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 14 miles 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 22m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Riverside. The train journey from Riverside to San Diego takes 2h 56m and costs around $36 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Palm Springs, expect to pay about $25 for a 3h 33m 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 Midway, among others, in Los Angeles.

Bus

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 Southwest, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Riverside departs from Phoenix and takes around 1h 22m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Riverside. The train journey from Riverside to San Diego takes 2h 56m and costs around $36 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Palm Springs, expect to pay about $25 for a 3h 33m 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 Midway, among others, in Los Angeles.

Bus

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

LAXLos Angeles
ONTOntario
SNASanta Ana J. Wayne/Orange Cnty

Airlines serving Riverside

KLM
Good (1,451 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,779 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,724 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,178 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,212 reviews)
SWISS
Good (1,868 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,110 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,267 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,730 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,531 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,514 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (896 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,679 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,701 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,179 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,391 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,360 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,160 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (384 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,871 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 Riverside.

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)
$123+
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Hampton Inn Riverside Downtown
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 492 reviews)
$151+
View
The Mission Inn Hotel and Spa
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1686 reviews)
$168+
View
Best Western Corona Hotel & Suites
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 824 reviews)
$92+
View
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Ontario Mills, CA
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 2439 reviews)
$109+
View
Azure Hotel & Suites, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 2119 reviews)
$100+
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

Intermediate

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$28/day

Intermediate

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$28/day

Supplier choice
Find car rentals in Riverside