Origin
Nice, CA
Late night in Nice on Sunday
Local time
12:54 AM
PDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nice, 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
9h 48m
Distance
505.9 mi
814 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$116
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 40m
★
6 AM
9h 49m
8 AM
10h 6m
10 AM
9h 55m
12 PM
9h 53m
3 PM
9h 56m
5 PM
10h 6m
8 PM
9h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nice, CA
Dominik Gryzbon
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on a journey from Nice, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 505.9 miles and will take approximately 9 hours and 48 minutes of driving time. Given the distance and duration, this is best split over two days to allow for a more relaxed pace and to avoid excessive fatigue. The primary arteries for this drive are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and I 405 Truck, making up about 82% of the total route. With an estimated fuel cost of $116, it's a manageable expense for a long-distance trip within California. This route offers a straightforward passage through various landscapes as you make your way down the state.
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
252.9 miles from Nice, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 224.4 mi | 4h |
| I 5 Truck | 58.6 mi | 1h 7m |
| I 405 Truck | 23 mi | 26m |
| Saint Helena Highway South | 21.7 mi | 25m |
| CA 175 | 19.7 mi | 29m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| San Diego Freeway | 18 mi | 20m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 224.4 mi, about 4h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nice, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on CA 20
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
CA 20
2
Enter roundabout onto Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road
237 ft
·
13 sec
·
Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road
3
Continue on Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
5
Merge onto CA 29
17 mi
·
21 min
·
CA 29
6
Turn right onto CA 175
6.9 mi
·
10 min
·
CA 175
7
Turn slight right onto CA 175
13 mi
·
19 min
·
CA 175
8
Turn right onto CA 29
16 mi
·
24 min
·
Calistoga Street
9
Continue on CA 29
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
10
Turn left onto CA 29; CA 128
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Saint Helena Highway
11
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
12
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Saint Helena Highway South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on CA 12; CA 29
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Napa–Vallejo Highway
14
Continue on CA 29
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Broadway Street
15
Continue on CA 29
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Sonoma Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on CA 29
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Sonoma Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left onto Redwood Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Redwood Street
Use the left / uturn lanes.
18
Turn right onto US 40 Hist
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Street
19
Turn slight left onto US 40 Hist
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Alameda Street
20
Turn left onto Curtola Parkway
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Curtola Parkway
Use the straight lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 780
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
·
I 780
Exit 7B
Toward I 680 South: Martinez, San Jose
22
Continue on I 680
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Benicia-Martinez Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 680
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 30A
Toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 580: Stockton
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Merge onto I 580
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
30
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
11 mi
·
11 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
33
Merge onto I 5
224 mi
·
4 hr
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
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.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi
·
26 min
·
I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Take the exit
377 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Use the slight right lane.
40
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
this road
Exit 32B
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
41
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
44
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoreline Drive
45
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
46
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
47
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
48
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this 505.9-mile drive, planning for two days is highly recommended. Aim to start early on your first day to cover a substantial portion, perhaps around 250-300 miles, before finding a comfortable place to stop for the night. With only two planned stops, ensure they are strategically chosen for fuel and rest. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 224.4-mile stretch on Westside Freeway, as services can sometimes be spaced out on long highway segments. The $116 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a buffer for unexpected detours or price fluctuations.
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 252.9 miles from Nice, CA, or about 5h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 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 111 miles or 2h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 252.9 miles or 5h 5m 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 252.9 miles or 5h 5m
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 36m
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 Nice, 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 Nice, CA
Aim for roughly 253 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Long Beach, CA
Aim for roughly 253 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 111 miles from Nice, 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 224.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
167 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
334 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 Brentwood, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
253 mi · about 4.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Napa, CA after about 253 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 111 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 252.9 miles from Nice, 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 224.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 253 miles or 4.9 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 325 decision points cluster between mile 106.4 and 459 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
106.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 23m in
|
I 780
Keep slight left at fork onto I 780 toward I 680 South: Martinez, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7B
Toward I 680 South: Martinez, San Jose
8
134.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 56m in
Take the exit toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
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 30A
Toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
8
135 mi into trip
|
~2h 56m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
7
135.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 580: Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580: Stockton
8
459 mi into trip
|
~8h 51m 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
$116.28 one way
$232.55 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
177 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $119.82 | $239.65 |
| premium | $6.18 | $123.03 | $246.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $111.70 | $223.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$116
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$246–$356
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 177 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $53 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 151.8 | 1 | $53.12 | $24.28 |
| Efficient EV | 126.5 | 1 | $44.27 | $20.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 202.4 | 2 | $70.83 | $32.38 |
Gas CO2
177 kg
EV CO2
59 kg (67% 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
12:54 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
7 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 48m 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?
This long-distance drive is predominantly highway, with 82% of the route utilizing major freeways like Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and I 405 Truck. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 224.4 miles on the Westside Freeway, which will likely be the most uninterrupted segment of your trip. While the overall profile is that of a long-distance drive, expect a consistent, albeit sometimes monotonous, freeway experience for the majority of your journey. The character of the road remains largely consistent, focusing on efficient travel rather than scenic detours.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
48 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 224.4 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 106.4 miles in near I 780.
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 32 significant decision points across 505.9 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 106.4 miles (I 780): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 134.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Nice, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward San Jose and Stockton.
San Jose
106.4 mi in
|
~2h 23m
|
via I 780
Stockton
134.7 mi in
|
~2h 56m
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).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 224.4 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 253 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 106.4 miles (I 780): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 134.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 135 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.8 hours each way, a round trip means 19.6 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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