Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
23.6 mi
38 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Costa Mesa, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning to travel between Costa Mesa and Long Beach, you are looking at a quick 23.7-mile connection along the Pacific Coast. You can expect to spend about 33 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at just $3, it is an incredibly budget-friendly commute. The journey relies on a combination of the Costa Mesa Freeway and I-405 North to bridge these two Southern California cities. Because the entire route remains within the same Pacific Coast region, you will find a consistent atmosphere throughout the drive.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| East 7th Street | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| I 405 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| CA 22 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Costa Mesa Freeway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Corona Del Mar Freeway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| East 4th Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Alamitos Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Costa Mesa, CA and Long Beach, CA.
Start on CA 55
Continue on CA 55
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto CA 73
Merge onto I 405
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
Take the exit onto CA 22
Keep slight left at fork onto East 7th Street
Turn left onto Rose Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto East 4th Street
Turn left onto Alamitos Avenue
Turn right onto East Ocean Boulevard
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 22 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward CA 73 North, I 405, CA 73 South: Long Beach, San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 73 North, I 405 North: Long Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto CA 22 toward CA 22 West: Long Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Rose Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$5.42 one way
$10.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $5.59 | $11.18 |
| premium | $6.18 | $5.74 | $11.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.21 | $10.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Costa Mesa on Sunday
Local time
7:17 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
7:17 AM
PDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This trip is best described as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight-line interstate cruise. While you will utilize I-405, the route lacks long, uninterrupted highway stretches, meaning you will need to stay alert for frequent transitions. There is no significant highway-only section to settle into, as the longest stretch on the Costa Mesa Freeway is effectively zero miles. Expect a dynamic experience that requires constant attention to navigation as you move through the local infrastructure. It is a practical, utilitarian drive that prioritizes efficiency over long-distance touring.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and East 7th Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 23.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.1 miles (I 405): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Costa Mesa, CA to Long Beach, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Diego along the way.
San Diego
Founded 1776
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, a region of Southern California. Costa Mesa is a robust community that features a focus on performing arts and entertainment. Costa Mesa provides a city-like feel in a suburban setting with a vast amount of storefront shops and residential areas.
Top landmarks
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 23.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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