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Trip from Long Beach, CA to Stratford, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 6m

Distance

213.8 mi

344 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 54m ★
6 AM
4h 7m
8 AM
4h 33m
10 AM
4h 16m
12 PM
4h 13m
3 PM
4h 17m
5 PM
4h 32m
8 PM
3h 59m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Long Beach, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Stratford, CA, CA

Stratford, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

This 213.8-mile drive from Long Beach, CA to Stratford, CA will take approximately 4 hours and 6 minutes, making it a feasible one-day trip. You'll be spending about 98% of your time on major highways, primarily utilizing the Westside Freeway and San Diego Freeway, before transitioning to I 5 Truck. With a projected fuel cost of $49, this highway-focused journey offers a straightforward path through California's Pacific Coast region. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 88.4 miles, so plan your breaks accordingly. This route is designed for efficiency, getting you to your destination with minimal fuss.

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

106.9 miles from Long Beach, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 88.4 mi 1h 34m
San Diego Freeway 40.8 mi 47m
I 5 Truck 39.3 mi 45m
Golden State Freeway 22.3 mi 25m
CA 41 16.5 mi 22m
Long Beach Freeway 2.3 mi 3m
East Ocean Boulevard 0.7 mi 2m
Shoreline Drive 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 88.4 mi, about 1h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Long Beach, CA and Stratford, 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

88 mi · 1 hr 34 min · Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Exit 309 Toward CA 41: Kettleman City, Fresno Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Keep slight right at fork

320 ft · 8 sec
21

Merge onto CA 41

17 mi · 22 min · CA 41
Use the straight lane.
22

Turn right onto Main Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Main Street
23

At end of road, turn right onto Railroad Street

32 ft · 3 sec · Railroad Street
24

Turn left onto Main Street

411 ft · 16 sec · Main Street
25

Turn left

64 ft · 4 sec
26

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 4-hour 6-minute duration, this trip is best tackled as a single-day adventure. To maximize daylight and minimize traffic, consider departing from Long Beach early in the morning. The longest stretch without a major exit is 88.4 miles on the Westside Freeway, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on this segment. With a fuel cost estimate of $49, planning your refueling stops is straightforward. Take advantage of the highway-focused nature of the route to pace yourself, perhaps stopping once around the halfway point to stretch your legs.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 106.9 miles from Long Beach, CA, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.4 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 47 miles or 57m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 106.9 miles or 2h 6m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stratford, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Long Beach, CA

This is one driving day of about 213.8 miles and 4h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Long Beach, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 88.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Los Angeles County, California, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Santa Clarita, CA

107 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

Santa Clarita, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bakersfield, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 106.9 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 Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.4 miles.

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 23

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 196.5 — 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
196.5 mi into trip | ~3h 42m in

Take the exit toward CA 41: Kettleman City, Fresno

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 309 Toward CA 41: Kettleman City, Fresno

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$49.14 one way

$98.28 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 75 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $50.64 $101.28
premium $6.18 $51.99 $103.99
diesel $5.61 $47.20 $94.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$49

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 74.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 64.1 0 $22.45 $10.26
Efficient EV 53.5 0 $18.71 $8.55
EV Truck/SUV 85.5 1 $29.93 $13.68

Gas CO2

75 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 Apr 14, 2026

Origin

Long Beach, CA

Afternoon in Long Beach on Sunday

Local time

12:34 PM

PDT

Current temp

68°F

Sunny

WNW 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 2:09PM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV

Lake Wind Advisory

Lake Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 2:09PM PDT until April 16 at 7:00AM PDT by NWS Reno NV

Destination

Stratford, CA

Afternoon in Stratford on Sunday

Local time

12:34 PM

PDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 6m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 213.8-mile route. With 98% of the drive on freeways, you'll spend most of your time on the Westside Freeway and San Diego Freeway, followed by I 5 Truck. The personality of the drive is largely dictated by these high-speed corridors, with the longest uninterrupted stretch spanning 88.4 miles on the Westside Freeway. While not particularly varied, this highway focus means you can maintain consistent speeds for much of the journey, making it a predictable and direct transit.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.4 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 23 significant decision points across 213.8 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.

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 Stratford, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Fresno along the way.

Fresno

196.5 mi in | ~3h 42m

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

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 4h 6m. Total distance: 213.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 88.4 miles on Westside Freeway. 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 Stratford, 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 1 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.

Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Stratford, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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