Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

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. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Riverside has to offer.

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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
$127
1 night at 3-star hotel
Riverside in August
Estimated hotel price
$127
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 23 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Riverside include Southwest, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Riverside departs from Phoenix and takes around 1h 25m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Riverside, followed by Train. The train journey from Riverside to San Luis Obispo takes 5h 32m and costs around $54 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Chicago, expect to pay about $420 for a 46h 06m 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 Midway, among others, in Los Angeles.

Bus

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.

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 Southwest, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Riverside departs from Phoenix and takes around 1h 25m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Riverside, followed by Train. The train journey from Riverside to San Luis Obispo takes 5h 32m and costs around $54 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Chicago, expect to pay about $420 for a 46h 06m 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 Midway, among others, in Los Angeles.

Bus

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.

Airports near Riverside

LAXLos Angeles
ONTOntario
SNASanta Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty

Airlines serving Riverside

KLM
Good (1,454 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,785 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,741 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,205 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,216 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,872 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,116 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,296 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,534 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,736 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,518 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (896 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,683 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,718 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,181 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,395 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,362 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,163 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (385 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,885 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Riverside

Where to stay in Riverside

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Days Inn by Wyndham Riverside Tyler Mall and Dynasty Suites Hotel. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Riverside, with prices from $53 to $247 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Riverside are about 181% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Riverside by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Riverside

Most booked hotels in Riverside

See all
Ayres Hotel & Spa Moreno Valley/Riverside
3 stars
Excellent (9.1, 817 reviews)
$122+
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Hyatt Place Riverside Downtown
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 926 reviews)
$147+
View
The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1686 reviews)
$165+
View
Hampton Inn Riverside Downtown
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 492 reviews)
$145+
View
Best Western Corona Hotel & Suites
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 824 reviews)
$94+
View
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Ontario Mills, CA
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 2439 reviews)
$109+
View

Renting a car in Riverside

Renting a car in Riverside costs $42 per day, on average, or $168 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 3% cheaper than airport locations in Riverside.

Expect to pay $3.22 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 $38.61 and $51.48. The most frequently booked car type in Riverside is Mini (Kia Sedona or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Honda Civic or similar) are, on average, 69% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Riverside costs $42 per day, on average, or $168 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 3% cheaper than airport locations in Riverside.

Expect to pay $3.22 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 $38.61 and $51.48. The most frequently booked car type in Riverside is Mini (Kia Sedona or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Honda Civic or similar) are, on average, 69% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Riverside

Compact SUV

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$34/day

Compact SUV

Intermediate SUV

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$36/day

Intermediate SUV
Find car rentals in Riverside