Origin
Auburn, CA
Late night in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
12:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn, CA to Long Beach, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 10m
Distance
441.1 mi
710 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$101
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 3m
★
6 AM
8h 11m
8 AM
8h 27m
10 AM
8h 16m
12 PM
8h 15m
3 PM
8h 17m
5 PM
8h 26m
8 PM
8h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 441.1-mile drive from Auburn, California to Long Beach, California will take you approximately 8 hours and 10 minutes to complete. Primarily a highway-focused journey, nearly 97% of the route is on major roadways, making it a swift trip down the state. With a projected fuel cost of around $101, this route is best experienced over two recommended days to allow for a more relaxed pace and to break up the longest stretch of 296.3 miles on the Westside Freeway. While it's technically possible to do in one day, splitting it will significantly enhance your comfort and enjoyment.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
220.6 miles from Auburn, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 2m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 296.3 mi | 5h 19m |
| I 5 Truck | 58.6 mi | 1h 7m |
| I 405 Truck | 23 mi | 26m |
| San Diego Freeway | 18 mi | 20m |
| Alan S. Hart Freeway | 16.5 mi | 19m |
| Capital City Freeway | 10.6 mi | 11m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Golden State Freeway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 296.3 mi, about 5h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on this road
87 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn slight left
96 ft
·
7 sec
3
Turn right
48 ft
·
9 sec
4
Turn left onto Lincoln Way
87 ft
·
10 sec
·
Lincoln Way
5
Turn left onto Maple Street
526 ft
·
9 sec
·
Maple Street
6
Continue on Maple Street Bridge
406 ft
·
13 sec
·
Maple Street Bridge
7
At end of road, turn left onto Placer Street
421 ft
·
13 sec
·
Placer Street
8
Turn left onto Nevada Street
88 ft
·
1 sec
·
Nevada Street
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward I 80 West
10
Merge onto I 80
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Alan S. Hart Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 80
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Exit 95
Toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 Business
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Toward US 50 East, I 80 West: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 4A
Toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 4A
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Use the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto I 5
59 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
48 sec
·
Westside Freeway
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi
·
4 hr 13 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi
·
26 min
·
I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
377 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Use the slight right lane.
26
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
this road
Exit 32B
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
27
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
30
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoreline Drive
31
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
32
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
33
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
34
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 441.1-mile trip, consider departing early in the morning to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the Los Angeles area. With an estimated duration of 8 hours and 10 minutes, splitting the drive over two days is highly recommended, with a logical overnight stop around the halfway point to break up the 296.3-mile longest stretch. Budget approximately $101 for fuel, and be aware that while there are two suggested stops, you may want to plan for additional brief breaks for rest and to refuel as needed. Keep an eye on traffic reports, particularly for the I-405 Truck segment closer to your destination.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 220.6 miles from Auburn, CA, or about 4h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 296.3 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 97 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 220.6 miles or 4h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 220.6 miles or 4h 2m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Long Beach, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Auburn, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Auburn, CA
Aim for roughly 221 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Long Beach, CA
Aim for roughly 221 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 97 miles from Auburn, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 296.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
221 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Bakersfield, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
221 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Bakersfield, CA after about 221 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 97 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 220.6 miles from Auburn, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 296.3 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 221 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 275 decision points cluster between mile 24 and 394.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
24 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 95
Toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento
8
32.6 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward US 50 East, I 80 West: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 50 East, I 80 West: South Lake Tahoe,...
8
34.6 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4A
Toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding
8
34.7 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 4A
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
8
394.3 mi into trip
|
~7h 13m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$101.38 one way
$202.77 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
154 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $104.47 | $208.95 |
| premium | $6.18 | $107.27 | $214.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $97.39 | $194.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$101
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$231–$341
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 154.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 132.3 | 1 | $46.32 | $21.17 |
| Efficient EV | 110.3 | 1 | $38.60 | $17.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 176.4 | 2 | $61.75 | $28.23 |
Gas CO2
154 kg
EV CO2
52 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Late night in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
12:55 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
SSW 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 10m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 441.1-mile journey, with 97% of your travel on major interstates. The personality of the road is largely consistent, characterized by fast-paced travel. You'll encounter stretches like the 296.3-mile segment on the Westside Freeway, offering an extended period of uninterrupted driving. This route prioritizes efficient travel over varied scenery, so be prepared for a consistent highway experience for most of the 8-hour duration.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 296.3 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24 miles in near I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 441.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 24 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Auburn, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco and Redding.
San Francisco
32.6 mi in
|
~38m
|
via I 80 Business
Redding
34.6 mi in
|
~40m
About the Cities
Arriving in Long Beach, CA
Full guide →Founded 1888
Long Beach is a large port city in Los Angeles County in Southern California. Long Beach has some nice people-gathering amenities and genuine tourist attractions, such as a world-class aquarium and the Queen Mary floating museum/hotel. Special events are also held in the city like the annual Long Beach Grand Prix (a premier racing event held on city streets) and the annual Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride event. When compared to other areas like Hollywood, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and West L.A., Long Beach may not always be at the top of someone's tourist visit to the Los Angeles area, but the city draws its fair share of visitors and has proven it can definitely hold its own.
Top landmarks
- • RMS Queen Mary — retired British ocean liner
- • Terminal Island — island in Los Angeles County, California, United States
- • Aquarium of the Pacific — public aquarium in Long Beach, California
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 296.3 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 221 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Long Beach, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 24 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Long Beach, CA before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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