North Highlands, CA to Long Beach, CA is 420.7 miles and takes about 7h 48m via Westside Freeway and I-5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $97 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within California, traveling between two points in the Pacific Coast region. The vast majority of this drive is on major highways, making it a straightforward trip for those prioritizing speed and efficiency. If you're looking to get from Northern to Southern California quickly, this is a solid option, though it's mostly highway miles.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
210.3 miles from North Highlands, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 51m 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
San Diego Freeway
18 mi
20m
Capital City Freeway
10.6 mi
11m
Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
4m
Long Beach Freeway
2.4 mi
3m
Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 296.3 mi, about 5h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Highlands, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on La Cienega Drive
0.2 mi·49 sec·La Cienega Drive
2
Turn left onto Don Julio Boulevard
0.2 mi·23 sec·Don Julio Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Larchmont Drive
0.3 mi·38 sec·Larchmont Drive
4
Turn right onto Walerga Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Walerga Road
5
Turn right onto Hillsdale Boulevard
0.9 mi·1 min·Hillsdale Boulevard
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto Madison Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Madison Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 80 West: SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 80
0.7 mi·45 sec·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business
4.9 mi·5 min·Capital City Freeway
Exit 95Toward I 80 Business West: SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 Business
3.7 mi·4 min·Capital City Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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 FranciscoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 4AToward I 5: Los Angeles, ReddingUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 4AToward I 5 South: Los AngelesUse the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 5
59 mi·1 hr 5 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi·48 sec·Westside Freeway
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi·4 hr 13 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
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.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi·26 min·I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi·20 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
377 ft·9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long BeachUse the slight right lane.
23
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·39 sec·this road
Exit 32BToward I 710 South: Long Beach
24
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi·3 min·Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi·40 sec·Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, AquariumUse the slight left / straight lanes.
27
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Shoreline Drive
28
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
29
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·West Ocean Boulevard
30
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
31
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 7h 48m estimated driving time, starting early in the morning from North Highlands is your best bet to avoid significant traffic. With only 2 recommended stops, you can be flexible with when and where you pull over. The fuel cost is estimated at $97, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a single-day drive, focus on staying alert during the longest stretch of 296.3 miles on the Westside Freeway and be prepared for dense traffic as you get closer to Long Beach.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 210.3 miles from North Highlands, CA, or about 3h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 296.3 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 93 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 210.3 miles or 3h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 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 North Highlands, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Highlands, CA
This is one driving day of about 420.7 miles and 7h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from North Highlands, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 373.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.5 mi into trip|~6m 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
12.2 mi into trip|~16m 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
14.1 mi into trip|~18m 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
14.3 mi into trip|~18m 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
373.8 mi into trip|~6h 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
$96.69 one way
$193.39 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg147 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$99.64
$199.29
premium
$6.18
$102.31
$204.62
diesel
$5.61
$92.89
$185.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$97
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$122–$147
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 147.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
126.2
1
$44.17
$20.19
Efficient EV
105.2
1
$36.81
$16.83
EV Truck/SUV
168.3
2
$58.90
$26.92
Gas CO2
147 kg
EV CO2
49 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.
Forecast as of Apr 21, 2026
Origin
North Highlands, CA
Late night
in North Highlands on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Late night
in Long Beach on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
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.
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
17 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
7h 48m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is primarily on highways, with 98% of the route utilizing them. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 296.3 miles on the Westside Freeway. The transition to surface roads, if any, will be minimal and likely near your destination. Expect a lot of merging and exiting as you navigate through populated areas, especially as you approach Southern California.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 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?
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 3.5 miles in near I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway.
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 27 significant decision points across 420.7 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 3.5 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 7h 48m. Total distance: 420.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 48m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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 — we found about 36 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 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.5 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.1 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 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.6 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.
