Origin
Citrus Heights, CA
Late night in Citrus Heights on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Citrus Heights, 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
7h 51m
Distance
424.1 mi
683 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$97
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 42m
★
6 AM
7h 51m
8 AM
8h 9m
10 AM
7h 58m
12 PM
7h 56m
3 PM
7h 59m
5 PM
8h 9m
8 PM
7h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Citrus Heights, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 424.1-mile drive from Citrus Heights, CA to Long Beach, CA is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 7 hours and 51 minutes of driving time. The route is heavily focused on highway travel, with 97% of the journey on major roads like the Westside Freeway and I-405 Truck. Expect a fuel cost of around $97 for this trip. While it's a substantial distance, the direct highway nature makes it a feasible day trip for many, allowing you to reach your Pacific Coast destination without needing an overnight stay. The overall feel is one of efficient travel through California.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
212.1 miles from Citrus Heights, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 52m 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 |
| Capital City Freeway | 10.6 mi | 11m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 5 mi | 5m |
| Golden State Freeway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Long Beach Freeway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 296.3 mi, about 5h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Citrus Heights, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on this road
50 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Mariposa Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Mariposa Avenue
3
Turn right onto Antelope Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Antelope Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 80 West: Sacramento
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 80
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
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.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 Business
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 4A
Toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 4A
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 5
59 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
48 sec
·
Westside Freeway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi
·
4 hr 13 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
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.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi
·
26 min
·
I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
377 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Use the slight right lane.
20
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
this road
Exit 32B
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
21
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
24
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoreline Drive
25
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
26
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
27
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
28
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour, 51-minute journey, consider an early morning departure from Citrus Heights to minimize traffic. With a fuel cost estimated at $97, planning your two stops strategically will be key for comfort and to break up the 424.1 miles. The longest stretch without a significant change in road will be 296.3 miles on the Westside Freeway, so be sure to have entertainment or a co-pilot ready for that segment. Given the highway-focused profile, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is always wise, especially before entering longer stretches between services.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 212.1 miles from Citrus Heights, CA, or about 3h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 296.3 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 93 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 212.1 miles or 3h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 38m
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 Citrus Heights, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Citrus Heights, CA
This is one driving day of about 424.1 miles and 7h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Citrus Heights, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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
Meal stop
212 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 93 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 212.1 miles from Citrus Heights, 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.
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 245 decision points cluster between mile 7 and 377.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
7 mi into trip
|
~9m 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
15.6 mi into trip
|
~18m 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
17.6 mi into trip
|
~20m 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
17.7 mi into trip
|
~21m 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
377.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 53m 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
$97.48 one way
$194.95 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
148 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $100.45 | $200.90 |
| premium | $6.18 | $103.14 | $206.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $93.64 | $187.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$97
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$122–$147
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 148.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 127.2 | 1 | $44.53 | $20.36 |
| Efficient EV | 106 | 1 | $37.11 | $16.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 169.6 | 2 | $59.37 | $27.14 |
Gas CO2
148 kg
EV CO2
50 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
1:01 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
W 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 11:57AM PDT until April 15 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 9:35AM PDT until April 15 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
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
20 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
7h 51m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a highway-focused experience on this route, as 97% of your journey will be on major freeways. You'll spend a significant amount of time on the Westside Freeway, including one uninterrupted stretch of 296.3 miles. The character of the drive is largely consistent, prioritizing speed and directness over varied scenery. While there are two planned stops, the bulk of the 7-hour, 51-minute drive involves navigating these main roads, offering a straightforward driving experience for those prioritizing getting from point A to point B efficiently.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 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 7 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 24 significant decision points across 424.1 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 7 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Citrus Heights, CA
Full guide →Founded 1997
Citrus Heights is a city of 88,000 people (2019) in the Sierra Nevada foothills in Sacramento County in 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 7h 51m. Total distance: 424.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 51m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
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 7 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.6 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 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.7 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Long Beach, CA
More trips to Long Beach, CA
Explore more options from Citrus Heights, CA or browse trips ending in Long Beach, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.