How far is San Carlos, CA from Fontana, CA?

The driving distance from San Carlos, CA to Fontana, CA is about 409.2 miles (658.6 km), with a travel time of about 07h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 358.8 miles (577.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
409.22 mi
07h 44m
Flight
358.79 mi
577.41 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Carlos.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
358.79 mi
Kilometers
577.41 km
Flight Time
00h 43m

Driving Distance

Road route
409.22 mi
Kilometers
658.58 km
Drive Time
07h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fontana
Wed, Apr 22, 11:55 PM PDT
Return by in San Carlos
Thu, Apr 23, 7:40 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Carlos
2026-04-22T16:11
Arrive Fontana
Wed, Apr 22, 11:55 PM PDT
Route Timing
07h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:45 PM to 3:15 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
8:30 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in San Carlos
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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
Kettleman City
CA

Census-designated place in Kings County, California

From San Carlos
204.6 mi
03h 52m
To Fontana
204.6 mi
03h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph SW
Destination
72°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between San Carlos and Fontana.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Carlos and Fontana.

  1. 1

    Start on San Carlos Avenue

    93 m · 10 sec · San Carlos Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Laurel Street

    638 ft · 32 sec · Laurel Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Holly Street

    2208 ft · 1 min · Holly Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 101 South: San Jose

    2849 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on US 101 South: San Jose

    993 ft · 26 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway

    11.8 mi · 14 min · Bayshore Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway

    42.4 mi · 49 min · Bayshore Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road

    1539 ft · 40 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto East 10th Street

    108 m · 13 sec · East 10th Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway

    40.6 mi · 50 min · Pacheco Pass Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles

    3148 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    181.1 mi · 3 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right

    58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena

    1347 ft · 18 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on Foothill Freeway

    24.4 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    19.1 mi · 22 min · Foothill Freeway

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    2.9 mi · 3 min · Foothill Freeway

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Foothill Freeway

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Foothill Freeway

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway

    16.1 mi · 19 min · Foothill Freeway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward Sierra Avenue

    1796 ft · 46 sec

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Sierra Avenue

    3 mi · 5 min · Sierra Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Merrill Avenue

    63 m · 4 sec · Merrill Avenue

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Merrill Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between San Carlos and Fontana.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
26 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
239 mi · 59%
Foothill Freeway
67 mi · 16%
Bayshore Freeway
54.3 mi · 13%
Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi · 10%
Sierra Avenue
3.3 mi · 1%
Golden State Freeway
2 mi
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

181 mi · 03h 14m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
07h 44m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.4 mi
358.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kettleman City
03h 52m from San Carlos
Leave By
8:30 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Light Rain leaving San Carlos and Mostly Sunny near Fontana.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Carlos to Fontana?

The road trip is about 409.2 miles (658.6 km) and usually takes 07h 44m 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?

Kettleman City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 204.6 miles from San Carlos and 204.6 miles from Fontana.

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

The direct path is about 358.8 miles (577.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.4 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 $83.30 one way or $166.61 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 128.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around San Carlos and Mostly Sunny near Fontana.

Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Kettleman City, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Kettleman City.

BUS

Kettleman City, California

3 mi away
3300 Hubert Way
BUS

Lemoore, California

34 mi away
300 E Street
RAIL

Corcoran station

38 mi away
1099 Otis Ave.
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

41 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Carlos and Fontana. Straight-line distance: 358.79 mi (577.41 km).

San Carlos

#1 San Carlos

City in San Mateo County, California, USA

Population29,641
Coordinates37.5071600, -122.2605200
Altitude10
CountryUnited States
Fontana

#2 Fontana

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

Population216,173
Coordinates34.0922300, -117.4350500
Altitude377
CountryUnited States
Start: San Carlos (-122.26052, 37.50716)
End: Fontana (-117.43505, 34.09223)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 659 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
14.44 gal
54.66 L · about $83.30
Round trip
$166.61
28.88 gal · 109.32 L
Estimated CO2
128.3 kg one way
Round trip: 256.7 kg / 566 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $83.30 $166.61
Mid-grade $6.07 $87.59 $175.19
Premium $6.24 $90.15 $180.30
Diesel $7.57 $109.27 $218.53

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between San Carlos and Fontana. The current time is 16:11:02.

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.