How far is South Lake Tahoe, CA from Riverside, CA?
The driving distance from South Lake Tahoe, CA to Riverside, CA is about 436.6 miles (702.6 km), with a travel time of about 07h 51m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 372.9 miles (600.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 42m 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 51m.
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 Inyo County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between South Lake Tahoe and Riverside.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Lake Tahoe and Riverside.
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1
Start on El Dorado Avenue
688 ft · 24 sec · El Dorado Avenue
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2
At the end of the road, turn left onto Oakland Avenue
1994 ft · 57 sec · Oakland Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Los Angeles Avenue
1185 ft · 38 sec · Los Angeles Avenue
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4
At the end of the road, turn left onto Lake Tahoe Boulevard
2.6 mi · 5 min · Lake Tahoe Boulevard
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5
Continue on Lincoln Highway
1.1 km · 2 min · Lincoln Highway
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6
Take the exit right toward Kingsbury Grade
11.1 mi · 20 min · Kingsbury Grade
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7
Turn right onto Foothill Road
1.3 mi · 2 min · Foothill Road
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8
Turn left onto Centerville Lane
2.8 mi · 5 min · Centerville Lane
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9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Centerville Lane
20 m · 3 sec · Centerville Lane
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10
Exit the roundabout onto Centerville Lane
1.2 mi · 2 min · Centerville Lane
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11
Continue on Centerville Lane
1.2 km · 1 min · Centerville Lane
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12
Continue on Dresslerville Road
1.4 mi · 3 min · Dresslerville Road
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13
Continue on Riverview Drive
3003 ft · 2 min · Riverview Drive
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14
Turn right onto Main Street
18.7 mi · 26 min · Main Street
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15
Continue on Route 395
43.3 mi · 56 min · Route 395
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16
Turn left onto Emigrant Street
2635 ft · 42 sec · Emigrant Street
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17
At the end of the road, turn right onto Sinclair Street
549 ft · 14 sec · Sinclair Street
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18
Turn left onto Main Street
43.8 mi · 53 min · Main Street
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19
Continue straight
43.6 mi · 51 min
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20
Turn right onto North Barlow Lane
1 mi · 2 min · North Barlow Lane
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21
Turn left onto West Line Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · West Line Street
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22
Turn right onto South Main Street
2.4 mi · 4 min · South Main Street
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23
Continue on El Camino Sierra
5 mi · 6 min · El Camino Sierra
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24
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.4 mi · 9 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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25
Continue on North Main Street
1317 ft · 32 sec · North Main Street
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26
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
26.1 mi · 31 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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27
Continue on North Edwards Street
1.1 km · 2 min · North Edwards Street
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28
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
15.1 mi · 18 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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29
Continue on North Main Street
2.2 mi · 5 min · North Main Street
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30
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
56.1 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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31
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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32
Keep slight left to continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
29.7 mi · 35 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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33
Continue on Red Mountain Road
1.5 km · 2 min · Red Mountain Road
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34
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
66.7 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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35
Take the exit straight toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
1.1 km · 1 min
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36
Merge slight left onto Barstow and Mojave Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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37
Continue on CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
5.6 mi · 6 min · CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
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38
Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway
6.3 mi · 7 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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39
Continue on Barstow Freeway
1095 ft · 13 sec · Barstow Freeway
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40
Keep slight left to continue on Barstow Freeway
9.3 mi · 10 min · Barstow Freeway
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41
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
5.6 mi · 6 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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42
Continue on Riverside Freeway
5.3 mi · 6 min · Riverside Freeway
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43
Continue on Riverside Freeway
3.6 mi · 4 min · Riverside Freeway
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44
Take the exit slight right toward Central Avenue, Riverside Plaza Avenue
1280 ft · 33 sec
-
45
Turn right onto Central Avenue
1.1 km · 1 min · Central Avenue
-
46
Turn slight left
52 m · 13 sec
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47
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between South Lake Tahoe and Riverside.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
66.7 mi · 01h 21m
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 Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving South Lake Tahoe and Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny near Riverside.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from South Lake Tahoe to Riverside?
The road trip is about 436.6 miles (702.6 km) and usually takes 07h 51m 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?
Lone Pine is a useful midpoint, sitting about 218.2 miles from South Lake Tahoe and 218.3 miles from Riverside.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 372.9 miles (600.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 63.7 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 $88.84 one way or $177.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 136.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny around South Lake Tahoe and Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny near Riverside.
Stop Ideas Near Lone Pine
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 Lone Pine.
Visalia, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between South Lake Tahoe and Riverside. Straight-line distance: 372.89 mi (600.11 km).
#1 South Lake Tahoe
City in California
| Population | 22,847 |
| Coordinates | 38.9332400, -119.9843500 |
| Altitude | 1901 |
| 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: 703 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 32m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 43m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 14m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 26m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $88.84 | $177.69 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $93.42 | $186.83 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $96.14 | $192.28 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $116.53 | $233.06 |
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 17, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.