Palmdale to Long Beach is 85.5 miles and takes about 1 hour and 41 minutes via the Antelope Valley Freeway and I-405, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily sticks to major freeways, connecting the high desert region of California to the bustling coastal areas. You'll experience a significant shift in landscape and atmosphere as you transition from the arid Antelope Valley to the dense urban sprawl of Los Angeles County. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, this route is best suited for a single-day trip when you need a straightforward journey between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.8 miles from Palmdale, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Antelope Valley Freeway
29.6 mi
32m
I 405 Truck
23 mi
26m
San Diego Freeway
18 mi
20m
Sierra Highway
5.2 mi
6m
Golden State Freeway
2.6 mi
3m
Long Beach Freeway
2.4 mi
3m
Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
2m
West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Antelope Valley Freeway
— 29.6 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmdale, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on CA 138
0.1 mi·15 sec·East Palmdale Boulevard
2
Continue on CA 138
0.1 mi·26 sec·East Palmdale Boulevard
3
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
4.2 mi·4 min·Sierra Highway
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 6 Hist
1.0 mi·1 min·Sierra Highway
Use the right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward CA 14 South: Los Angeles
6
Merge onto CA 14
29 mi·31 min·Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·36 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 5
2.6 mi·3 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi·26 min·I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi·20 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
377 ft·9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long BeachUse the slight right lane.
14
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·39 sec·this road
Exit 32BToward I 710 South: Long Beach
15
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi·3 min·Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi·40 sec·Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, AquariumUse the slight left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Shoreline Drive
19
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
20
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·West Ocean Boulevard
21
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
With a total drive time under two hours, this is a very manageable same-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. You could leave Palmdale in the morning and arrive in Long Beach with plenty of daylight remaining. Since the longest continuous stretch is under 30 miles, extensive rest stops aren't strictly necessary, but planning for a quick break around the halfway point can still be refreshing. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you enter the greater Los Angeles area, as congestion can significantly impact your 1 hour and 41-minute estimated travel time. The fuel cost is estimated at $20, so ensure your tank is full before you depart Palmdale.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 42.8 miles from Palmdale, CA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.6 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 19 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.8 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
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 Palmdale, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Palmdale, CA
This is one driving day of about 85.5 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Palmdale, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Antelope Valley Freeway for about 29.6 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 83.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
4.5 mi into trip|~5m in|US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
34.6 mi into trip|~39m in|CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
35.5 mi into trip|~40m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
38.7 mi into trip|~44m 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
7
83.1 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.65 one way
$39.30 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$20.25
$40.50
premium
$6.18
$20.79
$41.59
diesel
$5.61
$18.88
$37.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.7
0
$8.98
$4.10
Efficient EV
21.4
0
$7.48
$3.42
EV Truck/SUV
34.2
0
$11.97
$5.47
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Palmdale, CA
Late night
in Palmdale on Tuesday
Local time
3:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Late night
in Long Beach on Tuesday
Local time
3:39 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Santa Maria, CA
43 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
9 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
1h 41m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 53.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the route utilizing major freeways like the Antelope Valley Freeway and the San Diego Freeway. You'll encounter a long stretch of uninterrupted driving, with the Antelope Valley Freeway holding the longest segment at 29.6 miles. The journey begins with the open feel of the Antelope Valley before gradually becoming more urbanized as you approach the Los Angeles basin. Expect consistent, high-speed travel for the majority of this trip, characteristic of Southern California freeway driving.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.6 mi on Antelope Valley Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Antelope Valley Freeway and I 405 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in near US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.5 miles you will encounter 18 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 4.5 miles (US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.6 miles (CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 1h 41m. Total distance: 85.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.6 miles on Antelope Valley 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 4.5 miles (US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.6 miles (CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Long Beach, CA before heading back.
