Origin
Colma, CA
Afternoon in Colma on Sunday
Local time
12:21 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colma, CA to Long Beach, CA
Drive Time
6h 49m
Distance
408.1 mi
657 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$95
one way
Colma, CA
Efrem Efre
Long Beach, CA
Saidamir Mukhitdinov
Trip Overview
The drive from Colma, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 408.1 miles and takes about 6h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on El Camino Real, I 380 East, Quentin L for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $94.51 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
204.1 miles from Colma, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 49m drive with frequent turns across 408.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
El Camino Real is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 49m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Colma, CA to Long Beach, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| El Camino Real | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 380 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Quentin L | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 101 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bayshore Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 152 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 10th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pacheco Pass Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
El Camino Real
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colma, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on the route
381 ft
·
30 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto El Camino Real
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
El Camino Real
3
Take the ramp slight right toward I 380 East, US 101: San Francisco International Airport
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
I 380 East, US 101: San Francisco International Airport
4
Merge slight left onto Quentin L. Kopp Freeway
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Quentin L. Kopp Freeway
5
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 South: San Jose, San Francisco International Airport
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 101 South: San Jose, San Francisco International Airport
6
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 South: San Jose
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
US 101 South: San Jose
7
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
24 mi
·
27 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
8
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
42 mi
·
48 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
9
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
10
Turn left onto East 10th Street
354 ft
·
13 sec
·
East 10th Street
11
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
41 mi
·
50 min
·
Pacheco Pass Highway
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5: Los Angeles
13
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
Westside Freeway
14
Keep slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
16
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
17
Keep slight right
23 mi
·
26 min
18
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
19
Take the exit slight right toward I 710 South: Long Beach
377 ft
·
9 sec
·
I 710 South: Long Beach
20
Continue on I 710 South: Long Beach
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 710 South: Long Beach
21
Merge slight left onto Long Beach Freeway
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
22
Continue on Seaside Freeway
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
23
Take the exit slight left toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
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
26
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
27
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
East Ocean Boulevard
28
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 204.1 miles from Colma, CA, or about 3h 24m into the drive.
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 90 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 204.1 miles or 3h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 49m
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 Colma, 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 Colma, CA
This is one driving day of about 408.1 miles and 6h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from Colma, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 204.1 mi from Colma, CA · 3h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
204 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 90 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 204.1 miles from Colma, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$94.51 one way
$189.01 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
143 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $97.46 | $194.92 |
| premium | $6.24 | $100.31 | $200.61 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $90.67 | $181.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$95
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$120–$145
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 122.4 | 1 | $42.85 | $19.59 |
| Efficient EV | 102 | 1 | $35.71 | $16.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 163.2 | 2 | $57.13 | $26.12 |
Gas CO2
143 kg
EV CO2
48 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.
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Afternoon in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
12:21 PM
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.
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
27 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
6h 49m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Colma, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 408.1 miles and takes about 6h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are El Camino Real, I 380 East, Quentin L. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 204.1 miles from Colma, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $94.51 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 49m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Colma, CA to Long Beach, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Colma, CA to Long Beach, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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