Origin
Buttonwillow, CA
Morning in Buttonwillow on Sunday
Local time
11:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buttonwillow, 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
2h 54m
Distance
149.7 mi
241 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 16m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
3h 0m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buttonwillow, CA
Anna Arysheva
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 149.7-mile drive from Buttonwillow, CA to Long Beach, CA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend around 2 hours and 54 minutes on the road, making it an ideal day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-5 Truck and I-405 Truck, with a 95% highway share. With an estimated fuel cost of $34, this trip is budget-friendly. This drive stays within the Pacific Coast region, offering a consistent experience as you head south towards Southern California.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.8 miles from Buttonwillow, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 5 Truck | 58.6 mi | 1h 7m |
| Westside Freeway | 36.3 mi | 38m |
| I 405 Truck | 23 mi | 26m |
| San Diego Freeway | 18 mi | 20m |
| Golden State Freeway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| McKittrick Highway | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Long Beach Freeway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Shoreline Drive | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 5 Truck
— 58.6 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buttonwillow, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on East 1st Street
49 ft
·
7 sec
·
East 1st Street
2
Turn left onto North Main Street
347 ft
·
20 sec
·
North Main Street
3
Turn left onto CA 58
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
McKittrick Highway
4
Take the ramp onto CA 58
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
CA 58
5
Merge onto I 5
36 mi
·
38 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi
·
26 min
·
I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
377 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
this road
Exit 32B
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
13
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoreline Drive
17
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
18
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
19
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 2-hour and 54-minute duration, this 149.7-mile trip is perfectly suited for a single day. You'll have flexibility in when you depart, but consider leaving Buttonwillow earlier in the morning to potentially avoid heavier traffic as you approach Long Beach. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete the journey without significant breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 58.6-mile stretch on I-5 Truck, and plan your refueling accordingly. The relatively low fuel cost of $34 makes this a practical choice for a quick excursion.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.8 miles from Buttonwillow, CA, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.6 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 33 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.8 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 19m
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 Buttonwillow, 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 Buttonwillow, CA
This is one driving day of about 149.7 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Buttonwillow, 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 I 5 Truck for about 58.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.8 miles from Buttonwillow, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 165 decision points cluster between mile 40.4 and 147.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
40.4 mi into trip
|
~45m 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.
6
98.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
|
I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
102.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m 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
6
103.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
|
I 405 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
147.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m 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
$34.41 one way
$68.81 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $35.46 | $70.91 |
| premium | $6.18 | $36.41 | $72.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.05 | $66.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.9 | 0 | $15.72 | $7.19 |
| Efficient EV | 37.4 | 0 | $13.10 | $5.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.9 | 0 | $20.96 | $9.58 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Morning in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
11:57 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
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.
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
6 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
2h 54m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 118.7
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 41.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 95% of the journey taking place on major freeways like I-5 Truck and I-405 Truck. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 58.6 miles on I-5 Truck, offering a good period of consistent driving. While it's a highway-centric drive, the transition between these main arteries will define the changing character of your trip. This profile suggests a driving experience where efficiency and maintaining speed are key.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.6 mi on I 5 Truck.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 5 Truck and Westside Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 40.4 miles in near I 5 Truck.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 149.7 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 40.4 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.8 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.8 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Buttonwillow, CA
Full guide →Buttonwillow is a small town on Interstate 5 in Kern County in the San Joaquin Valley of California.
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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 149.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.6 miles on I 5 Truck. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 40.4 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.8 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.8 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Long Beach, CA before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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