Long Beach, CA to Forest Meadows, CA is 378.2 miles and takes about 7h 37m via Golden State Highway, Golden State Freeway, and San Diego Freeway, with a fuel budget near $83 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip traverses California from the Pacific Coast region inland, offering a mix of urban and more open highway driving. With 56% of the route on freeways, you'll cover significant ground efficiently. It's a manageable one-day drive, but consider the timing to avoid peak traffic leaving the Los Angeles area.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
189.1 miles from Long Beach, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Golden State Highway
111.4 mi
2h
Golden State Freeway
55.6 mi
1h 1m
San Diego Freeway
40.8 mi
47m
I 5 Truck
39.3 mi
45m
La Grange Road
26.2 mi
38m
Northbound California State Route 99
22 mi
25m
CA 99
21.4 mi
24m
Snelling Highway
17.7 mi
26m
Longest stretch:
Golden State Highway
— 111.4 mi, about 2h
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 Forest Meadows, 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 left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
27 mi·30 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
6.0 mi·6 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on CA 99
111 mi·2 hr·Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.5 mi·30 sec
Exit 144Toward Avenue 7Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto CA 99
21 mi·24 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
22 mi·25 min·Northbound California State Route 99
Toward CA 99
24
Take the exit onto CA 59; CA 140
0.6 mi·1 min·CA 59; CA 140
Exit 188Toward CA 140 West, CA 59 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn right onto CA 59
0.2 mi·24 sec·V Street
26
Turn left onto CA 59
0.4 mi·32 sec·West 16th Street
27
Turn right onto CA 59
18 mi·26 min·Snelling Highway
28
Continue on CA 59; J16
387 ft·6 sec·La Grange Road
29
Continue on CA 59; J16
0.4 mi·40 sec·Merced Falls Road
30
Turn left onto J59
26 mi·38 min·La Grange Road
31
At end of road, turn right onto CA 108; CA 120
7.3 mi·9 min·CA 108; CA 120
32
Enter roundabout onto CA 49; CA 108
116 ft·2 sec·CA 49; CA 108
33
Continue on CA 49; CA 108
2.6 mi·4 min·CA 49; CA 108
34
Turn left onto E5
4.0 mi·7 min·Rawhide Road
35
Turn slight left
98 ft·4 sec
36
Continue on CA 49
9.8 mi·15 min·CA 49
37
Turn sharp right onto CA 4 BUS
1.1 mi·2 min·Vallecito Road
38
At end of road, turn right onto CA 4
11 mi·15 min·CA 4
39
Turn right onto Cedar Vista Drive
0.2 mi·41 sec·Cedar Vista Drive
40
Arrive at destination
Cedar Vista Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, aim to depart Long Beach early in the morning, ideally before 7 AM, to bypass the most congested Los Angeles traffic. The route includes two recommended stops, which are great opportunities to stretch your legs and refuel. Given the 378.2-mile distance, it's entirely feasible to complete in one day, but breaking it up might be more comfortable. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move away from major urban centers; budgeting around $83 for fuel is a good estimate for this trip. Remember that the final stretch involves surface roads, so adjust your speed accordingly.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 189.1 miles from Long Beach, CA, or about 3h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.4 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 83 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.1 miles or 3h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forest Meadows, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Long Beach, CA
This is one driving day of about 378.2 miles and 7h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Long Beach, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Golden State Highway for about 111.4 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 4.8 and 296.8 — 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
296.8 mi into trip|~5h 34m in|CA 59; CA 140
Take the exit onto CA 59; CA 140 toward CA 140 West, CA 59 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 188
Toward CA 140 West, CA 59 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$92.55 one way
$185.11 round trip
$6.22/gal25.4 MPG avg132 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.40
$95.31
$190.62
premium
$6.57
$97.77
$195.53
diesel
$6.18
$92.00
$184.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$93
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$118–$143
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.5
1
$39.71
$18.15
Efficient EV
94.6
1
$33.09
$15.13
EV Truck/SUV
151.3
1
$52.95
$24.20
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Long Beach, CA
Late night
in Long Beach on Saturday
Local time
2:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Clear
NNE 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:31AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:15AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00AM PDT by NWS Sacramento CA
Destination
Forest Meadows, CA
Late night
in Forest Meadows on Saturday
Local time
2:49 AM
PDT
Current temp
64°F
Clear
ENE 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:31AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 16 at 2:15AM PDT until October 16 at 10:00AM PDT by NWS Sacramento 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.
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
7 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
7h 37m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 39.1
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 117.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 56% highway travel, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on major freeways like the Golden State Highway and San Diego Freeway. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 111.4 miles on the Golden State Highway. Expect the transition from freeway to surface roads as you approach your destination. The high percentage of freeway driving suggests periods of sustained higher speeds and potentially denser traffic merging and exiting.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.4 mi on Golden State Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 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 378.2 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
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
3,362 ft33 ft
Total Climb
5,997 ft
Total Descent
2,668 ft
Highest Point
3,362 ft
~378.2 mi in
Elevation Range
3,329 ft
Notable High Points
2,795 ft at ~81 miles+1,490 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Long Beach, CA to Forest Meadows, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Avenue 7 along the way.
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 7h 37m. Total distance: 378.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 37m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.4 miles on Golden State Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Forest Meadows, 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. 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.
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 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Forest Meadows, CA before the return drive.
