How far is Riverside, CA from San Bernardino, CA?

The driving distance from Riverside, CA to San Bernardino, CA is about 14 miles (22.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 12.3 miles (19.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 40m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
13.96 mi
00h 20m
Flight
12.32 mi
19.83 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Riverside.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
12.32 mi
Kilometers
19.83 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
13.96 mi
Kilometers
22.47 km
Drive Time
00h 20m

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 00h 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Bernardino
Fri, May 1, 9:50 PM PDT
Return by in Riverside
Fri, May 1, 10:11 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Riverside
2026-05-01T21:30
Arrive San Bernardino
Fri, May 1, 9:50 PM PDT
Route Timing
00h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:20 AM to 7:20 PM PDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:50 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Riverside
10:00 PM PDT
Flexible departure

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.

Mid-route stop
Grand Terrace
CA

City in San Bernardino County, California, United States

From Riverside
7 mi
00h 10m
To San Bernardino
7 mi
00h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SW
Destination
85°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Riverside and San Bernardino.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Riverside and San Bernardino.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    27 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn slight right onto Central Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · Central Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp left toward CA 91 East: San Bernardino

    1454 ft · 37 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway

    8.6 mi · 10 min · Riverside Freeway

  5. 5

    Continue on San Bernardino Freeway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · San Bernardino Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward 5th Street, Civic Center

    1510 ft · 42 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right onto West 5th Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · West 5th Street

  8. 8

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West 5th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Riverside and San Bernardino.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
8 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
57.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Riverside Freeway
8.56 mi · 61%
San Bernardino Freeway
3.34 mi · 24%
Central Avenue
0.74 mi · 5%
West 5th Street
0.71 mi · 5%
5th Street
0.29 mi · 2%
CA 91 East
0.28 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Riverside Freeway

Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway

8.56 mi · 00h 10m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 20m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.7 mi
12.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Grand Terrace
00h 10m from Riverside
Leave By
7:50 PM PDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Riverside and Sunny near San Bernardino.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Riverside to San Bernardino?

The road trip is about 14 miles (22.5 km) and usually takes 00h 20m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Grand Terrace is a useful midpoint, sitting about 7 miles from Riverside and 7 miles from San Bernardino.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 12.3 miles (19.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:50 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.83 one way or $5.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Riverside and Sunny near San Bernardino.

Stop Ideas Near Grand Terrace

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Grand Terrace and the surrounding midpoint area.
Stop photo coming soon
Scenic stop 5.4 mi away

City Hall

Rialto , CA
100-198 S Palm Ave, Rialto, CA 92376, United States
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Parking lot
San Bernardino County Land Use
Meeting point 5.8 mi away

San Bernardino County Land Use

San Bernardino , CA
385 N Arrowhead Ave, First Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415, United States
Rating 4.8/5 5 reviews City government office,County government office
Cucamonga Sign Shop LLC
Nearby stop 14.3 mi away

Cucamonga Sign Shop LLC

Rancho Cucamonga , CA
9259 Utica Ave Ste 110, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Rating 5.0/5 6 reviews Safety equipment supplier,Aluminum supplier,Banner store,Design agency,Sign shop

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Grand Terrace.

RAIL

Riverside–Downtown

8 mi away
4066 Vine St.
RAIL

San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot

8 mi away
1170 West Third Street (all Trains and Buses)
BUS

Moreno Valley, California

13 mi away
2650 East Alessandro Blvd.
BUS

Perris, California

28 mi away
1688-J North Perris Blvd

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Riverside and San Bernardino. Straight-line distance: 12.32 mi (19.83 km).

Riverside

#1 Riverside

The most populous city in Riverside County, California and the center of the Riverside metropolitan area.

Population330,786
Coordinates33.9533500, -117.3961600
Altitude252
CountryUnited States
San Bernardino

#2 San Bernardino

The second most populous city in San Bernardino County, California.

Population217,491
Coordinates34.1083400, -117.2897700
Altitude321
CountryUnited States
Start: (-117.396162, 33.953244)
End: West 5th Street (-117.289794, 34.108326)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 22 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.49 gal
1.87 L · about $2.83
Round trip
$5.65
0.98 gal · 3.74 L
Estimated CO2
4.4 kg one way
Round trip: 8.7 kg / 19 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $2.83 $5.65
Mid-grade $6.07 $2.97 $5.94
Premium $6.24 $3.06 $6.12
Diesel $7.57 $3.71 $7.42

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 · May 02, 2026

There is no time difference between Riverside and San Bernardino. The current time is 21:30:18.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.