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Trip from Clearlake Oaks, CA to Long Beach, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

9h 29m

Distance

491 mi

790 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$113

one way

EV Charging

Good

6 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
9h 21m ★
6 AM
9h 29m
8 AM
9h 47m
10 AM
9h 35m
12 PM
9h 34m
3 PM
9h 36m
5 PM
9h 46m
8 PM
9h 24m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Clearlake Oaks, CA, CA

Clearlake Oaks, CA

Tori Pezzulla❤️

city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Long Beach, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Embarking on a journey from Clearlake Oaks, CA, to Long Beach, CA, covers 510.2 miles and typically takes about 8 hours and 26 minutes of driving time. This long-distance drive, entirely within California's Pacific Coast region, is best split over two recommended days to avoid fatigue. With an estimated fuel cost of $118, this route involves 2 planned stops. While it's a significant distance, it's manageable for a determined driver, though breaking it up offers a more relaxed experience. Consider this trip for its straightforward path through the state.

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

245.5 miles from Clearlake Oaks, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 224.4 mi 4h
I 5 Truck 58.6 mi 1h 7m
CA 29 32 mi 47m
I 405 Truck 23 mi 26m
Saint Helena Highway South 21.7 mi 25m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway 19.2 mi 22m
San Diego Freeway 18 mi 20m
William Elton Brown Freeway 17 mi 18m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 224.4 mi, about 4h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clearlake Oaks, CA and Long Beach, CA.

1

Start on this road

0.1 mi · 31 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto Oakgrove Avenue

90 ft · 9 sec · Oakgrove Avenue
3

Turn left onto CA 20

3.6 mi · 5 min · CA 20
4

Enter roundabout onto CA 53

47 ft · 0 sec · CA 53
5

Continue on CA 53

7.4 mi · 10 min · CA 53
6

Continue on CA 29

10 mi · 15 min · CA 29
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7

Enter roundabout onto CA 29

48 ft · 0 sec · CA 29
8

Continue on CA 29

22 mi · 32 min · CA 29
9

Turn left onto CA 29; CA 128

6.8 mi · 7 min · Saint Helena Highway
10

Continue on CA 29; CA 128

2.4 mi · 2 min · Main Street
11

Continue on CA 29; CA 128

22 mi · 25 min · Saint Helena Highway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on CA 12; CA 29

1.3 mi · 1 min · Napa–Vallejo Highway
13

Continue on CA 29

4.0 mi · 4 min · Broadway Street
14

Continue on CA 29

1.8 mi · 2 min · Sonoma Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
15

Continue on CA 29

1.1 mi · 1 min · Sonoma Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
16

Turn left onto Redwood Street

0.3 mi · 44 sec · Redwood Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
17

Turn right onto US 40 Hist

1.1 mi · 1 min · Broadway Street
18

Turn slight left onto US 40 Hist

0.7 mi · 1 min · Alameda Street
19

Turn left onto Curtola Parkway

7.1 mi · 9 min · Curtola Parkway
Use the straight lane.
20

Keep slight left at fork onto I 780

0.7 mi · 46 sec · I 780
Exit 7B Toward I 680 South: Martinez, San Jose
21

Continue on I 680

8.0 mi · 9 min · Benicia-Martinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight right at fork onto I 680

4.8 mi · 5 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Continue on I 680

1.4 mi · 1 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
24

Keep slight right at fork onto I 680

13 mi · 15 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 30A Toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 580: Stockton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Merge onto I 580

1.4 mi · 1 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

11 mi · 11 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
31

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
32

Merge onto I 5

224 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35

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.
36

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck

23 mi · 26 min · I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405

18 mi · 20 min · San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38

Take the exit

377 ft · 9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach Use the slight right lane.
39

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 39 sec · this road
Exit 32B Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
40

Merge onto I 710

2.4 mi · 3 min · Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41

Continue on I 710

0.5 mi · 40 sec · Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium Use the slight left / straight lanes.
43

Continue on Shoreline Drive

1.3 mi · 2 min · Shoreline Drive
44

Turn left onto South Chestnut Place

0.2 mi · 30 sec · South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
45

Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Ocean Boulevard
46

Continue on East Ocean Boulevard

0.1 mi · 21 sec · East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
47

Arrive at destination

East Ocean Boulevard

Trip Plan

For this 8-hour, 26-minute drive, departing early in the morning is highly recommended to maximize daylight driving and minimize traffic, especially as you approach the Los Angeles area. Given the distance, splitting the drive over two days with an overnight stop is the most practical approach. Plan your two stops strategically for fuel and rest, keeping the $118 fuel cost in mind. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage when transitioning between Oakgrove Avenue, Saint Helena Highway, and the subsequent 'route' to ensure you stay on the most efficient path.

