Trip from Cloverdale, CA to Long Beach, CA

Drive Time

9h 4m

Distance

483.3 mi

778 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$112

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Photo: Saidamir Mukhitdinov

Trip Overview

Traveling from Cloverdale to Long Beach covers 483.3 miles of California scenery, a journey that typically takes about 9 hours and 4 minutes of pure drive time. Because this is a significant distance, I highly recommend breaking the trip into two days to keep your fatigue levels manageable. You will primarily navigate via the Redwood Highway, the Westside Freeway, and the I-5 Truck route. Budgeting approximately $66 for fuel is a smart move for this highway-focused transit. While you remain within the Pacific Coast region for the duration of the trip, the landscape shifts significantly as you head south toward the bustling metropolitan sprawl of Long Beach. Planning for an overnight stay allows you to experience the transition between Northern and Southern California without feeling rushed.

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

241.6 miles from Cloverdale, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 33m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a very efficient trip, as 85% of this route consists of high-speed highway driving. You will spend a large portion of your time on the Westside Freeway, which includes the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey at 224.4 miles. This is not a technical, winding backroad drive; instead, it is a straightforward interstate transit designed for steady progress. As you move away from the Redwood Highway and transition onto the major I-5 corridors, the personality of the road becomes much more utilitarian. Be prepared for a consistent, high-speed pace that favors reaching your destination quickly over navigating complex terrain.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 224.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Redwood Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 69.3 miles in near I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 483.3 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 69.3 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.6 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.9 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 24 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

69.3 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in | I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 451B Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland

86.6 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in | I 580 / Interstate Highway 80

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...

86.9 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in | I 580 / MacArthur Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockt...

436.4 mi into trip | ~8h 6m 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

480.9 mi into trip | ~8h 58m 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,...

Towns Along This Route

Between Cloverdale, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.

Oakland

69.3 mi in | ~1h 21m | via I 580

Hayward

86.6 mi in | ~1h 43m | via I 580

Stockton

86.6 mi in | ~1h 43m | via I 580

Alameda

86.6 mi in | ~1h 43m | via I 580

San Jose

86.6 mi in | ~1h 43m | via I 580

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Westside Freeway	224.4 mi	4h
Redwood Highway	68.6 mi	1h 19m
I 5 Truck	58.6 mi	1h 7m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway	29.3 mi	33m
I 405 Truck	23 mi	26m
San Diego Freeway	18 mi	20m
William Elton Brown Freeway	17 mi	18m
MacArthur Freeway	16.4 mi	18m

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 224.4 mi, about 4h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cloverdale, CA and Long Beach, CA.

Start on North Cloverdale Boulevard

0.2 mi · 32 sec · North Cloverdale Boulevard

Turn left onto Citrus Fair Drive

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Citrus Fair Drive

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward Citrus Fair Drive

Merge onto US 101; CA 128

69 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Redwood Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

14 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway

Exit 451B Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 80; I 580

3.8 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

0.3 mi · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80

Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

16 mi · 18 min · MacArthur Freeway

Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 580

12 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

11 mi · 11 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Merge onto I 5

224 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

0.3 mi · 17 sec · I 5 Truck

Exit 158 Toward I 405 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck

23 mi · 26 min · I 405 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405

18 mi · 20 min · San Diego Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

377 ft · 9 sec

Toward I 710 South: Long Beach Use the slight right lane.

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 39 sec · this road

Exit 32B Toward I 710 South: Long Beach

Merge onto I 710

2.4 mi · 3 min · Long Beach Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 710

0.5 mi · 40 sec · Seaside Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Continue on Shoreline Drive

1.3 mi · 2 min · Shoreline Drive

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto South Chestnut Place

0.2 mi · 30 sec · South Chestnut Place

Use the left / uturn lanes.

Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Ocean Boulevard

Use the none lane.

Continue on East Ocean Boulevard

0.1 mi · 21 sec · East Ocean Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

East Ocean Boulevard

Trip Plan

To tackle this 483.3-mile route effectively, aim for an early departure to get ahead of traffic patterns near the major urban hubs. You should plan for at least two deliberate stops to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $66 budget in mind. Given that the longest stretch is over 224 miles, monitor your fuel gauge closely while on the Westside Freeway to avoid finding yourself low on gas in rural sections. Since this is a two-day trip, look for a midpoint hotel that allows you to arrive in Long Beach refreshed rather than exhausted. Staying flexible with your departure time is your best tool for managing the heavy traffic often found on these primary California arteries.

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 241.6 miles from Cloverdale, CA, or about 4h 33m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 224.4 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 106 miles or 2h 5m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 241.6 miles or 4h 33m 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 241.6 miles or 4h 33m

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 51m

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 Cloverdale, 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 Cloverdale, CA

Aim for roughly 242 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Long Beach, CA

Aim for roughly 242 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 106 miles from Cloverdale, 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 224.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 241.6 mi from Cloverdale, CA · 4h 33m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Lathrop, CA

242 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Lathrop, CA

Overnight Options

Night 1

Lathrop, CA

242 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Lathrop, CA after about 242 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Hayward, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 106 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Modesto, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 241.6 miles from Cloverdale, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 224.4 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 242 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.

Arriving in Long Beach, CA

The final approach into Long Beach, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Long Beach, CA.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Long Beach, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$111.92 one way

$223.84 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 169 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.07	$115.42	$230.84
premium	$6.24	$118.79	$237.58
diesel	$5.64	$107.37	$214.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$112

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$242–$352

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 169.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $51 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	145	1	$50.75	$23.20
Efficient EV	120.8	1	$42.29	$19.33
EV Truck/SUV	193.3	2	$67.66	$30.93

Gas CO2

169 kg

EV CO2

57 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Cloverdale, CA

Morning in Cloverdale on Sunday

Local time

11:18 AM

PDT

Current temp

Unavailable

Destination

Long Beach, CA

Morning in Long Beach on Sunday

Local time

11:18 AM

PDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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.

Road read

9h 4m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Cloverdale, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 483.3 miles and takes about 9h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Westside Freeway, Redwood Highway, I 5 Truck. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 242 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 241.6 miles from Cloverdale, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $111.92 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Cloverdale, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.

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Trip from Cloverdale, CA to Long Beach, CA

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Long Beach, CA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Cloverdale, CA

Long Beach, CA

Same local time

9h 4m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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