Water
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Long Beach, CA to North Highlands, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 48m
Distance
420 mi
676 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$88
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 39m
★
6 AM
7h 49m
8 AM
8h 7m
10 AM
7h 55m
12 PM
7h 53m
3 PM
7h 56m
5 PM
8h 6m
8 PM
7h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
North Highlands, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Long Beach, CA to North Highlands, CA is 420 miles and takes about 7h 48m via Westside Freeway and San Diego Freeway, with a fuel budget near $101 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within California, moving from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the Pacific Coast. Expect a straightforward drive with minimal deviations from major freeways, making it a practical choice for a single-day transit. It's a solid option if you need to get from Southern California to the Sacramento area efficiently.
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
210 miles from Long Beach, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 297.1 mi | 5h 20m |
| San Diego Freeway | 40.8 mi | 47m |
| I 5 Truck | 39.3 mi | 45m |
| Golden State Freeway | 22.3 mi | 25m |
| Capital City Freeway | 9.7 mi | 10m |
| Watt Avenue | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Long Beach Freeway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Don Julio Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 297.1 mi, about 5h 20m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 173 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,927 veh/hr typical · worst 5,115
Quietest
2 AM
~561 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 44 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 North Highlands, 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 Diego
Use 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 Monica
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
Use the sharp right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 405 North
Use 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 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Use 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 right at fork onto I 5
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Westside Freeway
20
Keep left at fork onto I 5
46 mi
·
50 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Exit 518
Toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe
Use the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Exit 518
Toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway
Use the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 518
Toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Capital City Freeway
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
8.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno
Use the slight right lane.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 14B
Toward Watt Avenue North
Use the right lane.
27
Turn straight onto Watt Avenue
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Watt Avenue
28
Turn right onto Don Julio Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Don Julio Boulevard
Use the right lane.
29
Turn left onto La Cienega Drive
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
La Cienega Drive
30
Arrive at destination
2 ft
·
0 sec
·
La Cienega Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour-plus drive, aim to leave Long Beach early in the morning, ideally before 7 AM, to bypass the worst of the Southern California traffic. With only 2 planned stops and a 297-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, consider taking your longer break about halfway through to rest and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as it’s a long stretch between services on the main highway. The $101 fuel estimate suggests a good opportunity to fill up before hitting the road or during your first stop.
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 210 miles from Long Beach, CA, or about 3h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 297.1 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 92 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 210 miles or 3h 56m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Highlands, 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 420 miles and 7h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 92 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 Westside Freeway for about 297.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
210 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 92 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 210 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 Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 297.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Dos Amigos Vista Point
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Castaic Truck Stop
0.1 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Coalinga Avenal Safety Roadside Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Lost Hills Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Northbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.4 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.3 mi from route
Rest Area
1.6 mi from route
Rest Area
1.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.9 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 265 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 405.6 — 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
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
10
405.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 28m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 518
Toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South La...
9
405.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 518
Toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$87.87 one way
$175.74 round trip
$5.31/gal
25.4 MPG avg
147 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.52 | $91.26 | $182.52 |
| premium | $5.67 | $93.67 | $187.35 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $79.30 | $158.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$88
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$113–$138
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 147 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 126 | 1 | $44.10 | $20.16 |
| Efficient EV | 105 | 1 | $36.75 | $16.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 168 | 2 | $58.80 | $26.88 |
Gas CO2
147 kg
EV CO2
49 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.
Origin
Long Beach, CA
Morning in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
8:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Patchy Fog
SSE 5 to 10 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Destination
North Highlands, CA
Morning in North Highlands on Sunday
Local time
8:25 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 6 to 9 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego 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
8 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 48m 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...
19 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 29
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument
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...
28 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 115.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 98% highway, so you'll be on freeways for almost the entire 420 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a freeway is 297.1 miles, primarily on the Westside Freeway. Given the high highway percentage, anticipate consistent cruising speeds with frequent on- and off-ramps, especially as you approach urban areas. The transition to surface roads will be very brief, occurring only in the final miles.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 297.1 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and San Diego Freeway. 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 Effort
10/10
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 26 significant decision points across 420 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 48.2 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,768 ft
10 ft
Total Climb
4,266 ft
Total Descent
4,204 ft
Highest Point
3,768 ft
~90 mi in
Elevation Range
3,758 ft
Notable High Points
3,768 ft at ~90 miles
+2,740 ft prominence
About the Cities
Starting in Long Beach, CA
Full guide →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
- • 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
Arriving in North Highlands, CA
Full guide →North Highlands is in Sacramento County in California.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 48m. Total distance: 420 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 48m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 297.1 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 36 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 North Highlands, 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. There are 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 48.2 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at North Highlands, CA before the return drive.
How this page is built
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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