How far is Riverside, CA from Shasta Lake, CA?
The driving distance from Riverside, CA to Shasta Lake, CA is about 601.6 miles (968.2 km), with a travel time of about 11h 08m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 539 miles (867.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 22h 17m 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 11h 08m.
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 Merced County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Light Rain then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Riverside and Shasta Lake.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside and Shasta Lake.
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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
120.9 mi · 2 hr 10 min · Westside Freeway
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26
Continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway
38.5 mi · 42 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward CA 151
2884 ft · 56 sec
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28
Continue on Shasta Dam Boulevard
1.5 km · 2 min · Shasta Dam Boulevard
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29
Continue on Front Street
1206 ft · 32 sec · Front Street
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30
Turn left onto Shasta Dam Boulevard
73 m · 7 sec · Shasta Dam Boulevard
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31
Turn right onto Ashby Court
29 m · 7 sec · Ashby Court
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32
Turn left
45 m · 13 sec
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33
Turn right
21 m · 5 sec
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Riverside and Shasta Lake.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Riverside and Chance Light Rain then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Shasta Lake.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Riverside to Shasta Lake?
The road trip is about 601.6 miles (968.2 km) and usually takes 11h 08m 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?
South Dos Palos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 300.9 miles from Riverside and 300.7 miles from Shasta Lake.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 539 miles (867.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 62.6 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 $122.48 one way or $244.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 188.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Riverside and Chance Light Rain then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Shasta Lake.
Stop Ideas Near South Dos Palos
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 South Dos Palos.
Merced station
Madera
Denair station
Fresno station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Riverside and Shasta Lake. Straight-line distance: 538.98 mi (867.41 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 Shasta Lake
City located in Shasta County, California
| Population | 10,379 |
| Coordinates | 40.6804300, -122.3708400 |
| Altitude | 246 |
| Country | United States |
End: Shasta Lake (-122.37084, 40.68043)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 968 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 20h 02m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 15h 02m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 12h 01m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 10h 01m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 35m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 30m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $122.48 | $244.95 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $128.78 | $257.56 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $132.54 | $265.08 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $160.65 | $321.29 |
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.