Origin
Nevada City, CA
Late night in Nevada City on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nevada City, 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
8h 47m
Distance
468.4 mi
754 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$108
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 39m
★
6 AM
8h 47m
8 AM
9h 3m
10 AM
8h 53m
12 PM
8h 51m
3 PM
8h 53m
5 PM
9h 2m
8 PM
8h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nevada City, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 468.4-mile journey from Nevada City to Long Beach will take approximately 8 hours and 47 minutes of driving time. Given the duration and distance, it's best split over two days to allow for comfortable travel. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 96% of the drive on major roads like Westside Freeway and I-5 Truck. You'll encounter a fuel cost estimate of around $108 for this trip. This drive is a straightforward connection between two points within California's Pacific Coast region, primarily utilizing efficient freeway travel.
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
234.2 miles from Nevada City, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 296.3 mi | 5h 19m |
| I 5 Truck | 58.6 mi | 1h 7m |
| I 405 Truck | 23 mi | 26m |
| Golden Center Freeway | 19 mi | 25m |
| San Diego Freeway | 18 mi | 20m |
| Alan S. Hart Freeway | 16.8 mi | 19m |
| Capital City Freeway | 10.6 mi | 11m |
| Grass Valley Highway | 8 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 296.3 mi, about 5h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nevada City, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
this road
2
Merge onto CA 20; CA 49
19 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden Center Freeway
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on CA 49
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Grass Valley Highway
4
Enter roundabout onto CA 49
107 ft
·
3 sec
·
Grass Valley Highway
5
Continue on CA 49
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Grass Valley Highway
6
Enter roundabout onto CA 49
106 ft
·
3 sec
·
Grass Valley Highway
7
Continue on CA 49
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Grass Valley Highway
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 80 West: Sacramento
9
Merge onto I 80
17 mi
·
19 min
·
Alan S. Hart Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 80
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Exit 95
Toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 Business
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Capital City Freeway
Toward US 50 East, I 80 West: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 4A
Toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 4A
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Use the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 5
59 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
48 sec
·
Westside Freeway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi
·
4 hr 13 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi
·
26 min
·
I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
377 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Use the slight right lane.
25
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
this road
Exit 32B
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
26
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi
·
3 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
Trip Plan
With an estimated 8 hours and 47 minutes of driving, splitting this 468.4-mile route over two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early to maximize daylight and potentially beat some traffic, especially as you approach the Los Angeles area. Plan for at least two stops to break up the drive and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on Westside Freeway is substantial at 296.3 miles, so you'll want to ensure you're topped up before embarking on it. The estimated fuel cost is $108, so budget accordingly.
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 234.2 miles from Nevada City, CA, or about 4h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 296.3 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 103 miles or 2h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 234.2 miles or 4h 24m 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 234.2 miles or 4h 24m
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 7h 34m
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 Nevada City, 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 Nevada City, CA
Aim for roughly 234 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Long Beach, CA
Aim for roughly 234 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 103 miles from Nevada City, 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 296.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
234 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Madera, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
234 mi · about 4.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Madera, CA after about 234 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 103 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 234.2 miles from Nevada City, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 296.3 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 234 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.
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 265 decision points cluster between mile 51.2 and 421.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
51.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 95
Toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento
8
59.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward US 50 East, I 80 West: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 50 East, I 80 West: South Lake Tahoe,...
8
61.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding
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 4A
Toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding
8
62 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 4A
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
8
421.5 mi into trip
|
~7h 49m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$107.66 one way
$215.32 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
164 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $110.94 | $221.88 |
| premium | $6.18 | $113.91 | $227.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $103.42 | $206.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$108
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$238–$348
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 163.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 140.5 | 1 | $49.18 | $22.48 |
| Efficient EV | 117.1 | 1 | $40.98 | $18.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 187.4 | 2 | $65.58 | $29.98 |
Gas CO2
164 kg
EV CO2
55 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.
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Late night in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
SSW 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
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.
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
13 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
8h 47m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 468.4-mile trip, with 96% of the route utilizing major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 296.3 miles on Westside Freeway, indicating long periods of consistent driving. This profile suggests a journey where efficiency and covering distance are key, rather than winding scenic byways. The primary roads guiding you are Westside Freeway, I-5 Truck, and I-405 Truck, all pointing towards a predominantly interstate experience.
96% 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: 296.3 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 51.2 miles in near I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway.
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 26 significant decision points across 468.4 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 51.2 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.9 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.8 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Nevada City, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco and Redding.
San Francisco
59.9 mi in
|
~1h 14m
|
via I 80 Business
Redding
61.8 mi in
|
~1h 16m
About the Cities
Starting in Nevada City, CA
Full guide →Nevada City is a city in Nevada County in California's Gold Country. It's known for its well-preserved 19th century downtown and countercultural affiliations.
Top landmarks
- • Nevada Theatre — movie theater and former theater in Nevada City, California, United States
- • Nevada Brewery — commercial building in Nevada City, United States of America
- • Nevada City Downtown Historic District — historic district in California, United States
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).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 296.3 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 234 miles on day one.
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 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 51.2 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.9 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.8 hours each way, a round trip means 17.6 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.
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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