Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
28.2 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Seal Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Los Angeles to Seal Beach is a straightforward 28.2-mile journey that typically takes about 37 minutes. Because of the short distance, this trip is ideal as a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You will primarily navigate via the Santa Ana Freeway and the San Gabriel River Freeway before transitioning onto North Studebaker Road. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel covers the trip comfortably. Both cities sit within the Pacific Coast region, ensuring a consistent coastal climate throughout your drive. It is a practical, efficient route that serves as a direct transition from the heart of the city to the beach.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 11.8 mi | 14m |
| San Gabriel River Freeway | 11.8 mi | 13m |
| North Studebaker Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| East Pacific Coast Highway | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East 2nd Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Garden Grove Freeway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles, CA and Seal Beach, CA.
Start on West 1st Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Turn right onto East Aliso Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 101
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 605
Keep slight right at fork onto I 605
Keep right at fork onto I 605
Continue on CA 22
Take the exit
Continue on College Park Drive
At end of road, turn left onto North Studebaker Road
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
Turn left onto CA 1
Turn right onto Main Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 24.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 605 North, I 605 South: San Gabriel River Freeway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 605 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 605 South: San Gabriel River Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Studebaker Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.48 one way
$12.96 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $6.68 | $13.36 |
| premium | $6.18 | $6.86 | $13.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.23 | $12.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.96 | $1.35 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.47 | $1.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Local time
7:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
53°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
Morning in Seal Beach on Tuesday
Local time
7:23 AM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 84% of this route consists of high-speed transit. The drive starts with a significant 11.8-mile stretch on the Santa Ana Freeway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your trip. While the initial leg is dominated by heavy freeway infrastructure, the character of the road shifts as you transition onto the San Gabriel River Freeway. You will eventually exit the high-speed flow to navigate North Studebaker Road, which offers a change of pace as you approach the coast. Overall, the experience is functional and fast, prioritizing efficiency over scenic detours.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and San Gabriel River Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Main Street.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 28.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
“Tinseltown” · Founded 1781
Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have quipped, "Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles," a quote that has since been repeated both by those who love and hate L.A. The "City of Angels" is home to people who hail from all parts of the globe and an important center of culture, business, media, and international trade. However, it's most famous for being a major center of the world's television, motion picture, and music industry, which forms the base of the city's status and lures visitors for its show business history and celebrity culture. Visitors are also drawn to Los Angeles for its Mediterranean climate and numerous beaches, which gave birth to California's famed surf culture.
Top landmarks
Seal Beach is a city in Orange County, Southern California. Seal beach is a small town on the coast with a beach front and pier. Main Street is a pleasant place to stroll with a number of restaurants, bars and gift shops.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 28.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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