This 230.2-mile drive from Reedley, CA to Long Beach, CA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in about 4 hours and 23 minutes. The route primarily utilizes the Golden State Freeway and I-405 Truck, making it a classic California road trip experience connecting two points within the Pacific Coast region. With a fuel cost estimated at $53, this trip is an excellent candidate for a single-day adventure, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. It’s a practical option for those looking to cover ground efficiently between these two California locales.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
115.1 miles from Reedley, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Golden State Freeway
94.8 mi
1h 47m
Golden State Highway
58.6 mi
1h 2m
I 405 Truck
23 mi
26m
CA 99
18.2 mi
19m
San Diego Freeway
18 mi
20m
Road 48
6 mi
8m
Avenue 384
2.7 mi
3m
Long Beach Freeway
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Golden State Freeway
— 94.8 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Reedley, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on G Street
90 ft·7 sec·G Street
2
Turn left onto 11th Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·11th Street
3
Turn left onto I Street
0.4 mi·35 sec·I Street
4
Turn right onto South Frankwood Avenue
1.1 mi·1 min·South Frankwood Avenue
5
Turn right onto East Floral Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·East Floral Avenue
6
Continue on Road 48
6.0 mi·8 min·Road 48
7
At end of road, turn right onto J38
2.7 mi·3 min·Avenue 384
8
Continue on J38
0.2 mi·27 sec·Diagonal 27
9
Turn left onto J38
463 ft·15 sec·Diagonal 24
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
11
Merge onto CA 99
18 mi·19 min·CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
59 mi·1 hr 2 min·Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on CA 99
5.2 mi·5 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
27 mi·30 min·Golden State Freeway
Toward CA 99 South: Los AngelesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi·26 min·I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi·20 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
377 ft·9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long BeachUse the slight right lane.
21
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·39 sec·this road
Exit 32BToward I 710 South: Long Beach
22
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi·3 min·Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi·40 sec·Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, AquariumUse the slight left / straight lanes.
25
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Shoreline Drive
26
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
27
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·West Ocean Boulevard
28
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
29
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 23-minute duration, starting your journey from Reedley in the morning is advisable to avoid the heaviest traffic heading into Southern California. With only one suggested stop, you have considerable flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 94.8-mile stretch on the Golden State Freeway, as services can sometimes be spread out on longer highway segments. This is a manageable drive for a single day, so focus on smooth transitions and enjoy the efficiency of the freeway system.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 115.1 miles from Reedley, CA, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.8 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 51 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.1 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 32m
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 Reedley, 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 Reedley, CA
This is one driving day of about 230.2 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Reedley, 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 Golden State Freeway for about 94.8 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 29.9 and 227.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
29.9 mi into trip|~36m in|CA 99 / Golden State Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99 / Golden State Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
93.6 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|CA 99 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99 / Golden State Freeway toward CA 99 South: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 99 South: Los Angeles
6
121 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|CA 99 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99 / Golden State Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
183.3 mi into trip|~3h 26m 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
227.7 mi into trip|~4h 18m 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
$52.91 one way
$105.82 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$54.52
$109.05
premium
$6.18
$55.98
$111.96
diesel
$5.61
$50.83
$101.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.1
0
$24.17
$11.05
Efficient EV
57.6
0
$20.14
$9.21
EV Truck/SUV
92.1
1
$32.23
$14.73
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Reedley, CA
Late night
in Reedley on Tuesday
Local time
2:47 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Late night
in Long Beach on Tuesday
Local time
2:47 AM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 5:29AM PDT until April 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 5:29AM PDT until April 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
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
6 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
4h 23m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 198.4
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 111.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 68% of the drive taking place on freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 94.8 miles along the Golden State Freeway, offering a sustained period of consistent travel. While the profile is largely highway-focused, be prepared for potential variations as you navigate through different stretches of the Golden State Highway and I-405 Truck, which can feel more urban as you approach the Los Angeles area.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.8 mi on Golden State Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Golden State Freeway and Golden State Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.9 miles in near CA 99 / Golden State Highway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 230.2 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 29.9 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.6 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Reedley is in the San Joaquin Valley of California 25 miles southeast of Fresno. Reedley is a centerpiece of the Blossom Trail, a 62-mile informal system of roads through which, in the spring, tourists travel on a self-guided tour through a large swath of Fresno County to admire the white, red, and pink fruit blossoms from almond, plum, apricot, peach, nectarine, apple, and citrus blossoms. Reedley hosts annual Blossom Trail bike rides, 10k runs, car shows, and art festivals.
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 4h 23m. Total distance: 230.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.8 miles on Golden State Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 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 29.9 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.6 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Long Beach, CA, but most travelers stay overnight.
