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Riverside air right now

GoodAQI 44

Riverside’s five-day smoke forecast shows the current index and the clearest time ahead.

44
AQI now
7.9
PM2.5 · µg/m³
7 cleaner spots within 3 hr drive

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

Big Bear Lake looks like the better move.73% cleaner air with a verified 1 h 20 min road trip. Rankings balance cleaner air with trip ease.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Riverside Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Big Bear Lake
Cel-shaded illustration of Big Bear Lake
AQI 12
#1Big Bear Lake~1 h 20 min drive

California· Good

Alpine lake resort at nearly 6,800 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains, where forested elevation sits well above the Inland Empire's haze, with cabins and lakeside lodges.

73% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2.1 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2.1/22 × 7 = 0.7 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Riverside right now

73% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Big Bear monitor.

Directions
Twentynine Palms
Cel-shaded illustration of Twentynine Palms
AQI 13
#2Twentynine PalmsChecking road route

California· Good

Mojave gateway town on the north side of Joshua Tree, far from coastal-basin sources of smoke.

71% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2.3 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2.3/22 × 7 = 0.7 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Riverside right now

71% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Wrightwood
Cel-shaded illustration of Wrightwood
AQI 21
#3Wrightwood~55 min drive

California· Good

Small mountain town in the San Gabriels near 6,000 feet, a cool forested reset above the LA basin, with cabins and a compact main street.

52% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.8 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.8/22 × 7 = 1.2 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Riverside right now

52% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Glendora - Laurel monitor.

Directions
Temecula
Cel-shaded illustration of Temecula
AQI 22
#4TemeculaChecking road route

California· Good

Inland wine-country valley in southern California, with cooler evening air pulled from coastal gaps.

51% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.9 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.9/22 × 7 = 1.2 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Riverside right now

51% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Pechanga Reservation monitor.

Directions
Joshua Tree
Cel-shaded illustration of Joshua Tree
AQI 23
#5Joshua TreeChecking road route

California· Good

High-desert town near 2,700 feet at the park's edge, remote from urban sources with cabins and inns.

48% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.1 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Riverside right now

48% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Idyllwild
Cel-shaded illustration of Idyllwild
AQI 24
#6Idyllwild~1 h 20 min drive

California· Good

Pine-forest village perched high in the San Jacinto Mountains, elevated far above Inland Empire smog, with cabins and small inns.

46% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.3 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.3/22 × 7 = 1.4 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Riverside right now

46% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Banning - South Hathaway Street monitor.

Directions
Palm Springs
Cel-shaded illustration of Palm Springs
AQI 27
#7Palm Springs~1 h 5 min drive

California· Good

Desert resort city below Mount San Jacinto where dry air sits apart from the coastal basin's smoke, with abundant hotels and rentals.

38% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.9 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.9/22 × 7 = 1.6 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Riverside right now

38% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Morongo School monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
San Bernardino
Cel-shaded illustration of San Bernardino
AQI 37
#8San Bernardino~15 min drive

California· Good

A major California city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 6.6 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.6/22 × 7 = 2.1 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
16% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Crestline - Lake Gregory monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Lake Arrowhead
Cel-shaded illustration of Lake Arrowhead
AQI 37
#9Lake Arrowhead~50 min drive

California· Good

Wooded mountain-lake community high above San Bernardino, where elevation and open water keep the air cleaner than the basin below, with resort lodging on the shore.

About the same air — still smoky.

PM2.5 is 6.6 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.6/22 × 7 = 2.1 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
16% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Crestline - Lake Gregory monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Anaheim
Cel-shaded illustration of Anaheim
AQI 47
#10AnaheimChecking road route

California· Good

A major California city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 8.4 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 8.4/22 × 7 = 2.7 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
6% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Anaheim monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
San Diego
Cel-shaded illustration of San Diego
AQI 52
#11San Diego~1 h 55 min drive

California· Moderate

A major California city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 9.4 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 9.4/22 × 7 = 3.0 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
19% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Diego - Sherman Elementary School monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Los Angeles
Cel-shaded illustration of Los Angeles
AQI 61
#12Los Angeles~1 h 10 min drive

California· Moderate

A major California city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 14.6 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 14.6/22 × 7 = 4.6 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Riverside

85% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Los Angeles - N. Main Street monitor.

