Spanning 124 miles from Long Beach to Alpine, this drive typically takes about 2 hours and 35 minutes to complete. Because the duration is relatively short, you can easily handle this as a single-day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the San Diego Freeway, the San Clemente Canyon Freeway, and the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. Budget roughly $29 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Pacific Coast locations. It is a straightforward, highway-focused route that gets you from the coast into the inland foothills efficiently. If you prefer a quick transit over a meandering scenic tour, this direct path is a practical choice for your travel plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62 miles from Long Beach, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
San Diego Freeway
55.8 mi
1h 5m
San Clemente Canyon Freeway
13.1 mi
15m
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
12.8 mi
14m
I 405
10.3 mi
11m
Kumeyaay Highway
6.3 mi
6m
Corona Del Mar Freeway
4 mi
4m
Jacob Dekema Freeway
4 mi
4m
East 7th Street
3.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 55.8 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Beach, CA and Alpine, CA.
1
Start on East Ocean Boulevard
31 ft·2 sec·East Ocean Boulevard
2
Turn right onto Long Beach Boulevard
423 ft·18 sec·Long Beach Boulevard
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto East 1st Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East 1st Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto Alamitos Avenue
0.2 mi·37 sec·Alamitos Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto East 3rd Street
1.0 mi·2 min·East 3rd Street
6
Turn sharp left onto Junipero Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Junipero Avenue
7
Turn right onto East 7th Street
3.3 mi·7 min·East 7th Street
8
Continue on CA 22
0.7 mi·1 min·Garden Grove Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto CA 22
0.7 mi·47 sec·CA 22
Toward I 405 South, CA 22 East
10
Merge onto I 405; CA 22
2.0 mi·2 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
0.2 mi·11 sec·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
10 mi·11 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 73
4.0 mi·4 min·Corona Del Mar Freeway
Exit 10Toward CA 73 South: San DiegoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23Toward CA 52: JunctionUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·56 sec
Toward CA 52 East: SanteeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto CA 52
13 mi·15 min·San Clemente Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 18CToward CA 67 North: RamonaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
26
Merge onto CA 67
3.0 mi·3 min·San Vicente Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
157 ft·4 sec
Toward Mapleview Street East, Business DistrictUse the right lane.
28
Turn right onto Mapleview Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Mapleview Street
Use the right lane.
29
Continue on Lake Jennings Park Road
2.4 mi·3 min·Lake Jennings Park Road
30
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 8 East: El Centro
31
Merge onto I 8
6.3 mi·6 min·Kumeyaay Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 30Toward Alpine, Tavern RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Turn right onto Tavern Road
498 ft·19 sec·Tavern Road
Use the right lane.
34
Turn left onto US 80 Historic
0.7 mi·1 min·Alpine Boulevard
Use the left lane.
35
Turn right
141 ft·10 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 2 hour and 35 minute journey, aim to plan at least one stop to break up the drive. Since the route is manageable in a single day, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though monitoring traffic patterns on the San Diego Freeway is always a smart move. Keep your fuel budget of $29 in mind when planning your refueling stops along the way. Because this is a shorter trip, you don't need an intensive itinerary, allowing you to focus on a comfortable pace. A helpful tip is to check the status of the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor before you leave, as this specific toll road section can influence your travel time significantly.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62 miles from Long Beach, CA, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 27 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alpine, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Long Beach, 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 Long Beach, CA
This is one driving day of about 124 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Long Beach, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on San Diego Freeway for about 55.8 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 30
5 decision points cluster between mile 19.2 and 122.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
19.2 mi into trip|~30m in|CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway toward CA 73 South: San Diego
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10
Toward CA 73 South: San Diego
8
33.6 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway
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 La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway
7
34.1 mi into trip|~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 73 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 73 South
8
109.5 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CA 67 North: Ramona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 18C
Toward CA 67 North: Ramona
8
122.8 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward Alpine, Tavern Road
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 30
Toward Alpine, Tavern Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.50 one way
$57.00 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$29.37
$58.74
premium
$6.18
$30.16
$60.31
diesel
$5.61
$27.38
$54.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.2
0
$13.02
$5.95
Efficient EV
31
0
$10.85
$4.96
EV Truck/SUV
49.6
0
$17.36
$7.94
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (65% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Long Beach, CA
Late night
in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
W 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
Destination
Alpine, CA
Late night
in Alpine on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°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
1 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
2h 35m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by high-speed transit, as 74% of your journey takes place on major highways. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 55.8 miles along the San Diego Freeway. The road maintains a consistent, highway-focused profile throughout the drive, making it a reliable option for those looking to cover ground steadily. While the route transitions from the dense urban coastal landscape toward the more elevated terrain of Alpine, the infrastructure remains focused on efficient mobility. You will spend the vast majority of your time at highway speeds, so be prepared for a steady, focused driving experience.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.8 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 San Clemente Canyon Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.2 miles in near CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway.
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 30 significant decision points across 124 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 19.2 miles (CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,841 ft25 ft
Total Climb
2,449 ft
Total Descent
633 ft
Highest Point
1,841 ft
~124 mi in
Elevation Range
1,816 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Long Beach, CA and Alpine, CA, road signs point toward Mapleview Street East and Business District.
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 35m. Total distance: 124 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.8 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 Alpine, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.2 miles (CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Alpine, CA before heading back.
