San Bruno, CA to Long Beach, CA is 399.4 miles and takes about 7h 34m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $91 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within California, traversing the Pacific Coast region from start to finish. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major freeways, making it a good option for a single-day haul. You'll want to be prepared for a solid day of driving with minimal scenic detours.
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
199.7 miles from San Bruno, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
181.1 mi
3h 14m
Bayshore Freeway
65.9 mi
1h 15m
I 5 Truck
58.6 mi
1h 7m
Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi
50m
I 405 Truck
23 mi
26m
San Diego Freeway
18 mi
20m
Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
4m
Long Beach Freeway
2.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 181.1 mi, about 3h 14m
Traffic on I-405
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 168 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~7,798 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~723 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 43 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Bruno, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on this road
207 ft·17 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto San Mateo Avenue
270 ft·11 sec·San Mateo Avenue
3
Turn right onto San Bruno Avenue East
0.4 mi·45 sec·San Bruno Avenue East
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward US 101 South: San Jose, San Francisco International AirportUse the straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto US 101 Spur
0.5 mi·49 sec·US 101 Spur
Toward San Francisco International Airport, San Bruno Avenue
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 101 South: San JoseUse the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Merge onto US 101
23 mi·27 min·Bayshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
42 mi·48 min·Bayshore Freeway
Toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los AngelesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto CA 152
0.3 mi·39 sec·CA 152
Toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
10
Turn left onto CA 152
353 ft·12 sec·East 10th Street
11
Continue on CA 152
41 mi·50 min·Pacheco Pass Highway
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 5: Los Angeles
13
Merge onto I 5
181 mi·3 hr 14 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
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.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi·26 min·I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi·20 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
377 ft·9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long BeachUse the slight right lane.
20
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·39 sec·this road
Exit 32BToward I 710 South: Long Beach
21
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi·3 min·Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi·40 sec·Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, AquariumUse the slight left / straight lanes.
24
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Shoreline Drive
25
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
26
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·West Ocean Boulevard
27
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
28
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this drive, departing early in the morning is your best bet to avoid significant traffic, especially as you approach Southern California. With a duration of around 7.5 hours, two planned stops should be sufficient for stretching and refueling. The fuel cost estimate is $91, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a single-day trip, having flexibility is key; you can adjust your stop times based on how you feel. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, particularly in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, as this can significantly impact your arrival time.
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 199.7 miles from San Bruno, CA, or about 3h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.1 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 88 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 199.7 miles or 3h 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 6h 22m
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 San Bruno, 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 San Bruno, CA
This is one driving day of about 399.4 miles and 7h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from San Bruno, 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 181.1 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 397 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|San Bruno Avenue East
Turn right onto San Bruno Avenue East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 101 South: San Jose, San Francisco International Airport
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: San Jose, San Francisco In...
8
25 mi into trip|~30m in|US 101 / Bayshore Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101 / Bayshore Freeway toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: San Jose, Los Angeles
8
352.6 mi into trip|~6h 37m 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
397 mi into trip|~7h 29m 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
$83.56 one way
$167.12 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg140 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$86.78
$173.57
premium
$5.67
$89.08
$178.16
diesel
$4.80
$75.41
$150.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$84
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$109–$134
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 139.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
119.8
1
$41.94
$19.17
Efficient EV
99.9
1
$34.95
$15.98
EV Truck/SUV
159.8
1
$55.92
$25.56
Gas CO2
140 kg
EV CO2
47 kg (66% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
San Bruno, CA
Evening
in San Bruno on Monday
Local time
5:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Partly Cloudy
W 7 to 14 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 12:00PM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:39AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Evening
in Long Beach on Monday
Local time
5:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Patchy Fog
SE 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 12:00PM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:39AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
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
13 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
7h 34m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
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...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 358.1
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 289.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 89% of the 399.4 miles on freeways like the Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of highway at 181.1 miles on the Westside Freeway. Expect a lot of freeway cruising, with a high density of exits and merges common to such a long highway segment.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 181.1 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Bayshore Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near San Bruno Avenue East.
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 23 significant decision points across 399.4 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 0.1 miles (San Bruno Avenue East): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25 miles (US 101 / Bayshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,129 ft21 ft
Total Climb
3,511 ft
Total Descent
3,499 ft
Highest Point
3,129 ft
~313.9 mi in
Elevation Range
3,108 ft
Notable High Points
3,129 ft at ~313.9 miles+1,923 ft prominence
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 San Bruno, CA to Long Beach, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Los Angeles along the way.
San Bruno is a city on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. It is south of South San Francisco and north of Millbrae. It is the main headquarters of YouTube.
Top landmarks
•Golden Gate National Cemetery — veterans cemetery in San Mateo County, California
•Tanforan Assembly Center — a makeshift concentration camp set up by the U.S. Army in 1942 to incarcerate pe...
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 34m. Total distance: 399.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 34m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 181.1 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (San Bruno Avenue East): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25 miles (US 101 / Bayshore Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.2 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.
