Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 45m
Distance
406.4 mi
654 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$93
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
Pacifica, CA
Wikimedia Commons
This 406.4-mile drive from Long Beach, CA to Pacifica, CA is designed as a single-day adventure, estimated to take around 7 hours and 45 minutes. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with 97% of the journey on the Westside Freeway and US 101, making it a highly efficient trip. The estimated fuel cost is about $93, and with just two recommended stops, you can cover significant ground quickly. This route is a straightforward, highway-focused experience connecting two points within the Pacific Coast region of California.
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
203.2 miles from Long Beach, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 49m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 182.5 mi | 3h 15m |
| US 101 | 46.7 mi | 53m |
| CA 152 | 41.1 mi | 51m |
| San Diego Freeway | 40.8 mi | 47m |
| I 5 Truck | 39.3 mi | 45m |
| Golden State Freeway | 22.3 mi | 25m |
| South Valley Freeway | 19.9 mi | 22m |
| Long Beach Freeway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Long Beach, CA and Pacifica, 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 right at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Continue on CA 152; CA33
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152
Take the exit onto CA 152
Merge onto US 101; CA 152
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
Take the exit
Merge onto I 380
Take the exit
Turn right onto CA 82
Turn left onto Sneath Lane
Turn right onto CA 35
Turn left onto Sharp Park Road
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto Francisco Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto CA 1
Turn sharp left onto Reina del Mar Avenue
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 7-hour, 45-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Long Beach to avoid potential traffic. With only two suggested stops and the majority of the route on freeways, you can easily break up the 406.4 miles into manageable segments. The longest stretch is over 180 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 182.5-mile mark on the Westside Freeway, as it's the longest stretch before potential services.
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 89 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 203.2 miles or 3h 49m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pacifica, 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.
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 406.4 miles and 7h 45m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
203 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 89 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 203.2 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 182.5 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
$93.41 one way
$186.82 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $96.26 | $192.51 |
| premium | $6.18 | $98.83 | $197.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $89.73 | $179.46 |
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: 142.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 121.9 | 1 | $42.67 | $19.51 |
| Efficient EV | 101.6 | 1 | $35.56 | $16.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 162.6 | 2 | $56.90 | $26.01 |
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
48 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
1:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Pacifica on Tuesday
Local time
1:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
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.
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 406.4-mile journey. With 97% of your travel on freeways like the Westside Freeway and US 101, you'll experience long stretches of consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 182.5 miles on the Westside Freeway, offering a chance to make good time. While the primary character is highway cruising, the route is designed to efficiently move you between these two California coastal cities.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and US 101. 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 33 significant decision points across 406.4 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Long Beach, CA and Pacifica, CA, road signs point toward Hollister and San Jose.
Hollister
San Jose
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
Pacifica is on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Popular for its beaches, Pacifica has a mix of Bay Area hippies and blue-collar folks (especially in the fishing industry). It's the kind of place where you'll find a gun store next to a yoga studio.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 45m. Total distance: 406.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 45m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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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