Origin
Downey, CA
Afternoon in Downey on Sunday
Local time
4:19 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Downey, CA to Long Beach, CA
Drive Time
26m
Distance
17.3 mi
28 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Downey, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Long Beach, CA
Saidamir Mukhitdinov
Trip Overview
The drive from Downey, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 17.3 miles and takes about 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Long Beach Freeway, Firestone Boulevard, Shoreline Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 11.3 miles on Long Beach Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.01 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
8.6 miles from Downey, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 26m highway drive covering 17.3 miles, with most of the trip on Long Beach Freeway and Firestone Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch is about 11.3 miles on Long Beach Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Beach Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 11.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Beach Freeway and Firestone Boulevard. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Firestone Boulevard.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 17.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Firestone Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 710 / Long Beach Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Firestone Boulevard
Turn right onto Firestone Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 710 / Long Beach Freeway
Merge onto I 710 / Long Beach Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
14.9 mi into trip
|
~21m 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,...
6
16.7 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
West Ocean Boulevard
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Towns Along This Route
Between Downey, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Convention Center and Aquarium.
Convention Center
14.9 mi in
|
~21m
Aquarium
14.9 mi in
|
~21m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach Freeway | 11.3 mi | 14m |
| Firestone Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Shoreline Drive | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West Ocean Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Seaside Freeway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Chestnut Place | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Ocean Boulevard | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Long Beach Freeway
— 11.3 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Downey, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi
·
49 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 2nd Street
429 ft
·
25 sec
·
2nd Street
3
Turn left onto Downey Avenue
362 ft
·
11 sec
·
Downey Avenue
4
Turn right onto Firestone Boulevard
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Firestone Boulevard
Use the none lane.
5
Continue on Firestone Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Firestone Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 710
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoreline Drive
Use the none lane.
11
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
12
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
Use the none lane.
13
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 8.6 miles from Downey, CA, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 11.3 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 17.3 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.6 miles or 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 21m
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 Downey, 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 Downey, CA
This is one driving day of about 17.3 miles and 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Downey, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Long Beach Freeway for about 11.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.6 mi from Downey, CA · 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 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 17.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.6 miles from Downey, 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
$4.01 one way
$8.01 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $4.13 | $8.26 |
| premium | $6.24 | $4.25 | $8.50 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.84 | $7.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.82 | $0.83 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.51 | $0.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.42 | $1.11 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
4:19 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
19 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
26m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Downey, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 17.3 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Beach Freeway, Firestone Boulevard, Shoreline Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.6 miles from Downey, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 17.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Firestone Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles (I 710 / Long Beach Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Downey, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Convention Center and Aquarium.
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