Directions
Borrego Springs
Cel-shaded illustration of Borrego Springs
AQI 21
#13Borrego Springs~2 h 25 min drive

California· Good

Desert village encircled by Anza-Borrego wilderness, far from urban sources under dark skies, with small resorts and inns.

53% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 3.7 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 3.7/22 × 7 = 1.2 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

4.2 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Riverside right now

53% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Ojai
Cel-shaded illustration of Ojai
AQI 22
#14Ojai~2 h 50 min drive

California· Good

Mountain-ringed Ventura County valley that draws cool marine air inland from the nearby coast, dotted with boutique inns and spas.

49% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4/22 × 7 = 1.3 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Riverside right now

49% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Ojai - Ojai Ave. monitor.

Directions
Julian
Cel-shaded illustration of Julian
AQI 23
#15Julian~2 h 5 min drive

California· Good

Historic mountain apple town in the Cuyamacas east of San Diego near 4,200 feet, a cool forested escape with B&Bs and cabins.

48% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.1 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.1/22 × 7 = 1.3 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

3.8 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Riverside right now

48% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Alpine monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Santa Barbara
Cel-shaded illustration of Santa Barbara
AQI 55
#16Santa Barbara~3 h drive

California· Moderate

American Riviera coastal city where steady onshore Pacific breezes and open beaches keep marine air moving, backed by ample hotels and inns.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 11 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 11/22 × 7 = 3.5 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

Air is currently worse here than in Riverside

39% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the CarpPM monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Oasis
Cel-shaded illustration of Oasis
AQI unavailable
#17OasisChecking road route

California

California community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Sonora
Cel-shaded illustration of Sonora
AQI 6
#18SonoraChecking road route

California· Good

Gold Rush county seat in the Sierra foothills, set higher than the Central Valley with a historic Main Street.

87% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

6.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Riverside right now

87% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Andreas monitor.

Directions
Murphys
Cel-shaded illustration of Murphys
AQI 6
#19MurphysChecking road route

California· Good

Calaveras County Gold Rush village with a wine-tasting Main Street, above the Central Valley haze.

87% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

6.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Riverside right now

87% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Andreas monitor.

Directions
Jackson
Cel-shaded illustration of Jackson
AQI 6
#20JacksonChecking road route

California· Good

Amador County Gold Rush town in the Sierra foothills, above the valley haze with historic inns.

87% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 1 µg/m³ here vs 7.9 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 1/22 × 7 = 0.3 here; 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

6.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Riverside right now

87% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the San Andreas monitor.

Directions
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT · 49 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

More air-quality pages in California →
Anaheim air qualityBakersfield air qualityChico air qualityFresno air qualityLos Angeles air qualityModesto air qualityRedding air qualitySacramento air qualitySan Bernardino air qualitySan Diego air qualitySan Francisco air qualitySan Jose air qualityStockton air quality
Air quality in nearby cities →
Yuma air qualityHenderson air qualityLas Vegas air qualityPhoenix air qualityMesa air qualityTucson air qualityReno air qualityProvo air qualitySalt Lake City air qualityOgden air qualityAlbuquerque air qualityMedford air quality

What this means · Riverside

Good

AQI 44

AQI = Air Quality Index

Typical person. Air quality is satisfactory for most outdoor plans.

Kids, seniors, heart or lung conditions. Unusually sensitive people can still enjoy the outdoors.

The AQI on this page follows fine particles (PM2.5). Particles here are 7.9 µg/m³ (Good), so the headline and the particle scale below tell the same story.

Act two · Fine particles only

Where PM2.5 lands

This bar is smoke and fine particles (PM2.5) only. Left is cleaner air; right is heavier particle pollution. Today's particles sit in Good.

7.9 µg/m³
Clean · 0Smoky · 40Severe · 80+

Act three · Particle ladder

What each PM2.5 rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · Felt number

Cigarettes a week

A secondary feel for the particle load only — not a medical claim, and not a substitute for AQI.

2.5/wk

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 7.9 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 7.9/22 × 7 = 2.5 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →