How far is Riverside, CA from Merced, CA?
The driving distance from Riverside, CA to Merced, CA is about 324 miles (521.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 11m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 289.1 miles (465.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 23m 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 06h 11m.
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.
The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Bakersfield metropolitan area.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Riverside and Merced.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside and Merced.
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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 left to continue on Golden State Freeway
27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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23
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
6 mi · 7 min · Golden State Freeway
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24
Continue on Golden State Highway
111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway
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25
Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7
2522 ft · 31 sec
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26
Merge slight left
21.4 mi · 24 min
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27
Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99
20.7 mi · 24 min · Northbound California State Route 99
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28
Take the exit slight right toward 16th Street
1489 ft · 36 sec
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29
Turn straight onto East 16th Street
2659 ft · 51 sec · East 16th Street
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30
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Junior Way
802 ft · 25 sec · Martin Luther King Junior Way
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31
Turn left onto West 18th Street
960 ft · 52 sec · West 18th Street
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32
Turn left onto Canal Street
35 m · 5 sec · Canal Street
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33
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Canal Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Riverside and Merced.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Golden State Highway
Continue on Golden State Highway
111 mi · 02h 00m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Riverside and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Merced.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Riverside to Merced?
The road trip is about 324 miles (521.4 km) and usually takes 06h 11m 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?
Bakersfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 162.1 miles from Riverside and 161.9 miles from Merced.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 289.1 miles (465.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.9 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 $65.94 one way or $131.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Riverside and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Merced.
Stop Ideas Near Bakersfield
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 Bakersfield.
Bakersfield
Wasco station
Tehachapi, California
Mojave, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Riverside and Merced. Straight-line distance: 289.07 mi (465.22 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 Merced
The most populous city in Merced County, California.
| Population | 88,235 |
| Coordinates | 37.3021600, -120.4829700 |
| Altitude | 52 |
| Country | United States |
End: Merced (-120.48297, 37.30216)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 521 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 47m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 06m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 28m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 24m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 37m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 02m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $65.94 | $131.88 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $69.33 | $138.67 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $71.36 | $142.71 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $86.49 | $172.98 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.