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

Riverside in August
Estimated hotel price
$124
1 night at 3-star hotel
Riverside in August
Estimated hotel price
$124
1 night at 3-star hotel

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″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Riverside

Plane

When flying to Riverside, you’ll arrive at Ontario Airport (ONT), which is located 14 miles 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 Woodland Hills, expect to pay about $14 for a 0h 43m trip. The train station in Riverside is called Riverside, and is located 0.2 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Riverside is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 54 miles 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, FlixBus and Amtrak. From Ontario, the bus ride to Riverside takes 40 miles and will cost you around $12. From Santa Barbara, the ticket costs about $64 for a journey of 120 miles. The most popular bus station is Riverside University Avenue, located 2 miles from downtown Riverside. Riverside Chicago/Spruce is also a commonly used station, and is 1.8 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Riverside, you’ll arrive at Ontario Airport (ONT), which is located 14 miles 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 Woodland Hills, expect to pay about $14 for a 0h 43m trip. The train station in Riverside is called Riverside, and is located 0.2 miles from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Riverside is to pick up a car rental from Los Angeles, which is about 54 miles 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, FlixBus and Amtrak. From Ontario, the bus ride to Riverside takes 40 miles and will cost you around $12. From Santa Barbara, the ticket costs about $64 for a journey of 120 miles. The most popular bus station is Riverside University Avenue, located 2 miles from downtown Riverside. Riverside Chicago/Spruce is also a commonly used station, and is 1.8 miles from the city center.

Airports near Riverside

Airlines serving Riverside

Lufthansa
Good (4,666 reviews)
KLM
Good (853 reviews)
SWISS
Good (941 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,530 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,618 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,306 reviews)
Air France
Good (985 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,582 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (485 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,960 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,122 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,469 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,849 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (228 reviews)
Finnair
Good (870 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,174 reviews)
LOT
Good (684 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (924 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (827 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (833 reviews)
Show more

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

Hampton Inn Riverside Downtown
2 stars
Excellent (8.6, 755 reviews)
$177+
The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1219 reviews)
$210+
Ontario Airport Hotel & Conference Center
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1127 reviews)
$89+
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Ontario Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1704 reviews)
$117+
Holiday Inn Ontario Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 1133 reviews)
$126+
Ontario Airport Inn
2 stars
Excellent (8.1, 1025 reviews)
$101+

Renting a car in Riverside

Renting a car in Riverside costs $59 per day, on average, or $119 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, 23% 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 Full-size (Ford Transit 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.

Renting a car in Riverside costs $59 per day, on average, or $119 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, 23% 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 Full-size (Ford Transit 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.