Origin
Ladera Heights, CA
Afternoon in Ladera Heights on Sunday
Local time
2:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ladera Heights, CA to Long Beach, CA
Drive Time
33m
Distance
23.7 mi
38 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ladera Heights, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Long Beach, CA
Saidamir Mukhitdinov
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition from Ladera Heights to the coast in Long Beach, this 23.7-mile trip is an efficient choice. You can easily complete the drive in about 33 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion that requires no overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $5, this route is as economical as it is fast. You will stay entirely within the Pacific Coast region, moving between two distinct Southern California communities. Because the trip is short and straightforward, it offers maximum flexibility for your schedule. Whether you are heading out for work or a change of scenery, this highway-focused transit gets you to your destination with minimal fuss.
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
11.9 miles from Ladera Heights, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a high-speed experience, as 78% of this journey is spent on major highways. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating the San Diego Freeway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 15.7 miles. The drive transitions from the San Diego Freeway to the Long Beach Freeway before concluding on the urban corridors of Shoreline Drive. This is primarily a highway-focused drive, prioritizing speed and efficiency over secondary roads. You should be prepared for a consistent, interstate-style pace that defines the character of the entire 33-minute transit.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
San Diego Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 15.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and Long Beach Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near West Slauson Avenue.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 23.7 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 0.5 miles (West Slauson Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
0.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
West Slauson Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto West Slauson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn right toward South La Cienega Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Toward South La Cienega Boulevard
6
2.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 405 South: San Diego Freeway, Long Beach
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 405 South: San Diego Freeway, Long Bea...
6
18.1 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
7
21.3 mi into trip
|
~28m 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 Ladera Heights, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Convention Center and Aquarium.
Convention Center
21.3 mi in
|
~28m
Aquarium
21.3 mi in
|
~28m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 15.7 mi | 18m |
| Long Beach Freeway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Shoreline Drive | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South La Cienega Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West Ocean Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Seaside Freeway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Bedford Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| West Slauson Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 15.7 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ladera Heights, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on Bedford Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Bedford Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto West 57th Street
319 ft
·
15 sec
·
West 57th Street
3
Turn right onto South Sherbourne Drive
402 ft
·
23 sec
·
South Sherbourne Drive
4
At end of road, turn left onto West Slauson Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Slauson Avenue
Use the none lane.
5
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Toward South La Cienega Boulevard
Use the none lane.
6
Turn straight onto South La Cienega Boulevard
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South La Cienega Boulevard
Use the none / straight lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
Toward I 405 South: San Diego Freeway, Long Beach
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 405
16 mi
·
18 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
377 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
this road
Exit 32B
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
11
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
14
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoreline Drive
Use the none lane.
15
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
16
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
Use the none lane.
17
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
Since the total trip duration is only 33 minutes, you have the advantage of total scheduling flexibility. You will not need to plan for any formal stops along the way, as the 23.7-mile distance is easily manageable in a single push. When planning your departure, remember that the heavy reliance on the San Diego and Long Beach Freeways means you should check real-time traffic conditions to avoid peak congestion. Keep your fuel level in mind despite the low $5 estimated cost, as highway driving can consume gas differently depending on traffic flow. Focus on navigating the final transition onto Shoreline Drive to ensure a smooth arrival at your destination.
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 11.9 miles from Ladera Heights, CA, or about 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 15.7 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 23.7 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.9 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 26m
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 Ladera Heights, 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 Ladera Heights, CA
This is one driving day of about 23.7 miles and 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ladera Heights, 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 San Diego Freeway for about 15.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.9 mi from Ladera Heights, CA · 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
12 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 23.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11.9 miles from Ladera Heights, 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
$5.49 one way
$10.98 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $5.66 | $11.32 |
| premium | $6.24 | $5.83 | $11.65 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.27 | $10.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.07 | $0.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
2:49 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
18 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
33m 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 Ladera Heights, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 23.7 miles and takes about 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Diego Freeway, Long Beach Freeway, 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 11.9 miles from Ladera Heights, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.49 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 is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 23.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (West Slauson Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ladera Heights, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Convention Center and Aquarium.
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