How far is Shasta Lake, CA from Riverside, CA?
The driving distance from Shasta Lake, CA to Riverside, CA is about 606.5 miles (976 km), with a travel time of about 09h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 539 miles (867.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 07m 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 09h 33m.
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.
Chance Light Rain then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Shasta Lake and Riverside.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shasta Lake and Riverside.
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1
Start on the route
28 m · 12 sec
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2
Turn left
18 m · 10 sec
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3
Turn left onto Montana Avenue
70 m · 14 sec · Montana Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Shasta Dam Boulevard
1.1 mi · 2 min · Shasta Dam Boulevard
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5
Take the ramp straight
26 m · 2 sec
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6
Keep slight right
1311 ft · 32 sec
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7
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
3.2 mi · 4 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway
35.5 mi · 39 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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9
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
15.7 mi · 17 min · Westside Freeway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
78.8 mi · 1 hr 28 min · Westside Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · 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 Shasta Lake 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
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi · 04h 14m
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.
Chance Light Rain then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Shasta Lake and Mostly Sunny near Riverside.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Shasta Lake to Riverside?
The road trip is about 606.5 miles (976 km) and usually takes 09h 33m 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 Shasta Lake and 305.6 miles from Riverside.
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 67.5 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 $123.46 one way or $246.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 190.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Shasta Lake and Mostly Sunny near Riverside.
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 Shasta Lake and Riverside. Straight-line distance: 538.98 mi (867.41 km).
#1 Shasta Lake
City located in Shasta County, California
| Population | 10,379 |
| Coordinates | 40.6804300, -122.3708400 |
| Altitude | 246 |
| 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: 976 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 20h 12m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 15h 09m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 12h 07m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 10h 06m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 39m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 33m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $123.46 | $246.91 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $129.81 | $259.62 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $133.60 | $267.20 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $161.93 | $323.87 |
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.