Brawley to Long Beach is 202.4 miles and takes about 4h 3m via CA 86 and Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Pacific Coast region, mostly on highways, making it a straightforward trip. You'll be covering a significant portion of the distance on main roads, so expect a relatively quick transit. With only one recommended stop and a duration under five hours, this route is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. Plan for a morning departure to allow ample time for your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
101.2 miles from Brawley, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 86
37.7 mi
43m
Main Street
33 mi
40m
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
32.6 mi
34m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
17.9 mi
19m
CA 91
16.7 mi
19m
Moreno Valley Freeway
16.5 mi
20m
Riverside Freeway
13.4 mi
15m
Garden Grove Freeway
12.7 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
CA 86
— 37.7 mi, about 43m
Traffic on I-405
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~7,372 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~476 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 40 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brawley, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on Main Street
33 mi·40 min·Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
2
Continue on CA 86
5.2 mi·6 min·CA 86
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on CA 86
32 mi·37 min·CA 86
Use the straight lane.
4
Merge onto I 10
33 mi·34 min·Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 10
18 mi·19 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·13 sec
Exit 93Toward CA 60 West: RiversideUse the slight left lane.
7
Continue on CA 60
0.5 mi·33 sec·Moreno Valley Freeway
8
Continue on CA 60
2.0 mi·2 min·Moreno Valley Expressway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on CA 60
16 mi·20 min·Moreno Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 215; CA 60
3.9 mi·4 min·Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.5 mi·3 min
Exit 34BToward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach CitiesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto CA 91
13 mi·15 min·Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·20 sec
Exit 50Toward Main StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on CA 91
17 mi·19 min·CA 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 55
4.8 mi·5 min·Costa Mesa Freeway
Exit 34Toward CA 55 South: Newport BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·39 sec
Exit 13Toward CA 22 West: Garden Grove Freeway, Long BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto CA 22
13 mi·14 min·Garden Grove Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on CA 22; I 405
1.7 mi·1 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit onto CA 22
2.5 mi·3 min·CA 22
Exit 23Toward CA 22 West: Long BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto East 7th Street
2.7 mi·6 min·East 7th Street
21
Turn left onto Rose Avenue
0.3 mi·51 sec·Rose Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
At end of road, turn right onto East 4th Street
0.7 mi·2 min·East 4th Street
23
Turn left onto Alamitos Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Alamitos Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto East Ocean Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·East Ocean Boulevard
Use the right lane.
25
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 3m duration, leaving Brawley in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid late-night driving. You'll want to plan for at least one stop, perhaps around the halfway point or where you transition off the main highway stretches. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 37.7-mile stretch on CA 86 where services might be less frequent. The relatively short drive time means you have flexibility; if you encounter unexpected delays, you won't be significantly behind schedule. Consider topping off your tank before leaving Brawley to ensure a smooth start.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 101.2 miles from Brawley, CA, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 45 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.2 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 12m
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 Brawley, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brawley, CA
This is one driving day of about 202.4 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Brawley, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on CA 86 for about 37.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 121.3 and 180.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
121.3 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward CA 60 West: Riverside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 93
Toward CA 60 West: Riverside
8
143.9 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
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 34B
Toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
7
158.8 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50
Toward Main Street
8
175.8 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|CA 55 / Costa Mesa Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 55 / Costa Mesa Freeway toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
8
180.6 mi into trip|~3h 29m in
Take the exit toward CA 22 West: Garden Grove Freeway, Long Beach
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 13
Toward CA 22 West: Garden Grove Freeway, Long B...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.34 one way
$84.69 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$43.98
$87.96
premium
$5.67
$45.14
$90.28
diesel
$4.80
$38.22
$76.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.7
0
$21.25
$9.72
Efficient EV
50.6
0
$17.71
$8.10
EV Truck/SUV
81
1
$28.34
$12.95
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Brawley, CA
Late night
in Brawley on Sunday
Local time
4:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 7:02PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Late night
in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
4:14 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Patchy Fog
SSW 5 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 7:02PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
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.
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
17 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 3m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Joshua Tree National Park
National Park
Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
$30
near mile 69.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 71% of the drive on freeways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 37.7 miles on CA 86 before transitioning to Main Street and then the Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway. Expect a significant amount of time cruising on well-maintained roads, with a clear shift from highway speeds to surface streets as you approach your destination. The transition between these road types is something to be aware of as you navigate the final miles.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.7 mi on CA 86.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 86 and Main Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 121.3 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 202.4 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 121.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 143.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 158.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,403 ft-193 ft
Total Climb
2,765 ft
Total Descent
2,619 ft
Highest Point
2,403 ft
~115.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,597 ft
Notable High Points
2,403 ft at ~115.6 miles+626 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Brawley, CA to Long Beach, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Beach Cities along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 3m. Total distance: 202.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.7 miles on CA 86. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 121.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 143.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 158.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Joshua Tree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Long Beach, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
