Forest Ranch to Long Beach is 509.4 miles and takes about 9h 33m via Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and CA 70, with a fuel budget near $115 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a significant drive that spans across California, from the Pacific Coast region to the same region, but much further south. Given its length, it’s a long-haul drive best suited for two days of travel. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward, though lengthy, transit.
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
254.7 miles from Forest Ranch, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
303.7 mi
5h 28m
I 5 Truck
58.6 mi
1h 7m
CA 70
49.2 mi
58m
I 405 Truck
23 mi
26m
San Diego Freeway
18 mi
20m
Deer Creek Highway
14.2 mi
17m
CA 99
9.9 mi
11m
Golden State Highway
7.7 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 303.7 mi, about 5h 28m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 214 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,927 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,115
Quietest
2 AM
~561 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Forest Ranch, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on Forest Ranch Road
0.2 mi·47 sec·Forest Ranch Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto CA 32
14 mi·17 min·Deer Creek Highway
3
Continue on CA 32
0.2 mi·26 sec·East 8th Street
4
Turn left
361 ft·10 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·12 sec
Use the straight lane.
6
Merge onto CA 99
9.9 mi·11 min·CA 99
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149
5.5 mi·6 min·CA 149
Toward Oroville, MarysvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto CA 70
19 mi·22 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on CA 70
11 mi·12 min·CA 70
10
Continue on CA 70
1.5 mi·3 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·5th Street
12
Turn left onto CA 70
4.2 mi·5 min·E Street
13
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
18 mi·20 min·CA 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto CA 99
4.9 mi·5 min·Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
15
Continue on CA 99
7.7 mi·8 min·Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 5
66 mi·1 hr 13 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi·48 sec·Westside Freeway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi·4 hr 13 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 5 Truck
Exit 158Toward I 405 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi·26 min·I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi·20 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
377 ft·9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long BeachUse the slight right lane.
25
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·39 sec·this road
Exit 32BToward I 710 South: Long Beach
26
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi·3 min·Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi·40 sec·Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, AquariumUse the slight left / straight lanes.
29
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Shoreline Drive
30
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
31
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·West Ocean Boulevard
32
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
33
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this 509.4-mile drive, splitting it over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to start early on your first day to cover a substantial portion, perhaps around 300 miles. This leaves you with a manageable second day of driving, around 200 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest stretch on the Westside Freeway, as services might be less frequent. Planning your overnight stop around the halfway point will allow for a relaxed evening and a fresh start for the remainder of your trip to Long Beach.
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 254.7 miles from Forest Ranch, CA, or about 4h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 303.7 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 112 miles or 2h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 254.7 miles or 4h 48m 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 254.7 miles or 4h 48m
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 20m
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 Forest Ranch, 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 Forest Ranch, CA
Aim for roughly 255 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Long Beach, CA
Aim for roughly 255 miles and 4.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 112 miles from Forest Ranch, 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 303.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.5 and 507 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
14.5 mi into trip|~18m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
24.7 mi into trip|~30m in|CA 149
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149 toward Oroville, Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Oroville, Marysville
6
66.3 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|CA 70
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
462.6 mi into trip|~8h 35m 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
507 mi into trip|~9h 27m 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
$106.57 one way
$213.15 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg178 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$110.68
$221.37
premium
$5.67
$113.61
$227.22
diesel
$4.80
$96.18
$192.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$107
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$237–$347
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 178.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
152.8
1
$53.49
$24.45
Efficient EV
127.4
1
$44.57
$20.38
EV Truck/SUV
203.8
2
$71.32
$32.60
Gas CO2
178 kg
EV CO2
60 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.
Forecast as of Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Forest Ranch, CA
Night
in Forest Ranch on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Night
in Long Beach on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph2% chanceLive 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
15 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 33m 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...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 474.3
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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 404
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 93% of the total distance on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 303.7 miles on the Westside Freeway. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination, but the bulk of your time will be spent on the interstate. Expect a consistent cruising experience with fewer exits for extended periods.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 303.7 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 14.5 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 509.4 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 14.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.3 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
The longest stretch is about 303.7 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 255 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 38 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 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.3 miles (CA 70): 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 9.6 hours each way, a round trip means 19.1 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.
