How far is Riverside, CA from San Mateo, CA?
The driving distance from Riverside, CA to San Mateo, CA is about 419.8 miles (675.6 km), with a travel time of about 08h 02m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 372.1 miles (598.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 04m 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 02m.
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 then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Riverside and San Mateo.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside and San Mateo.
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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
182.5 mi · 3 hr 16 min · Westside Freeway
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23
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
1038 ft · 27 sec
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24
Continue straight
28.7 mi · 33 min
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25
Keep slight right
11.9 mi · 17 min
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26
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: San Jose
2466 ft · 1 min
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27
Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway
19.9 mi · 23 min · South Valley Freeway
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28
Keep slight left
21.9 mi · 25 min
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29
Keep slight left
16.2 mi · 19 min
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30
Take the exit slight right toward CA 92 West, CA 92 East: Half Moon Bay, Hayward, San Mateo Bridge
650 ft · 14 sec
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31
Keep slight left to continue on CA 92 West: Half Moon Bay
3099 ft · 43 sec
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32
Merge slight left onto J Arthur Younger Freeway
2145 ft · 33 sec · J Arthur Younger Freeway
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33
Take the exit slight right toward CA 82 : El Camino Real
993 ft · 33 sec
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34
Turn right onto South El Camino Real
1.1 mi · 3 min · South El Camino Real
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35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South El Camino Real
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Riverside and San Mateo.
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
183 mi · 03h 16m
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 then Mostly Sunny near San Mateo.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Riverside to San Mateo?
The road trip is about 419.8 miles (675.6 km) and usually takes 08h 02m 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 209.9 miles from Riverside and 209.9 miles from San Mateo.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 372.1 miles (598.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.7 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 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 $85.44 one way or $170.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 131.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Riverside and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near San Mateo.
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 San Mateo. Straight-line distance: 372.16 mi (598.94 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 San Mateo
The second most populous city in San Mateo County, California.
| Population | 102,398 |
| Coordinates | 37.5629900, -122.3255300 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
End: San Mateo (-122.32553, 37.56299)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 676 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 59m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 29m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 23m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 59m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 59m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 14m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $85.44 | $170.88 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $89.84 | $179.67 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $92.46 | $184.92 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $112.07 | $224.13 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.