Los Molinos to Long Beach is 520.1 miles and takes about 9h 44m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $113 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route traverses the length of California, moving from the Pacific Coast region to the same region. Expect a predominantly highway experience, making it a straightforward long-haul drive. Consider this trip if you're looking for an efficient way to cover significant ground within the state. It's a solid option for a direct journey, minimizing complex navigation.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
260 miles from Los Molinos, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
303.7 mi
5h 28m
I 5 Truck
58.6 mi
1h 7m
CA 70
49.2 mi
58m
CA 99
28 mi
33m
I 405 Truck
23 mi
26m
San Diego Freeway
18 mi
20m
Golden State Highway
7.7 mi
8m
Railroad Avenue
7.3 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 303.7 mi, about 5h 28m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 428 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,581 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,915
Quietest
2 AM
~522 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 89 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Molinos, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on Sycamore Avenue
124 ft·7 sec·Sycamore Avenue
2
Turn right onto CA 99
7.3 mi·8 min·Railroad Avenue
3
Turn left onto CA 99
28 mi·33 min·CA 99
Use the straight lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149
5.5 mi·6 min·CA 149
Toward Oroville, MarysvilleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto CA 70
19 mi·22 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on CA 70
11 mi·12 min·CA 70
7
Continue on CA 70
1.5 mi·3 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·5th Street
9
Turn left onto CA 70
4.2 mi·5 min·E Street
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
18 mi·20 min·CA 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto CA 99
4.9 mi·5 min·Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
12
Continue on CA 99
7.7 mi·8 min·Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 5
66 mi·1 hr 13 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi·48 sec·Westside Freeway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi·4 hr 13 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
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.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi·26 min·I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi·20 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
377 ft·9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long BeachUse the slight right lane.
22
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·39 sec·this road
Exit 32BToward I 710 South: Long Beach
23
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi·3 min·Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi·40 sec·Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, AquariumUse the slight left / straight lanes.
26
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Shoreline Drive
27
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
28
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·West Ocean Boulevard
29
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
30
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this 9h 44m drive, leaving early is highly recommended to maximize daylight. Since it's a long-haul, plan for 2 stops to break up the 520.1 miles. The fuel cost is estimated at $113, so ensure your tank is topped off before departing Los Molinos. Given the longest stretch is over 300 miles on Westside Freeway, be mindful of fuel availability in more rural sections. A recommended two-day pace would mean covering roughly 260 miles each day, which is very manageable.
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 260 miles from Los Molinos, CA, or about 4h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 303.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 114 miles or 2h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 260 miles or 4h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 260 miles or 4h 53m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 32m
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 Molinos, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Los Molinos, CA
Aim for roughly 260 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Long Beach, CA
Aim for roughly 260 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 114 miles from Los Molinos, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 303.7 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.3 and 517.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
35.3 mi into trip|~42m in|CA 149
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149 toward Oroville, Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Oroville, Marysville
6
76.9 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|CA 70
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
174.2 mi into trip|~3h 21m in|I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
473.2 mi into trip|~8h 47m 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
7
517.6 mi into trip|~9h 39m 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
$127.28 one way
$254.56 round trip
$6.22/gal25.4 MPG avg182 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.40
$131.07
$262.14
premium
$6.57
$134.45
$268.90
diesel
$6.18
$126.52
$253.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$127
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$257–$367
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 182 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $55 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
156
1
$54.61
$24.96
Efficient EV
130
1
$45.51
$20.80
EV Truck/SUV
208
2
$72.81
$33.29
Gas CO2
182 kg
EV CO2
61 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Los Molinos, CA
Late night
in Los Molinos on Tuesday
Local time
2:04 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 19 at 1:23AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:31PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Late night
in Long Beach on Tuesday
Local time
2:04 AM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 19 at 1:23AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:31PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
12 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
9h 44m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 484.2
Park Closure: Solstice Canyon Trail Weekday Closure for Repairs
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 412.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a long-haul drive where 95% of the travel is on highways. You'll experience a long stretch of 303.7 miles on Westside Freeway. After the highway segments conclude, you'll transition to surface roads for the remaining miles. Expect a mix of rural cruising and urban merging as you approach your destination.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 303.7 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 35.3 miles in near CA 149.
Driving Effort9/10
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 22 significant decision points across 520.1 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 35.3 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 76.9 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.2 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,734 ft14 ft
Total Climb
3,108 ft
Total Descent
3,300 ft
Highest Point
2,734 ft
~446.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,719 ft
Notable High Points
2,734 ft at ~446.8 miles+2,041 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Los Molinos, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Oroville and Marysville.
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
The longest stretch is about 303.7 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 260 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 38 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 38 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 35.3 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 76.9 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 174.2 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.7 hours each way, a round trip means 19.5 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.
