If you are planning to travel from Los Banos to Long Beach, expect a straightforward journey spanning 289.2 miles. You can comfortably complete this trip in about 5 hours and 27 minutes, making it an efficient single-day drive that requires just one planned stop. Budgeting approximately $67 for fuel will cover your transit across these Pacific Coast regions. Since 99% of the route is highway-focused, you will spend nearly the entire time on major thoroughfares. This path is ideal if your priority is reaching your destination quickly rather than lingering along the way.
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
144.6 miles from Los Banos, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
169.9 mi
3h 2m
I 5 Truck
58.6 mi
1h 7m
I 405 Truck
23 mi
26m
San Diego Freeway
18 mi
20m
Mercey Springs Road - Hwy 165
8.8 mi
13m
Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
4m
Long Beach Freeway
2.4 mi
3m
Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 169.9 mi, about 3h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Banos, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on 6th Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·6th Street
2
Turn sharp left onto CA 152; CA 33
0.8 mi·1 min·East Pacheco Boulevard
3
Turn right onto CA 165
8.8 mi·13 min·Mercey Springs Road - Hwy 165
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
5
Merge onto I 5
170 mi·3 hr 2 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 5 Truck
Exit 158Toward I 405 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi·26 min·I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi·20 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
377 ft·9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long BeachUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·39 sec·this road
Exit 32BToward I 710 South: Long Beach
13
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi·3 min·Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi·40 sec·Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, AquariumUse the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Shoreline Drive
17
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
18
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·West Ocean Boulevard
19
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 289.2-mile trek, plan your single rest stop strategically to break up the monotony of the long interstate stretches. Since you are spending nearly 5.5 hours on the road, leaving early in the morning can help you avoid peak traffic congestion as you approach the Long Beach area. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 169.9-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway, as service opportunities can be spaced out. Because this is a high-speed route, maintaining a steady pace will help you keep your $67 fuel budget on track. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so use your one stop to stretch your legs thoroughly before navigating the final transition onto the I-405 Truck route.
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 144.6 miles from Los Banos, CA, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 169.9 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 64 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.6 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Long Beach, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Los Banos, 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 Los Banos, CA
This is one driving day of about 289.2 miles and 5h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Los Banos, 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 169.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 179.9 and 286.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
179.9 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
238.3 mi into trip|~4h 25m in|I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
242.4 mi into trip|~4h 29m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
6
242.6 mi into trip|~4h 30m in|I 405 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
286.8 mi into trip|~5h 22m in
Take the exit toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.47 one way
$132.94 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$68.50
$136.99
premium
$6.18
$70.33
$140.66
diesel
$5.61
$63.85
$127.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.8
1
$30.37
$13.88
Efficient EV
72.3
0
$25.30
$11.57
EV Truck/SUV
115.7
1
$40.49
$18.51
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Los Banos, CA
Evening
in Los Banos on Sunday
Local time
5:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Clear
W 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 13 at 6:04PM PDT until April 14 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Evening
in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
5:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
NNW 0 to 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 13 at 6:04PM PDT until April 14 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford 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
11 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
5h 27m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a consistent, highway-focused experience as you navigate the Westside Freeway, I-5 Truck, and I-405 Truck routes. The journey is defined by a significant 169.9-mile stretch along the Westside Freeway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted segment of your travel. Because 99% of your time is spent on high-speed roads, the drive feels like a steady, efficient interstate grind. You will find that the character of the road remains largely uniform from start to finish, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding backroads or technical terrain.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 169.9 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 179.9 miles in near I 5 Truck.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 289.2 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 179.9 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 238.3 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 242.4 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 27m. Total distance: 289.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 169.9 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 Long Beach, 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 179.9 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 238.3 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 242.4 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Long Beach, CA before the return drive.
