This 367.6-mile journey from Brentwood, CA to Long Beach, CA is designed for a single day of driving, taking approximately 6 hours and 56 minutes. Primarily utilizing Westside Freeway and I-405 Truck, this route is about 95% highway, making it a straightforward, highway-focused drive. With an estimated fuel cost of $84, it's an efficient way to cover ground between the Pacific Coast regions. While the longest stretch without a stop is a considerable 224.4 miles on Westside Freeway, the overall duration makes it manageable for one day, though planning for that longer segment is key.
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
183.8 miles from Brentwood, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
224.4 mi
4h
I 5 Truck
58.6 mi
1h 7m
I 405 Truck
23 mi
26m
San Diego Freeway
18 mi
20m
William Elton Brown Freeway
14 mi
15m
Byron Highway
8.1 mi
12m
Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
4m
Brentwood Boulevard
3.7 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 224.4 mi, about 4h
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 89 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,926 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,652
Quietest
2 AM
~360 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 44 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 Brentwood, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on Brentwood Boulevard
66 ft·8 sec·Brentwood Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Oak Street
97 ft·9 sec·Oak Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left
305 ft·23 sec
4
Turn right onto Brentwood Boulevard
3.7 mi·5 min·Brentwood Boulevard
5
Continue on Byron Highway
1.4 mi·2 min·Byron Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto J4
6.7 mi·10 min·Byron Highway
7
Continue on J4
1.5 mi·2 min·Byron-Bethany Road
8
Continue on J4
1.8 mi·2 min·Byron Road
9
Turn right onto Mountain House Parkway
2.7 mi·4 min·Mountain House Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
10
Continue on International Parkway
1.0 mi·1 min·International Parkway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on Mountain House Parkway
0.8 mi·1 min·Mountain House Parkway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
13
Merge onto I 580
8.1 mi·8 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi·6 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
15
Merge onto I 5
224 mi·4 hr·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 5 Truck
Exit 158Toward I 405 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi·26 min·I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi·20 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
377 ft·9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long BeachUse the slight right lane.
22
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·39 sec·this road
Exit 32BToward I 710 South: Long Beach
23
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi·3 min·Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi·40 sec·Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, AquariumUse the slight left / straight lanes.
26
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Shoreline Drive
27
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
28
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·West Ocean Boulevard
29
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
30
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour, 56-minute duration, this trip is best tackled in a single day. To make the most of your drive, consider departing early to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the Los Angeles area. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 224.4 miles, plan your refueling and rest breaks strategically. The $84 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to check current prices. A practical tip for this route: be aware of the I-5 Truck route designation, which may have specific lane restrictions or access points you'll need to follow.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 183.8 miles from Brentwood, CA, or about 3h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 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 81 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 183.8 miles or 3h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 44m
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 Brentwood, 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 Brentwood, CA
This is one driving day of about 367.6 miles and 6h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Brentwood, 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 Westside Freeway for about 224.4 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 365.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
15.2 mi into trip|~23m in|Mountain House Parkway
Turn right onto Mountain House Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
6
258.3 mi into trip|~4h 47m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
320.7 mi into trip|~5h 59m 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
7
365.1 mi into trip|~6h 51m in
Take the exit toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$76.91 one way
$153.81 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg129 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$79.87
$159.75
premium
$5.67
$81.99
$163.97
diesel
$4.80
$69.41
$138.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$77
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$102–$127
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
110.3
1
$38.60
$17.64
Efficient EV
91.9
1
$32.17
$14.70
EV Truck/SUV
147
1
$51.46
$23.53
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Brentwood, CA
Morning
in Brentwood on Sunday
Local time
10:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
WNW 3 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
Morning
in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
10:22 AM
PDT
Current temp
81°F
Patchy Fog
SW 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
10 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
6h 56m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 329.5
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 253.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 95% of the drive taking place on major freeways like Westside Freeway and I-405 Truck. The character is that of a swift, direct transit, prioritizing miles over meandering scenery. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 224.4 miles on Westside Freeway, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. The road generally maintains a high-speed, efficient profile throughout its progression, facilitating a quick and direct connection between your origin and destination.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 224.4 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 early in the drive near Oak Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 367.6 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: near the start (Oak Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.2 miles (Mountain House Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 258.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,702 ft33 ft
Total Climb
2,992 ft
Total Descent
3,038 ft
Highest Point
2,702 ft
~288.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,669 ft
Notable High Points
2,702 ft at ~288.8 miles+1,231 ft prominence
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Brentwood is an affluent, suburban city in eastern Contra Costa County, California with a popular downtown for visitors coming from the Sacramento Valley to the county. It serves as one of the eastern gateways to the East Bay, along with Livermore. Many in the city are commuters.
Top landmarks
•Stone House of John Marsh — historic stone house in Contra Costa County, California
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 6h 56m. Total distance: 367.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 56m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 224.4 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 33 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 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Oak Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.2 miles (Mountain House Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 258.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.9 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.
