This 125.6-mile drive from Palm Desert, CA to Long Beach, CA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 36 minutes. The journey primarily utilizes major freeways like the Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway and the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, with about 74% of the route on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $29, this highway-focused drive offers a straightforward path between the Pacific Coast regions of Southern California. It's a practical option for a quick transition between inland desert environments and the coastal urban landscape.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.8 miles from Palm Desert, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
19.3 mi
20m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
17.9 mi
19m
CA 91
16.7 mi
19m
Moreno Valley Freeway
16.5 mi
20m
Riverside Freeway
13.4 mi
15m
Garden Grove Freeway
12.7 mi
14m
Monterey Avenue
6 mi
9m
Costa Mesa Freeway
4.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
— 19.3 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palm Desert, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on San Luis Rey Avenue
434 ft·25 sec·San Luis Rey Avenue
2
Turn right onto East Palm Canyon Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·East Palm Canyon Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto Monterey Avenue
6.0 mi·9 min·Monterey Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on Monterey Avenue
228 ft·10 sec·Monterey Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·27 sec
Toward I-10: WESTUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
19 mi·20 min·Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on I 10
18 mi·19 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·13 sec
Exit 93Toward CA 60 West: RiversideUse the slight left lane.
9
Continue on CA 60
0.5 mi·33 sec·Moreno Valley Freeway
10
Continue on CA 60
2.0 mi·2 min·Moreno Valley Expressway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on CA 60
16 mi·20 min·Moreno Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 215; CA 60
3.9 mi·4 min·Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
1.5 mi·3 min
Exit 34BToward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach CitiesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto CA 91
13 mi·15 min·Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·20 sec
Exit 50Toward Main StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on CA 91
17 mi·19 min·CA 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 55
4.8 mi·5 min·Costa Mesa Freeway
Exit 34Toward CA 55 South: Newport BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi·39 sec
Exit 13Toward CA 22 West: Garden Grove Freeway, Long BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto CA 22
13 mi·14 min·Garden Grove Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on CA 22; I 405
1.7 mi·1 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit onto CA 22
2.5 mi·3 min·CA 22
Exit 23Toward CA 22 West: Long BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto East 7th Street
2.7 mi·6 min·East 7th Street
23
Turn left onto Rose Avenue
0.3 mi·51 sec·Rose Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
At end of road, turn right onto East 4th Street
0.7 mi·2 min·East 4th Street
25
Turn left onto Alamitos Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Alamitos Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto East Ocean Boulevard
0.4 mi·1 min·East Ocean Boulevard
Use the right lane.
27
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 36 minutes, this trip is best tackled in one go, offering flexibility for departure times. Aim to leave Palm Desert early to potentially avoid some of the heavier traffic heading into the Los Angeles metropolitan area. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $29, planning for quick breaks is easy. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you approach Long Beach; using a real-time navigation app is advised. A specific tip for this route is to ensure your vehicle is in good condition, as the longest stretch is nearly 20 miles without many immediate exit options.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.8 miles from Palm Desert, CA, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.3 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.8 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
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 Palm Desert, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Palm Desert, CA
This is one driving day of about 125.6 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Palm Desert, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway for about 19.3 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 44.5 and 103.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
44.5 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward CA 60 West: Riverside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 93
Toward CA 60 West: Riverside
8
67.2 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
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 34B
Toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
7
82.1 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50
Toward Main Street
8
99 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|CA 55 / Costa Mesa Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 55 / Costa Mesa Freeway toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
8
103.9 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward CA 22 West: Garden Grove Freeway, Long Beach
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 13
Toward CA 22 West: Garden Grove Freeway, Long B...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.87 one way
$57.74 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$29.75
$59.50
premium
$6.18
$30.54
$61.09
diesel
$5.61
$27.73
$55.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.7
0
$13.19
$6.03
Efficient EV
31.4
0
$10.99
$5.02
EV Truck/SUV
50.2
0
$17.58
$8.04
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Palm Desert, CA
Late night
in Palm Desert on Tuesday
Local time
1:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Late night
in Long Beach on Tuesday
Local time
1:08 AM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
61°F
Riverside, CA
63 mi in
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
1 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
2h 36m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 74% of the drive on freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 19.3 miles on the Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway, offering a consistent pace. While the majority of the drive keeps you on high-speed roads, the transition onto CA 91 will be a key part of your journey. This route is characterized by its efficient, direct nature, designed for covering distance rather than leisurely sightseeing.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.3 mi on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway and Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 44.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 19 significant decision points across 125.6 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 44.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Palm Desert, CA to Long Beach, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Beach Cities along the way.
Palm Desert is a city of 53,000 people (2018) in the desert of California between Palm Springs and Indio. It lies in the Coachella Valley at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains. The city is home to many golf courses, attractions, luxury hotels and shops, and spas that make the region a famous getaway for much of Southern California.
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 2h 36m. Total distance: 125.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.3 miles on Sonny Bono Memorial 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 44.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 82.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Long Beach, CA before heading back.
