How far is Riverside, CA from Santa Clara, CA?
The driving distance from Riverside, CA to Santa Clara, CA is about 395.6 miles (636.7 km), with a travel time of about 07h 35m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 347.3 miles (559 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 11m 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 07h 35m.
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.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Riverside and Santa Clara.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside and Santa Clara.
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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
12.4 mi · 14 min
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29
Take the exit right toward I 880 South: Los Gatos, Santa Cruz
731 ft · 20 sec
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30
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Nimitz Freeway
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31
Take the exit slight right toward Coleman Avenue, Mineta San Jose International Airport
1554 ft · 42 sec
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32
Turn right onto Coleman Avenue
1.2 mi · 2 min · Coleman Avenue
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33
Turn slight left onto CA 82: Santa Clara
1503 ft · 55 sec
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34
Turn straight onto De La Cruz Boulevard
114 m · 6 sec · De La Cruz Boulevard
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35
Turn slight right onto Civic Center, El Camino Real
721 ft · 28 sec
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36
Turn left onto El Camino Real
3163 ft · 1 min · El Camino Real
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37
Turn right onto Lincoln Street
643 ft · 18 sec · Lincoln Street
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38
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Lincoln Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Riverside and Santa Clara.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Riverside and Chance Light Rain near Santa Clara.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Riverside to Santa Clara?
The road trip is about 395.6 miles (636.7 km) and usually takes 07h 35m 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 197.8 miles from Riverside and 197.8 miles from Santa Clara.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 347.3 miles (559 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.3 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 $80.54 one way or $161.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 124.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Riverside and Chance Light Rain near Santa Clara.
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 Santa Clara. Straight-line distance: 347.37 mi (559.03 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 Santa Clara
The third most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.
| Population | 131,055 |
| Coordinates | 37.3541100, -121.9552400 |
| Altitude | 23 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Clara (-121.95524, 37.35411)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 637 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 13h 10m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 53m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 54m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 35m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 39m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 56m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $80.54 | $161.07 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $84.68 | $169.36 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $87.15 | $174.30 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $105.64 | $211.27 |
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.