How far is San Rafael, CA from Riverside, CA?
The driving distance from San Rafael, CA to Riverside, CA is about 447.1 miles (719.5 km), with a travel time of about 07h 26m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 399.4 miles (642.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 53m 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 26m.
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 Kings County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Rafael and Riverside.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Rafael and Riverside.
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1
Start on Fourth Street
2667 ft · 1 min · Fourth Street
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2
Turn right onto Hetherton Street
652 ft · 17 sec · Hetherton Street
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3
Take the ramp straight toward US 101 South: San Francisco, Oakland
1389 ft · 36 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
1805 ft · 28 sec · Redwood Highway
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5
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
13.6 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
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6
Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway
3.8 mi · 5 min · Eastshore Freeway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
1321 ft · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80
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8
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
16.4 mi · 19 min · MacArthur Freeway
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9
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.5 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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13
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224.4 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
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14
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: Pasadena
1347 ft · 18 sec
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17
Continue on Foothill Freeway
24.4 mi · 28 min · Foothill Freeway
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18
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
19.1 mi · 22 min · Foothill Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Foothill Freeway
2476 ft · 33 sec · Foothill Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward CA 57 South: Santa Ana
1.4 km · 2 min
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21
Continue on Orange Freeway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Orange Freeway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward CA 71: Corona
1.1 mi · 2 min
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23
Continue on Chino Valley Freeway
3.1 mi · 4 min · Chino Valley Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight right toward CA 60 East: Riverside
1.4 mi · 3 min
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25
Merge slight left onto Pomona Freeway
12 mi · 14 min · Pomona Freeway
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26
Take the exit slight right toward Van Buren Boulevard, Etiwanda Avenue
2448 ft · 1 min
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27
Turn straight onto Mission Boulevard
852 ft · 15 sec · Mission Boulevard
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28
Continue on Van Buren Boulevard
6.1 mi · 9 min · Van Buren Boulevard
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29
Turn left onto Central Avenue
3.6 mi · 6 min · Central Avenue
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30
Turn sharp right
52 m · 13 sec
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31
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Rafael and Riverside.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224 mi · 04h 00m
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 San Rafael and Sunny near Riverside.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Rafael to Riverside?
The road trip is about 447.1 miles (719.5 km) and usually takes 07h 26m 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 221.2 miles from San Rafael and 225.9 miles from Riverside.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 399.4 miles (642.8 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 $91.03 one way or $182.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 140.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Rafael and Sunny near Riverside.
Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City
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 Kettleman City.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Corcoran station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Rafael and Riverside. Straight-line distance: 399.39 mi (642.75 km).
#1 San Rafael
The most populous city in Marin County, California.
| Population | 58,528 |
| Coordinates | 37.9735300, -122.5310900 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: (-117.396162, 33.953244)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 720 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 53m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 10m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 56m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 27m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 23m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 34m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $91.03 | $182.07 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $95.72 | $191.44 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $98.51 | $197.03 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $119.41 | $238.81 |
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 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.