Origin
Laguna Hills, CA
Morning in Laguna Hills on Friday
Local time
11:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Laguna Hills, CA to Long Beach, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
32.8 mi
53 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Laguna Hills, CA
Elijah Cobb
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 32.8-mile drive from Laguna Hills, CA to Long Beach, CA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 46 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the San Diego Freeway (I-405) and East 7th Street, with about 85% of the journey on highways. Given the short distance and estimated fuel cost of $8, this route is an economical and time-efficient option for getting between these two Pacific Coast locations. It's a practical connection, perfect for a quick transfer or a short excursion without needing an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 32.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 85% of the 32.8 miles spent on freeways like the San Diego Freeway (I-405). The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.6 miles on the San Diego Freeway, offering a consistent pace. While largely a freeway experience, the route will eventually transition to surface streets like East 7th Street as you approach Long Beach. This shift means the drive's character changes from open highway speeds to a more urban, traffic-influenced feel in the final leg.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 22.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and East 7th Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near I 5 / San Diego Freeway.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 32.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (I 5 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (I 405 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.4 miles (I 405 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 5 / San Diego Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / San Diego Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
2.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 405 / San Diego Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 / San Diego Freeway toward I 405 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 94A
Toward I 405 North
6
13.4 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 405 / San Diego Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 / San Diego Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
23.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 405
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
25.8 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
CA 22
Take the exit onto CA 22 toward CA 22 West: Long Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23
Toward CA 22 West: Long Beach
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 22.6 mi | 26m |
| East 7th Street | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| I 405 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| CA 22 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| East 4th Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| El Toro Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Alamitos Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| East Ocean Boulevard | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 22.6 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laguna Hills, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on Paseo de Valencia
39 ft
·
3 sec
·
Paseo de Valencia
2
Turn right onto S18
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
El Toro Road
Use the right lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
4
Merge onto I 5
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
San Diego Freeway
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
11 mi
·
12 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Exit 94A
Toward I 405 North
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto CA 22
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
CA 22
Exit 23
Toward CA 22 West: Long Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto East 7th Street
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
East 7th Street
11
Turn left onto Rose Avenue
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Rose Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
At end of road, turn right onto East 4th Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
East 4th Street
13
Turn left onto Alamitos Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Alamitos Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto East Ocean Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Ocean Boulevard
Use the right lane.
15
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.4 mi from Laguna Hills, CA · 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.4 miles from Laguna Hills, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Long Beach, CA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Long Beach, CA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.54 one way
$15.08 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $7.77 | $15.54 |
| premium | $6.18 | $7.98 | $15.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.24 | $14.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.44 | $1.57 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Morning in Long Beach on Friday
Local time
11:28 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
46m 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 Laguna Hills, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 32.8 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Diego Freeway, East 7th Street, I 405. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.4 miles from Laguna Hills, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.54 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 short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 32.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (I 5 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (I 405 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.4 miles (I 405 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Laguna Hills, CA to Long Beach, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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