Thermalito, CA to Long Beach, CA is 475.6 miles and takes about 8h 53m via Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck, with a fuel budget near $108 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route keeps you within the Pacific Coast region for its entirety, moving from Northern California down towards Southern California. Given its mostly highway profile and recommended two-day trip duration, it’s a straightforward drive that balances efficiency with the chance to break up the miles. You'll encounter a significant amount of highway driving, so planning for rest stops is key.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
237.8 miles from Thermalito, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
303.7 mi
5h 28m
I 5 Truck
58.6 mi
1h 7m
CA 70
44.4 mi
52m
I 405 Truck
23 mi
26m
San Diego Freeway
18 mi
20m
Golden State Highway
7.7 mi
8m
Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
4.9 mi
5m
E Street
4.2 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 303.7 mi, about 5h 28m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 214 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,927 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,115
Quietest
2 AM
~561 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 44 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 Thermalito, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on 10th Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·10th Street
2
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Grand Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·13 sec
4
Merge onto CA 70
14 mi·16 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on CA 70
11 mi·12 min·CA 70
6
Continue on CA 70
1.5 mi·3 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·5th Street
8
Turn left onto CA 70
4.2 mi·5 min·E Street
9
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
18 mi·20 min·CA 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto CA 99
4.9 mi·5 min·Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
11
Continue on CA 99
7.7 mi·8 min·Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 5
66 mi·1 hr 13 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi·48 sec·Westside Freeway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi·4 hr 13 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
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
For this 475.6-mile drive, splitting it over two days is a sensible approach, especially with a recommended duration of 8h 53m. Consider starting your first day around midday to reach a stopping point after roughly 4-5 hours of driving, leaving the remaining distance for the next morning. With two planned stops, you'll have ample opportunities to refuel and stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on Westside Freeway is over 300 miles.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 237.8 miles from Thermalito, CA, or about 4h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 303.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 105 miles or 2h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 237.8 miles or 4h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 237.8 miles or 4h 26m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 40m
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 Thermalito, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Thermalito, CA
Aim for roughly 238 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Long Beach, CA
Aim for roughly 238 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 105 miles from Thermalito, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 303.7 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 32.5 and 473.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
32.5 mi into trip|~41m in|CA 70
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
129.8 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
366.3 mi into trip|~6h 44m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
428.8 mi into trip|~7h 55m 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
473.2 mi into trip|~8h 48m 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
$99.50 one way
$199.00 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg166 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$103.34
$206.68
premium
$5.67
$106.07
$212.15
diesel
$4.80
$89.80
$179.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$100
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$230–$340
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 166.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $50 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
142.7
1
$49.94
$22.83
Efficient EV
118.9
1
$41.62
$19.02
EV Truck/SUV
190.2
2
$66.58
$30.44
Gas CO2
166 kg
EV CO2
56 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 16, 2026
Origin
Thermalito, CA
Morning
in Thermalito on Sunday
Local time
8:17 AM
PDT
Current temp
98°F
Sunny
S 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:05PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Morning
in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
8:17 AM
PDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 4:05PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 53m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 442.8
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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
Free
near mile 360.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 96% of the 475.6 miles on major roads like Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. You'll experience a longest stretch of 303.7 miles on Westside Freeway, meaning extended periods of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur around mile 456, offering a change of pace for the final portion of your trip.
96% 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: 303.7 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 32.5 miles in near CA 70.
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 21 significant decision points across 475.6 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 32.5 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 129.8 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 366.3 miles (I 5 Truck): 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
The longest stretch is about 303.7 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 238 miles on day one.
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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 32.5 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 129.8 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 366.3 miles (I 5 Truck): 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.9 hours each way, a round trip means 17.8 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.
