Water
0 mi from route
Trip from Cameron Park, CA to Long Beach, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 6m
Distance
429 mi
690 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$90
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 59m
★
6 AM
8h 7m
8 AM
8h 23m
10 AM
8h 13m
12 PM
8h 11m
3 PM
8h 13m
5 PM
8h 23m
8 PM
8h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cameron Park, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Cameron Park, CA to Long Beach, CA is 429 miles and takes about 8h 6m via Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and South Sacramento Freeway, with a fuel budget near $103 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip covers ground within the Pacific Coast region, moving from Northern California down towards Southern California. Given its mostly highway profile and the 8-hour estimated duration, most drivers will opt to split this into two days, though a single-day push is feasible for those who prefer it. Plan for a straightforward drive that prioritizes reaching your destination efficiently.
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
214.5 miles from Cameron Park, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 250.2 mi | 4h 28m |
| I 5 Truck | 58.6 mi | 1h 7m |
| South Sacramento Freeway | 29.7 mi | 34m |
| I 405 Truck | 23 mi | 26m |
| US 50 | 20 mi | 22m |
| San Diego Freeway | 18 mi | 20m |
| Bradshaw Road | 11.6 mi | 16m |
| Golden State Freeway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 250.2 mi, about 4h 28m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 97 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
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Cameron Park, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on Montclair Road
418 ft
·
23 sec
·
Montclair Road
2
Turn left onto Knollwood Drive
203 ft
·
7 sec
·
Knollwood Drive
3
Turn left onto Cambridge Road
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Cambridge Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward US 50 West: Sacramento
5
Merge onto US 50
20 mi
·
22 min
·
US 50
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 13
Toward Bradshaw Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto Bradshaw Road
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Bradshaw Road
Use the left lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto Bradshaw Road
81 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bradshaw Road
9
Continue on Bradshaw Road
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Bradshaw Road
Use the left / uturn lanes.
10
Turn right onto E2
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Grant Line Road
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on E2
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Kammerer Road
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
13
Merge onto CA 99
30 mi
·
34 min
·
South Sacramento Freeway
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 4
15
Merge onto CA 4
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Crosstown Freeway
16
Take the exit onto CA 4
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
CA 4
Toward I 5: Sacramento
17
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 4
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 4
Toward I 5 South
18
Merge onto I 5; CA 4
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Westside Freeway
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
48 sec
·
Westside Freeway
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi
·
4 hr 13 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
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.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi
·
26 min
·
I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
377 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Use the slight right lane.
27
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
this road
Exit 32B
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
28
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
31
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoreline Drive
32
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
33
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
34
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
35
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour driving time, splitting this trip over two days is a sensible approach to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight hours, especially if you plan on completing it in one go. With two recommended stops, you can break up the 429 miles into manageable segments. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $103, and plan your refueling stops accordingly, particularly before longer stretches like the 250.2 miles on the Westside Freeway. Consider making your overnight stop around the halfway point to make the second day's drive more relaxed.
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 214.5 miles from Cameron Park, CA, or about 4h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 250.2 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 94 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 214.5 miles or 4h 5m 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 214.5 miles or 4h 5m
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 54m
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 Cameron Park, 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 Cameron Park, CA
Aim for roughly 215 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Long Beach, CA
Aim for roughly 215 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from Cameron Park, 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 250.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
215 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 Fresno, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
215 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Fresno, CA after about 215 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 94 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 214.5 miles from Cameron Park, 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 250.2 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 215 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Dos Amigos Vista Point
0 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Southbound Rest Area
0 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Castaic Truck Stop
0.1 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Northbound Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Coalinga Avenal Safety Roadside Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Lost Hills Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.4 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.3 mi from route
Rest Area
1.6 mi from route
Rest Area
1.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.9 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 305 decision points cluster between mile 21.4 and 426.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
21.4 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward Bradshaw Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 13
Toward Bradshaw Road
6
21.7 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
Bradshaw Road
Turn left onto Bradshaw Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
83.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 44m in
|
I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
382.2 mi into trip
|
~7h 9m 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
426.6 mi into trip
|
~8h 1m 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
$89.75 one way
$179.50 round trip
$5.31/gal
25.4 MPG avg
150 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.52 | $93.21 | $186.43 |
| premium | $5.67 | $95.68 | $191.36 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $81.00 | $162.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$90
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$220–$330
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 150.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 128.7 | 1 | $45.05 | $20.59 |
| Efficient EV | 107.3 | 1 | $37.54 | $17.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 171.6 | 2 | $60.06 | $27.46 |
Gas CO2
150 kg
EV CO2
50 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.
Origin
Cameron Park, CA
Morning in Cameron Park on Sunday
Local time
8:17 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 2 to 7 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Morning in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
8:17 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Patchy Fog
SSE 5 to 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego 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.
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
10 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 6m 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.
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
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 399.4
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 325.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 96% of this drive on highways, so expect consistent cruising. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 250.2 miles, primarily on the Westside Freeway. This means you'll encounter relatively few transitions to surface roads for the bulk of your travel. Be prepared for the merging and exiting associated with busy freeway corridors as you approach urban areas.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 250.2 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 21.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 30 significant decision points across 429 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 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.7 miles (Bradshaw Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 83.2 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
4,135 ft
33 ft
Total Climb
4,488 ft
Total Descent
5,677 ft
Highest Point
4,135 ft
~337.1 mi in
Elevation Range
4,102 ft
Notable High Points
4,135 ft at ~337.1 miles
+3,084 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in Cameron Park, CA
Full guide →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 250.2 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 215 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 34 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 34 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.7 miles (Bradshaw Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 83.2 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.2 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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