | United States |
End: Cottonwood (-121.97108, 38.65824)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 750 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 31m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 38m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 18m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 45m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 39m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 48m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $94.84 | $189.68 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $99.73 | $199.45 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $102.63 | $205.27 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $124.40 | $248.80 |
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.