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Trip from Montclair, CA to Long Beach, CA

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

Drive Time

1h 2m

Distance

48.2 mi

78 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Fair

2 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 57m ★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m

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

city in California, United States

Montclair, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Long Beach, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning to head from Montclair to Long Beach, you are looking at a 48-mile journey that typically takes about 57 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it covers a relatively short distance within the Pacific Coast region. You should budget approximately $7 for fuel to complete the drive. Navigating this path involves transitioning from local streets like San Bernardino Street and Monte Vista Avenue onto I-10 West. Because the entire trip is under an hour, you won't need an overnight stay, making it an ideal choice for a quick change of scenery. It is a straightforward commute that gets you from the inland area to the coast efficiently.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
San Bernardino Freeway 17.4 mi 20m
San Gabriel River Freeway 14.6 mi 16m
Long Beach Freeway 5.8 mi 7m
Artesia Freeway 4.6 mi 5m
Shoreline Drive 1.3 mi 2m
West Ocean Boulevard 0.5 mi 1m
Seaside Freeway 0.5 mi <1m
San Bernardino Street 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: San Bernardino Freeway — 17.4 mi, about 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

21 ft · 3 sec · this road
2

Turn right

73 ft · 10 sec
3

Turn left onto San Bernardino Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Street
4

Turn right onto Monte Vista Avenue

0.3 mi · 44 sec · Monte Vista Avenue
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 10 West: Los Angeles
6

Merge onto I 10

0.9 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

0.9 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.3 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.9 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.6 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.4 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.5 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.1 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

2.0 mi · 2 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.6 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 10

1.3 mi · 1 min · San Bernardino Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
18

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 31A Toward I 605: San Gabriel River Freeway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward I 605 South: San Bernardino Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
20

Merge onto I 605

15 mi · 16 min · San Gabriel River Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

527 ft · 12 sec
Exit 7A Toward CA 91 East, CA 91 West: Artesia Freeway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward CA 91 West: Artesia Freeway West Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
23

Merge onto CA 91

4.6 mi · 5 min · Artesia Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward I 710 South, I 710 North: Long Beach, Pasadena Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Merge onto I 710

5.8 mi · 7 min · Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Continue on I 710

0.5 mi · 40 sec · Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium Use the slight left / straight lanes.
29

Continue on Shoreline Drive

1.3 mi · 2 min · Shoreline Drive
30

Turn left onto South Chestnut Place

0.2 mi · 30 sec · South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
31

Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Ocean Boulevard
32

Continue on East Ocean Boulevard

0.1 mi · 21 sec · East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
33

Arrive at destination

East Ocean Boulevard

Where to Stop

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

city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Downey, CA

24 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.

Popular next leg

Downey, CA to Long Beach, CA

17.3 mi · 26m

Pacing Suggestions

Covina, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Downey, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from Montclair, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 29

5 decision points cluster between mile 18.4 and 38.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
18.4 mi into trip | ~22m in

Take the exit toward I 605: San Gabriel River Freeway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 31A Toward I 605: San Gabriel River Freeway
7
18.6 mi into trip | ~22m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 605 South: San Bernardino

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 605 South: San Bernardino
8
33.6 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward CA 91 East, CA 91 West: Artesia Freeway

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 7A Toward CA 91 East, CA 91 West: Artesia Freeway
7
33.7 mi into trip | ~40m in

Keep slight right at fork toward CA 91 West: Artesia Freeway West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward CA 91 West: Artesia Freeway West
7
38.6 mi into trip | ~46m in

Take the exit toward I 710 South, I 710 North: Long Beach, Pasadena

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. Toward I 710 South, I 710 North: Long Beach, Pa...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.08 one way

$22.16 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $11.42 $22.83
premium $6.18 $11.72 $23.44
diesel $5.61 $10.64 $21.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.5 0 $5.06 $2.31
Efficient EV 12.1 0 $4.22 $1.93
EV Truck/SUV 19.3 0 $6.75 $3.08

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Montclair, CA

Morning in Montclair on Sunday

Local time

10:26 AM

PDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Long Beach, CA

Morning in Long Beach on Sunday

Local time

10:26 AM

PDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

15 degrees cooler at arrival

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

Road read

1h 2m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will spend your time maneuvering through local roads, as the route features 0% highway share for the majority of the travel. There is no long-distance highway cruising here, with 0 miles of uninterrupted driving on San Bernardino Street. Instead, prepare for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel as you navigate the turns required to reach your destination. The transition from local lanes to I-10 West defines the character of this 57-minute trip, so stay alert for frequent turns throughout the duration of the drive.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.4 mi on San Bernardino Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Bernardino 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 around 18.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 48.2 miles you will encounter 29 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Montclair, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Pasadena, Convention Center and Aquarium.

Pasadena

38.6 mi in | ~46m

Convention Center

45.7 mi in | ~57m

Aquarium

45.7 mi in | ~57m

About the Cities

Arriving 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 1h 2m. Total distance: 48.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 17.4 miles on San Bernardino Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Long Beach, CA before heading back.

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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Explore more options from Montclair, CA or browse trips ending in Long Beach, CA.

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