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Trip from Long Beach, CA to Woodside, CA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 20m

Distance

385.5 mi

620 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$89

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
7h 10m ★
6 AM
7h 20m
8 AM
7h 41m
10 AM
7h 27m
12 PM
7h 25m
3 PM
7h 29m
5 PM
7h 40m
8 PM
7h 14m

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

town in San Mateo County, California, United States

Woodside, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Long Beach to Woodside is 385.5 miles and takes about 7h 20m via Westside Freeway, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive covers 98% highway, making it a straightforward trip primarily on the Westside Freeway, CA 152, and San Diego Freeway. You'll be traveling between two points along the Pacific Coast in California, so expect a consistent, fast-paced journey. With only 2 recommended stops and a longest stretch of 182.5 miles, this route is well-suited for a single-day adventure, offering efficiency for those looking to get from point A to point B quickly.

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

192.8 miles from Long Beach, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 38m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 182.5 mi 3h 15m
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
CA 85 18.4 mi 21m
Junipero Serra Freeway 12.5 mi 14m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 182.5 mi, about 3h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

183 mi · 3 hr 15 min · Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 403B Toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
20

Continue on CA 152; CA33

29 mi · 33 min · CA 152; CA33
Use the straight lane.
21

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152

12 mi · 16 min · CA 152
22

Take the exit onto CA 152

0.5 mi · 1 min · CA 152
Toward US 101 North: San Jose
23

Merge onto US 101; CA 152

20 mi · 22 min · South Valley Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
24

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 85

18 mi · 21 min · CA 85
Exit 377B Toward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View Use the slight right lane.
25

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 19 Toward I 280 North, I 280 South: San Jose, San Francisco Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 280 North: San Francisco
27

Merge onto I 280

13 mi · 14 min · Junipero Serra Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Exit 25 Toward CA 84: Woodside Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Keep slight left at fork

147 ft · 5 sec
Toward Woodside
30

Turn left onto CA 84

0.9 mi · 2 min · Woodside Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
31

Turn slight right onto Cañada Road

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Cañada Road
Use the right lane.
32

Turn right onto Romero Road

49 ft · 6 sec · Romero Road
33

Turn right onto Cañada Lane

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Cañada Lane
34

Turn right

173 ft · 12 sec
35

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 7h 20m estimated duration and 385.5-mile distance, starting early in the morning from Long Beach is your best bet to complete this drive within daylight. With only 2 planned stops, you'll want to make them count for fuel and a quick break. The longest stretch of 182.5 miles means you can go a good while between services, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge. Since this is a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace, but aim to cover the 182.5-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway before needing a significant 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 192.8 miles from Long Beach, CA, or about 3h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.5 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 85 miles or 1h 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 192.8 miles or 3h 38m 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 5m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woodside, 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 385.5 miles and 7h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 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 182.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city and county seat of Kern County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bakersfield, CA

193 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 85 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Avenal, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 192.8 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 182.5 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.

Best meal stop · first break window

Century City Mall Dining Terrace

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Los Angeles, California

Near the start, short detour

First break · 31min in 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+13102773898

Visit website

Bubu's Restaurant

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Long Beach, California

2 mi

Century City Mall Dining Terrace

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $20 to $30

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+13102773898

Visit website

Bubu's Restaurant

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Long Beach, California

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+15625347279

Visit website

Fisherman's Village

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour

Marina Del Rey, California

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

Visit website

Golden Bull Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour $50 to $10

Santa Monica, California

Hours: 4:30 pm–12 am

+13102300402

Visit website

Capri Gelato & Coffee Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

First break 3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour Moderately

Marina Del Rey, California

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+13103399706

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Stevenson Ranch, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour

Coalinga, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

Coalinga, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Valencia, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour

Valencia, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Valencia, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

First break 3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Valencia, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Arvin, California

Hours: 4:30 am–11 pm

Visit website

Harbor Breeze Whale Watching Cruises

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Long Beach, CA

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+15624324900

Visit website

Aquarium of the Pacific

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Long Beach, California

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+15625903100

Visit website

SoCal Whale Watching

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Long Beach, California

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+15624729514

Visit website

Los Virtuality - Virtual Reality Gaming Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 12–8 pm

+14243455068

Visit website

Signal Hill Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Signal Hill, California

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+15629897300

Visit website

Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Long Beach, California

Hours: 5:30 am–12 pm

+15625703100

Visit website

Red Morton Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3 mi from route ~7 min detour

Redwood City, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

+16507807311

Visit website

Magical Bridge Playground

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Redwood City, California

Hours: 8 am–9 pm

+16507807250

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 31

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 351.9 — 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
9
351.9 mi into trip | ~6h 37m in | CA 85

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 85 toward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 377B Toward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$88.60 one way

$177.21 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 135 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $91.31 $182.61
premium $6.18 $93.75 $187.50
diesel $5.61 $85.11 $170.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$89

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$114–$139

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 134.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 115.6 1 $40.48 $18.50
Efficient EV 96.4 1 $33.73 $15.42
EV Truck/SUV 154.2 1 $53.97 $24.67

Gas CO2

135 kg

EV CO2

45 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 Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Long Beach, CA

Late night in Long Beach on Tuesday

Local time

1:46 AM

PDT

Current temp

57°F

Mostly Clear

SSE 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 1:22AM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Destination

Woodside, CA

Late night in Woodside on Tuesday

Local time

1:46 AM

PDT

Current temp

66°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

9 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

7h 20m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 98% of it on major freeways. You'll spend most of your time on the Westside Freeway, San Diego Freeway, and CA 152, which means consistent speeds and minimal slowdowns. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 182.5 miles on the Westside Freeway, so be prepared for extended periods of steady driving. The road character remains largely consistent throughout, prioritizing speed and directness over varied scenery, making it a predictable and efficient journey.

98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 182.5 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and CA 152. 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 31 significant decision points across 385.5 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.

Between Long Beach, CA and Woodside, CA, road signs point toward Hollister, San Jose and Mountain View.

Hollister

290.7 mi in | ~5h 23m

San Jose

290.7 mi in | ~5h 23m

Mountain View

351.9 mi in | ~6h 37m | via CA 85

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 Woodside, CA

Full guide →

Woodside is a small town on the San Francisco Peninsula in California. It is considered one of the wealthiest towns in the United States, and is home to many celebrities and executives. Despite its small size, Woodside features many local attractions.

Top landmarks

  • • Woodside Store — Museum of a store built in 1854 in Woodside, 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 20m. Total distance: 385.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 182.5 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 Woodside, 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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Woodside, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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