Riverside travel guide
Riverside Tourism | Riverside Guide
You're Going to Love Riverside
With a population of 303,871, Riverside is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Riverside deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Where to Eat in Riverside
If you’re looking for affordable options, Mission Inn Restaurant (3649 Mission Inn Avenue) and AY MI PA - Riverside (3775 Tyler St, 1B) are great picks.
When to visit Riverside
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Riverside in July, when the average temperature is 77 °F, and the highest can go up to 95 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 39.2 °F, with an average temperature of 53.6 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in February, when precipitation is around 2.2″. In contrast, June is usually the driest month of the year in Riverside, with an average rainfall of 0″.
How to Get to Riverside
Plane
When flying to Riverside, you’ll arrive at Ontario Airport (ONT), which is located 23 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Riverside include Air Canada, Copa Airlines and Emirates. The shortest domestic flight to Riverside departs from Las Vegas and takes around 1h 16m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Riverside. The train journey from Riverside to Fullerton takes 0h 39m and costs around $14 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Anaheim, expect to pay about $16 for a 0h 44m trip. The train station in Riverside is called Riverside, and is located 0.4 km from the city center.
Car
Another option to get to Riverside is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 87 km from Riverside. You’ll find branches of Ace and Kyte, among others, in Los Angeles.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Riverside, including Bus, Amtrak and FlixBus. From Bakersfield, the bus ride to Riverside takes 201 km and will cost you around $32. From Paradise, the ticket costs about $70 for a journey of 386 km. The most popular bus station is Riverside University Avenue, located 3 km from downtown Riverside. Riverside Chicago/Spruce is also a commonly used station, and is 2.9 km from the city center.
Airlines serving Riverside
Where to stay in Riverside
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Raincross Hotel Riverside and Santa Cruz Inn Riverside.
Where to stay in popular areas of Riverside
Most booked hotels in Riverside
Renting a car in Riverside
Renting a car in Riverside costs $56 per day, on average, or $111 if you want to rent if for 2 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 16% more expensive than at Los Angeles.
Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in Riverside (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99. The most frequently booked car type in Riverside is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Chevrolet Sonic Sedan or similar) are, on average, 75% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in Riverside
Supplier choice
5 Adults, 5 Bags
$24/day
Intermediate
5 Adults, 3 Bags
$27/day