Traveling from Lemon Grove to Long Beach covers 111 miles of Southern California coastline, typically taking about 2 hours and 19 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate a combination of the Jacob Dekema Freeway, the San Diego Freeway, and the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. With a fuel budget of approximately $26, this drive is an efficient way to transition between two major hubs within the Pacific Coast region. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick getaway, the route offers a straightforward path along the coast.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.5 miles from Lemon Grove, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
San Diego Freeway
63 mi
1h 13m
Jacob Dekema Freeway
14.2 mi
16m
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
14.1 mi
16m
Corona Del Mar Freeway
4 mi
4m
Martin Luther King Junior Freeway
3.2 mi
3m
East 7th Street
2.7 mi
6m
I 405
2.7 mi
3m
CA 22
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 63 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lemon Grove, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on this road
127 ft·16 sec·this road
2
Turn slight left onto Broadway
172 ft·9 sec·Broadway
3
Continue on Broadway
1.0 mi·1 min·Broadway
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward CA 94 West: Martin Luther King Junior Freeway
5
Merge onto CA 94
3.2 mi·3 min·Martin Luther King Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 3Toward I 805 South, I 805 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 805 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 805 NorthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 73 North: Long BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on CA 73
4.0 mi·4 min·Corona Del Mar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 405
9.6 mi·11 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
2.7 mi·3 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto CA 22
2.5 mi·3 min·CA 22
Exit 23Toward CA 22 West: Long BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto East 7th Street
2.7 mi·6 min·East 7th Street
19
Turn left onto Rose Avenue
0.3 mi·51 sec·Rose Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
At end of road, turn right onto East 4th Street
0.7 mi·2 min·East 4th Street
21
Turn left onto Alamitos Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Alamitos Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto East Ocean Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·East Ocean Boulevard
Use the right lane.
23
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
Since this is a 2-hour and 19-minute trek, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to depart whenever it suits your plans best. Because there are zero scheduled stops in the route data, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave to make the most of your $26 budget. Keep a close eye on traffic patterns when merging onto the San Diego Freeway, as this 63-mile segment can experience heavy volume. Since the entire trip is easily manageable in one go, you don't need to worry about splitting the drive into multiple days. Prioritize a steady pace to keep your fuel efficiency consistent across the 111-mile distance.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.5 miles from Lemon Grove, CA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63 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 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.5 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 47m
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 Lemon Grove, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lemon Grove, CA
This is one driving day of about 111 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Lemon Grove, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on San Diego Freeway for about 63 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.6 and 104.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
4.6 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 805 South, I 805 North
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 3
Toward I 805 South, I 805 North
7
4.7 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 805 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 805 North
7
5.1 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 805 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 805 North
7
73.7 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|CA 73 / San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 73 / San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor toward CA 73 North: Long Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 73 North: Long Beach
7
104.1 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|CA 22
Take the exit onto CA 22 toward CA 22 West: Long Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23
Toward CA 22 West: Long Beach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.51 one way
$51.03 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$26.29
$52.58
premium
$6.18
$26.99
$53.99
diesel
$5.61
$24.51
$49.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.3
0
$11.65
$5.33
Efficient EV
27.8
0
$9.71
$4.44
EV Truck/SUV
44.4
0
$15.54
$7.10
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Lemon Grove, CA
Late night
in Lemon Grove on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Late night
in Long Beach on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 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.
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 19m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
Cabrillo National Monument
National Monument
In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo climbed out of his boat and onto shore, becoming the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Cabrillo National Monument not only...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
$20
near mile 7.7
Park Closure: Park Auditorium Closed Until Further Notice
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 81% of your journey spent on high-speed thoroughfares. Expect a consistent pace, as your route features a significant 63-mile uninterrupted stretch along the San Diego Freeway. While the path stays fast and efficient, the road personality shifts as you transition between major regional freeways and the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. You won't find many technical local roads here; instead, you can settle into a steady rhythm on the pavement. Overall, the experience is designed for direct travel rather than leisurely winding, keeping you moving steadily toward your destination.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63 mi on San Diego Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and Jacob Dekema Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 19 significant decision points across 111 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 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 111 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63 miles on San Diego Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cabrillo National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Long Beach, CA before heading back.
