Trip from Long Beach, CA to Auburn, CA

Drive Time

8h 9m

Distance

440.9 mi

710 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$102

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Photo: Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from Long Beach, CA to Auburn, CA covers 440.9 miles and takes about 8h 9m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, San Diego Freeway, I 5 Truck for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 297.1 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $102.10 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

220.5 miles from Long Beach, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 7m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 8h 9m highway drive covering 440.9 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and San Diego Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 297.1 miles on Westside Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 297.1 miles.

Elevation Profile

Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes

3,606 ft 30 ft

Total Climb

4,938 ft

Total Descent

3,736 ft

Highest Point

3,606 ft

~94.5 mi in

Elevation Range

3,576 ft

Notable High Points

3,606 ft at ~94.5 miles +3,307 ft prominence

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and San Diego Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 440.9 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 4.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.2 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 28 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4.8 mi into trip | ~7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 North, I 710: Long Beach Freeway North, Santa Monica

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward I 405 North, I 710: Long Beach Freeway N...

4.9 mi into trip | ~8m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Santa Monica

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the sharp right lane. Toward I 405 North: Santa Monica

48.2 mi into trip | ~59m in | I 5 Truck

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

405.4 mi into trip | ~7h 28m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 518 Toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South La...

405.6 mi into trip | ~7h 28m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Exit 518 Toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe

Towns Along This Route

Between Long Beach, CA and Auburn, CA, road signs point toward Lake Tahoe, Broadway and Fresno.

Lake Tahoe

405.3 mi in | ~7h 27m

Broadway

405.4 mi in | ~7h 28m

Fresno

407.5 mi in | ~7h 30m | via I 80 Business

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Westside Freeway	297.1 mi	5h 20m
San Diego Freeway	40.8 mi	47m
I 5 Truck	39.3 mi	45m
Golden State Freeway	22.3 mi	25m
Alan S. Hart Freeway	16.6 mi	19m
Capital City Freeway	10.6 mi	11m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	7 mi	8m
Long Beach Freeway	2.3 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 297.1 mi, about 5h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Long Beach, CA and Auburn, CA.

Start on East Ocean Boulevard

0.7 mi · 2 min · East Ocean Boulevard

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto North Golden Avenue

414 ft · 6 sec · North Golden Avenue

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Toward I 710 North

Merge onto Shoreline Drive

0.5 mi · 47 sec · Shoreline Drive

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 31 sec

Toward I 710 North Use the none lane.

Merge onto I 710

0.5 mi · 41 sec · Seaside Freeway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 710

2.3 mi · 3 min · Long Beach Freeway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 10 sec

Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Santa Monica, San Diego Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Toward I 405 North, I 710: Long Beach Freeway North, Santa Monica Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Toward I 405 North: Santa Monica Use the sharp right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Toward I 405 North: Santa Monica Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Toward I 405 North Use the straight lane.

Merge onto I 405

41 mi · 47 min · San Diego Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 5 Truck

1.6 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

1.5 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck

Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

226 mi · 4 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway

Toward I 5 North Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

26 mi · 27 min · Westside Freeway

Keep left at fork onto I 5

46 mi · 50 min · Westside Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 12 sec

Exit 518 Toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 12 sec

Exit 518 Toward US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 518 Toward US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto US 50; I 80 Business

1.2 mi · 1 min · Capital City Freeway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business

9.4 mi · 10 min · Capital City Freeway

Toward I 80 Business East, CA 99 South: Reno, Fresno Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 80

7.0 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80

17 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

349 ft · 8 sec

Exit 119A Toward Maple Street Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto Maple Street

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Maple Street

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn right

75 ft · 6 sec

Turn right

183 ft · 13 sec

Arrive at 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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 220.5 miles from Long Beach, CA, or about 4h 7m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 297.1 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 97 miles or 1h 54m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 220.5 miles or 4h 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 220.5 miles or 4h 7m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Long Beach, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Long Beach, CA

Aim for roughly 220 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Auburn, CA

Aim for roughly 220 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 97 miles from Long Beach, CA.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 297.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 220.5 mi from Long Beach, CA · 4h 7m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Bakersfield, CA

220 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Bakersfield, CA

Overnight Options

Night 1

Bakersfield, CA

220 mi · about 4.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Bakersfield, CA after about 220 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Bakersfield, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 97 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fresno, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 220.5 miles from Long Beach, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 297.1 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 220 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.

Arriving in Auburn, CA

The final approach into Auburn, 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 Auburn, CA.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Auburn, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...

18 mi from route ~44 min detour Free near mile 30.4

View on nps.gov

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...

27 mi from route ~69 min detour Free near mile 106.4

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$102.10 one way

$204.20 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 154 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.07	$105.30	$210.59
premium	$6.24	$108.37	$216.74
diesel	$5.64	$97.95	$195.91

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$102

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$232–$342

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 154.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	132.3	1	$46.29	$21.16
Efficient EV	110.2	1	$38.58	$17.64
EV Truck/SUV	176.4	2	$61.73	$28.22

Gas CO2

154 kg

EV CO2

52 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Long Beach, CA

Morning in Long Beach on Sunday

Local time

11:18 AM

PDT

Current temp

64°F

Light Rain

SW 5 to 15 mph 100% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 8:16AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 6:49AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Destination

Auburn, CA

Morning in Auburn on Sunday

Local time

11:18 AM

PDT

Current temp

51°F

Showers And Thunderstorms

S 8 to 12 mph 95% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 8:16AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 6:49AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

13 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

8h 9m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Long Beach, CA to Auburn, CA covers 440.9 miles and takes about 8h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Westside Freeway, San Diego Freeway, I 5 Truck. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 220 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 220.5 miles from Long Beach, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $102.10 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Long Beach, CA and Auburn, CA, road signs point toward Lake Tahoe, Broadway and Fresno.

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