Origin
Lemon Grove, CA
Afternoon in Lemon Grove on Sunday
Local time
12:48 PM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lemon Grove, CA to Long Beach, CA
Drive Time
2h 19m
Distance
111 mi
179 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 9m
★
6 AM
2h 19m
8 AM
2h 38m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 27m
5 PM
2h 37m
8 PM
2h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lemon Grove, CA
Magda Ehlers
Long Beach, CA
Saidamir Mukhitdinov
Trip Overview
Traveling from Lemon Grove to Long Beach covers 111 miles of Southern California coastline, typically taking about 2 hours and 19 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate a combination of the Jacob Dekema Freeway, the San Diego Freeway, and the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. With a fuel budget of approximately $26, this drive is an efficient way to transition between two major hubs within the Pacific Coast region. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick getaway, the route offers a straightforward path along the coast.
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
55.5 miles from Lemon Grove, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 81% of your journey spent on high-speed thoroughfares. Expect a consistent pace, as your route features a significant 63-mile uninterrupted stretch along the San Diego Freeway. While the path stays fast and efficient, the road personality shifts as you transition between major regional freeways and the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. You won't find many technical local roads here; instead, you can settle into a steady rhythm on the pavement. Overall, the experience is designed for direct travel rather than leisurely winding, keeping you moving steadily toward your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 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 63 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and Jacob Dekema Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 111 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 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
4.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 805 South, I 805 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 3
Toward I 805 South, I 805 North
7
4.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 805 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 805 North
7
5.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 805 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 805 North
7
73.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
CA 73 / San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 73 / San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor toward CA 73 North: Long Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 73 North: Long Beach
7
104.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 23
Toward CA 22 West: Long Beach
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 63 mi | 1h 13m |
| Jacob Dekema Freeway | 14.2 mi | 16m |
| San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor | 14.1 mi | 16m |
| Corona Del Mar Freeway | 4 mi | 4m |
| Martin Luther King Junior Freeway | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| East 7th Street | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| I 405 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| CA 22 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 63 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lemon Grove, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on this road
127 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn slight left onto Broadway
172 ft
·
9 sec
·
Broadway
3
Continue on Broadway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward CA 94 West: Martin Luther King Junior Freeway
Use the none lane.
5
Merge onto CA 94
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Martin Luther King Junior Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 3
Toward I 805 South, I 805 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 805 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 805 North
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 805
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Jacob Dekema Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
Use the none lane.
11
Merge onto I 5
35 mi
·
41 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the none lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 73
14 mi
·
16 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
Toward CA 73 North: Long Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on CA 73
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Corona Del Mar Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 405
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto CA 22
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
CA 22
Exit 23
Toward CA 22 West: Long Beach
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto East 7th Street
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
East 7th Street
Use the none lane.
19
Turn left onto Rose Avenue
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Rose Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
At end of road, turn right onto East 4th Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
East 4th Street
Use the none lane.
21
Turn left onto Alamitos Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Alamitos Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto East Ocean Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Ocean Boulevard
Use the right lane.
23
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
Since this is a 2-hour and 19-minute trek, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to depart whenever it suits your plans best. Because there are zero scheduled stops in the route data, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave to make the most of your $26 budget. Keep a close eye on traffic patterns when merging onto the San Diego Freeway, as this 63-mile segment can experience heavy volume. Since the entire trip is easily manageable in one go, you don't need to worry about splitting the drive into multiple days. Prioritize a steady pace to keep your fuel efficiency consistent across the 111-mile distance.
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 55.5 miles from Lemon Grove, CA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.5 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 47m
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 Lemon Grove, 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 Lemon Grove, CA
This is one driving day of about 111 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lemon Grove, 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 63 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.5 mi from Lemon Grove, CA · 1h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.5 miles from Lemon Grove, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before San Diego Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63 miles.
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
$25.70 one way
$51.41 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $26.51 | $53.02 |
| premium | $6.24 | $27.28 | $54.56 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $24.66 | $49.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.65 | $5.33 |
| Efficient EV | 27.8 | 0 | $9.71 | $4.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.4 | 0 | $15.54 | $7.10 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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
12:48 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
20 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
2h 19m 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 Lemon Grove, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 111 miles and takes about 2h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Diego Freeway, Jacob Dekema Freeway, San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.5 miles from Lemon Grove, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.70 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 19 significant decision points across 111 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 4.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lemon Grove, CA to Long Beach, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Long Beach, CA
More from Lemon Grove, CA
More trips to Long Beach, CA
Explore more options from Lemon Grove, CA or browse trips ending in Long Beach, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Lemon Grove, CA or Long Beach, CA on MapSof.net.