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 245.5 miles from Clearlake Oaks, CA, or about 4h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 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 108 miles or 2h 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 245.5 miles or 4h 54m 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 245.5 miles or 4h 54m

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 8h 16m

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 Clearlake Oaks, 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 Clearlake Oaks, CA

Aim for roughly 246 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Long Beach, CA

Aim for roughly 246 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 miles from Clearlake Oaks, 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 224.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Solano County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Vallejo, CA

246 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 Vallejo, CA

Popular next leg

Vallejo, CA to Long Beach, CA

407.5 mi · 7h 36m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Vallejo, CA

246 mi · about 4.7h in

A practical overnight split lands near Vallejo, CA after about 246 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Pleasant Hill, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 108 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mendota, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 245.5 miles from Clearlake Oaks, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 224.4 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 246 miles or 4.7 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.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Bubu's Restaurant

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Long Beach, California

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 0min to go 2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+15625347279

Visit website

Bubu's Restaurant

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Long Beach, California

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+15625347279

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Clearlake Oaks, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Home stretch 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Arvin, California

Hours: 4:30 am–11 pm

Visit website

ClipperCreek Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

First break 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Calistoga, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+14242408181

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour

Clearlake Oaks, California

+17079983378

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour

Calistoga, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

Near the start, ~12 min detour

First break 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Calistoga, California

+17079424102

Visit website

Harbor Breeze Whale Watching Cruises

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Long Beach, CA

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+15624324900

Visit website

Aquarium of the Pacific

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Long Beach, California

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+15625903100

Visit website

SoCal Whale Watching

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Long Beach, California

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+15624729514

Visit website

Heather Farm Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Walnut Creek, California

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+19259435858

Visit website

Signal Hill Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Signal Hill, California

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+15629897300

Visit website

Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Long Beach, California

Hours: 5:30 am–12 pm

+15625703100

Visit website

Livingston Drive Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Long Beach, California

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+15625703100

Visit website

Alston Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

First break 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Napa, California

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+17072579529

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 31

5 decision points cluster between mile 91.5 and 444.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
91.5 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in | I 780

Keep slight left at fork onto I 780 toward I 680 South: Martinez, San Jose

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 7B Toward I 680 South: Martinez, San Jose
8
119.8 mi into trip | ~2h 36m in

Take the exit toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton

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 30A Toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
8
120.1 mi into trip | ~2h 37m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
7
120.8 mi into trip | ~2h 38m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 580: Stockton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 580: Stockton
8
444.1 mi into trip | ~8h 32m 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

$112.85 one way

$225.71 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 172 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $116.29 $232.59
premium $6.18 $119.41 $238.81
diesel $5.61 $108.41 $216.81

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$113

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$243–$353

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 171.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 147.3 1 $51.55 $23.57
Efficient EV 122.8 1 $42.96 $19.64
EV Truck/SUV 196.4 2 $68.74 $31.42

Gas CO2

172 kg

EV CO2

57 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 Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Clearlake Oaks, CA

Late night in Clearlake Oaks on Tuesday

Local time

1:52 AM

PDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Long Beach, CA

Late night in Long Beach on Tuesday

Local time

1:52 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.

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

9 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

9h 29m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route, primarily utilizing Oakgrove Avenue and Saint Helena Highway before transitioning to 'the route,' features a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating local roads and state highways for the majority of your 510.2-mile journey, offering a more connected feel to the landscape. Without long, uninterrupted stretches, you'll experience frequent changes in scenery and speed limits as you traverse California. Expect a drive that requires consistent attention to navigation and varying road conditions, rather than a monotonous interstate cruise.

85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
47 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?

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 91.5 miles in near I 780.

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 31 significant decision points across 491 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 91.5 miles (I 780): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Clearlake Oaks, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward San Jose and Stockton.

San Jose

91.5 mi in | ~2h 4m | via I 780

Stockton

119.8 mi in | ~2h 36m

About the Cities

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 224.4 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 246 miles on day one.

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 91.5 miles (I 780): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.5 hours each way, a round trip means 19.0 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.

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