The drive from Long Beach, CA to Alturas, CA covers 662.7 miles and takes about 13h 17m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Route 395, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, I 580 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is long-haul drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 132.8 miles on Route 395.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $146.92 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
331.4 miles from Long Beach, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Route 395
132.8 mi
2h 37m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
104.5 mi
2h 2m
I 580
91.9 mi
1h 45m
North Sierra Highway
87.4 mi
1h 44m
Aerospace Highway
45.8 mi
51m
CA 14 Truck
45.7 mi
52m
San Diego Freeway
40.8 mi
47m
Midland Trail
22 mi
25m
Longest stretch:
Route 395
— 132.8 mi, about 2h 37m
Traffic on I-405
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 168 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~7,776 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~727 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 77 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 Long Beach, CA and Alturas, CA.
1
Start on East Ocean Boulevard
0.7 mi·2 min·East Ocean Boulevard
2
Turn right onto North Golden Avenue
414 ft·6 sec·North Golden Avenue
3
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 710 North
4
Merge onto Shoreline Drive
0.5 mi·47 sec·Shoreline Drive
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·31 sec
Toward I 710 North
6
Merge onto I 710
0.5 mi·41 sec·Seaside Freeway
7
Continue on I 710
2.3 mi·3 min·Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·10 sec
Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Santa Monica, San DiegoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 405 North, I 710: Long Beach Freeway North, Santa MonicaUse the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 405 North: Santa MonicaUse the sharp right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 405 North: Santa MonicaUse the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 405 NorthUse the straight lane.
13
Merge onto I 405
41 mi·47 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14 Truck
46 mi·52 min·CA 14 Truck
Toward CA 14 North: Palmdale, LancasterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14
19 mi·20 min·Aerospace Highway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist
4.7 mi·6 min·Sierra Highway
19
Turn right onto Aerospace Highway
20 mi·23 min·Aerospace Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist
22 mi·25 min·Midland Trail
21
Continue on CA 14; CA 178; US 6 Hist
6.7 mi·7 min·Aerospace Highway
22
Merge onto US 395; US 6 Hist
6.8 mi·7 min·Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
56 mi·1 hr 4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
2.2 mi·4 min·South Main Street
25
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
15 mi·17 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
26
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.7 mi·1 min·South Edwards Street
27
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
26 mi·31 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
28
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.2 mi·32 sec·North Main Street
29
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
7.4 mi·8 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
30
Continue on US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
5.0 mi·5 min·El Camino Sierra
Use the straight lane.
31
Continue on US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
2.4 mi·4 min·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
32
Turn left onto CA 168
1.5 mi·2 min·West Line Street
Use the left lane.
33
Turn right onto North Barlow Lane
1.0 mi·1 min·North Barlow Lane
34
Turn left onto US 395
87 mi·1 hr 44 min·North Sierra Highway
Use the straight lane.
35
Turn right onto Sinclair Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Sinclair Street
36
Turn left onto Emigrant Street
0.5 mi·40 sec·Emigrant Street
37
Continue on US 395
43 mi·56 min·Route 395
Use the left lane.
38
Continue on US 395
19 mi·26 min·Main Street
39
Continue on US 395
2.9 mi·7 min·US 395
40
Turn left onto County Road
1.1 mi·1 min·County Road
41
Enter roundabout onto NV 88
2 ft·0 sec·Woodfords Road
42
Continue on NV 88
0.4 mi·48 sec·Woodfords Road
43
Turn left onto US 395
11 mi·13 min·US 395
Use the straight / right lanes.
44
Take the exit onto US 395
0.9 mi·1 min·US 395
Toward I 580 North, US 395 North, US 50 East: Reno, Dayton, FallonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Merge onto I 580; US 50; US 395
13 mi·14 min·Carson City Deputy Sheriff Carl Howell Memorial Freeway
46
Continue on I 580; US 395
92 mi·1 hr 45 min·I 580; US 395
47
Turn right onto CR A3
8.5 mi·12 min·Standish Buntingville Road
48
Turn right onto US 395
89 mi·1 hr 41 min·Route 395
49
Continue on US 395
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
50
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
276 ft·14 sec·West 3rd Street
51
Turn right onto North Howard Street
345 ft·15 sec·North Howard Street
52
Arrive at destination
North Howard Street
Trip Plan
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 331.4 miles from Long Beach, CA, or about 6h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.8 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 146 miles or 2h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 331.4 miles or 6h 34m 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 331.4 miles or 6h 34m
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 12h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alturas, 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.
+
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 Long Beach, CA
Aim for roughly 331 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Alturas, CA
Aim for roughly 331 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 146 miles from Long Beach, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Route 395 for about 132.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 331.4 miles from Long Beach, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Route 395 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 132.8 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stop
For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 331 miles or 6.6 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 31
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 49.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
4.8 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 North, I 710: Long Beach Freeway North, Santa Monica
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 405 North, I 710: Long Beach Freeway N...
8
4.9 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the sharp right lane.
Toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
8
5.2 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
9
48.2 mi into trip|~59m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
8
49.7 mi into trip|~1h in|CA 14 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14 Truck toward CA 14 North: Palmdale, Lancaster
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 14 North: Palmdale, Lancaster
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$146.92 one way
$293.83 round trip
$5.63/gal25.4 MPG avg232 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.81
$151.61
$303.22
premium
$5.98
$156.10
$312.20
diesel
$5.60
$146.08
$292.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$147
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$277–$387
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 231.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $70 in charging
· 2 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
198.8
2
$69.58
$31.81
Efficient EV
165.7
1
$57.99
$26.51
EV Truck/SUV
265.1
3
$92.78
$42.41
Gas CO2
232 kg
EV CO2
78 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Sep 2, 2026
Origin
Long Beach, CA
Night
in Long Beach on Tuesday
Local time
10:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Patchy Fog
W 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued September 1 at 7:07PM MST until September 1 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued September 1 at 2:35PM PDT until September 3 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Destination
Alturas, CA
Night
in Alturas on Tuesday
Local time
10:53 PM
PDT
Current temp
40°F
Mostly Cloudy
WSW 5 to 15 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued September 1 at 7:07PM MST until September 1 at 10:00PM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued September 1 at 2:35PM PDT until September 3 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Reno NV
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
23 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
13h 17m 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.
Devils Postpile National Monument
National Monument
Established in 1911 by presidential proclamation, Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls, and pristine mountain scenery...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 342.8
Park Closure: Reds Meadow Road Access Restrictions in 2026
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 45.7
Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yose...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
$35
near mile 365.6
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
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 114.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
662.7 mi / 13h 17m — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: Route 395.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
52 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 132.8 mi on Route 395.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
At 13h 17m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 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 31 significant decision points across 662.7 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 4.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
7,547 ft33 ft
Total Climb
8,792 ft
Total Descent
4,453 ft
Highest Point
7,547 ft
~331.4 mi in
Elevation Range
7,514 ft
Notable High Points
7,547 ft at ~331.4 miles+1,068 ft prominence
5,304 ft at ~615.4 miles+933 ft prominence
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 Alturas, CA, road signs point toward Lancaster, Dayton and Fallon.
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
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 132.8 miles on Route 395. 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 331 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 Alturas, 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 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 13.3 hours each way, a round trip means 26.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Alturas, CA before the return drive.
