Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 13m
Distance
313.4 mi
504 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$72
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Mariposa, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Long Beach to Mariposa is 313.4 miles and takes about 6h 13m via Golden State Highway, with a fuel budget near $72 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Pacific Coast region of Southern California up towards the Sierra Nevada foothills. You'll experience a mixed drive, transitioning from urban and suburban landscapes to more open terrain. Given the 6h 13m estimated duration, it's a manageable one-day trip, but be prepared for a significant amount of time on the road. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct path inland without overly complex navigation.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
156.7 miles from Long Beach, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Highway | 98.2 mi | 1h 45m |
| Golden State Freeway | 55.6 mi | 1h 1m |
| San Diego Freeway | 40.8 mi | 47m |
| I 5 Truck | 39.3 mi | 45m |
| Southern Yosemite Highway | 35.5 mi | 49m |
| CA 49 | 26.4 mi | 40m |
| Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Yosemite Freeway | 3.7 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Long Beach, CA and Mariposa, CA.
Start on East Ocean Boulevard
Turn right onto North Golden Avenue
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto Shoreline Drive
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 710
Continue on I 710
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 405
Merge onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Continue on CA 99
Take the exit
Merge onto CA 41
Continue on CA 41
Continue on CA 41
Continue on CA 41
Turn left onto CA 49
Turn straight onto CA 49
Turn left onto 6th Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
For this 6h 13m drive, departing early from Long Beach is recommended to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 98.2 miles, be sure to fuel up before you leave or at a convenient point before that long segment. The fuel cost is estimated at $72, so budget accordingly. Since it's a one-day trip, you have flexibility, but staying aware of your fuel gauge is key, especially during the longer stretches on the Golden State Highway. Consider a brief stop around the halfway mark to stretch your legs and refresh before the final push to Mariposa.
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 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 69 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.7 miles or 3h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mariposa, CA than in the middle of the route.
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 313.4 miles and 6h 13m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
157 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 156.7 miles from Long Beach, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Golden State Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.7 and 48.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Santa Monica, San Diego
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$72.03 one way
$144.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $74.23 | $148.46 |
| premium | $6.18 | $76.22 | $152.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $69.19 | $138.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$72
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$97–$122
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94 | 1 | $32.91 | $15.04 |
| Efficient EV | 78.4 | 0 | $27.42 | $12.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 125.4 | 1 | $43.88 | $20.06 |
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Long Beach on Tuesday
Local time
3:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Clear
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Late night in Mariposa on Tuesday
Local time
3:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Partly Cloudy
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 17 at 7:10PM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Monument
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This journey primarily utilizes major freeways, with 56% of the drive on highways. Expect stretches that are straightforward and efficient, allowing for steady progress. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 98.2 miles on the Golden State Highway, so plan for a significant period of continuous driving. The profile is described as a 'mixed drive,' suggesting that while much of it is freeway, there might be variations in speed and environment as you move from the Los Angeles area northward. It's not a winding scenic byway, but rather a functional route designed for getting from point A to point B.
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 4.7 miles in.
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 22 significant decision points across 313.4 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 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
Founded 1888
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
Mariposa is in the Sierra Nevada region of California near Yosemite National Park.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 13m. Total distance: 313.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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