Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Long Beach, CA to La Jolla, CA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

2h 5m

Distance

97.4 mi

157 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 57m ★
6 AM
2h 6m
8 AM
2h 24m
10 AM
2h 12m
12 PM
2h 10m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 23m
8 PM
2h 0m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Long Beach, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown La Jolla, CA, CA

La Jolla, CA

Lindsey Willard

Trip Overview

The drive from Long Beach, CA to La Jolla, CA covers 97.4 miles and takes about 2h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on San Diego Freeway, San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor, I 405 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 58.1 miles on San Diego Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.39 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.

Midpoint

48.7 miles from Long Beach, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 97.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 5m highway drive covering 97.4 miles, with most of the trip on San Diego Freeway and San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. The longest continuous stretch is about 58.1 miles on San Diego Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 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 58.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Long Beach Boulevard.

Driving Effort 10/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 97.4 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: near the start (Long Beach Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles (CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 23 key points

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

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Long Beach Boulevard

Turn right onto Long Beach Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
8
19.2 mi into trip | ~30m in | CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway toward CA 73 South: San Diego

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 10 Toward CA 73 South: San Diego
8
33.6 mi into trip | ~46m in

Take the exit toward La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway

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 La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway
7
34.1 mi into trip | ~47m in

Keep slight left at fork toward CA 73 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward CA 73 South
7
93.2 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in

Take the exit toward La Jolla Village Drive

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 28 Toward La Jolla Village Drive

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
San Diego Freeway 58.1 mi 1h 8m
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor 12.8 mi 14m
I 405 10.3 mi 11m
Corona Del Mar Freeway 4 mi 4m
East 7th Street 3.3 mi 7m
Torrey Pines Road 2.7 mi 5m
East 3rd Street 1 mi 2m
Garden Grove Freeway 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: San Diego Freeway — 58.1 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East Ocean Boulevard

31 ft · 2 sec · East Ocean Boulevard
2

Turn right onto Long Beach Boulevard

423 ft · 18 sec · Long Beach Boulevard
Use the right lane.
3

Turn right onto East 1st Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · East 1st Street
4

At end of road, turn left onto Alamitos Avenue

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Alamitos Avenue
Use the left lane.
5

Turn right onto East 3rd Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · East 3rd Street
6

Turn sharp left onto Junipero Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Junipero Avenue
7

Turn right onto East 7th Street

3.3 mi · 7 min · East 7th Street
8

Continue on CA 22

0.7 mi · 1 min · Garden Grove Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit onto CA 22

0.7 mi · 47 sec · CA 22
Toward I 405 South, CA 22 East
10

Merge onto I 405; CA 22

2.0 mi · 2 min · San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 405

0.2 mi · 11 sec · San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 405

10 mi · 11 min · I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 73

4.0 mi · 4 min · Corona Del Mar Freeway
Exit 10 Toward CA 73 South: San Diego Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on CA 73

10 mi · 11 min · San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

437 ft · 5 sec
Exit 3 Toward La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 33 sec
Toward CA 73 South: Moulton Parkway
17

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 42 sec
Toward CA 73 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Merge onto CA 73 Toll

2.5 mi · 2 min · San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
19

Merge onto I 5

56 mi · 1 hr 5 min · San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Exit 28 Toward La Jolla Village Drive Use the slight right lane.
21

Turn right onto La Jolla Village Drive

0.7 mi · 1 min · La Jolla Village Drive
Use the right lane.
22

Turn left onto US 101 Hist

1.7 mi · 3 min · Torrey Pines Road
Use the left lane.
23

Keep slight right at fork onto US 101 Hist

1.0 mi · 2 min · Torrey Pines Road
Use the left lane.
24

Turn right onto US 101 Hist

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Prospect Place
Use the right lane.
25

Continue on US 101 Hist

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Prospect Street
26

Turn left onto Herschel Avenue

156 ft · 5 sec · Herschel Avenue
27

Turn right

252 ft · 18 sec
28

Arrive at destination

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 48.7 miles from Long Beach, CA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.1 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 21 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 48.7 miles or 1h 4m 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 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Jolla, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Long Beach, CA

This is one driving day of about 97.4 miles and 2h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Long Beach, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on San Diego Freeway for about 58.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 48.7 mi from Long Beach, CA · 1h 4m into the drive

city in Orange County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Laguna Niguel, CA

49 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

Irvine, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Laguna Niguel, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.7 miles from Long Beach, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in La Jolla, CA

The final approach into La Jolla, 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 La Jolla, 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

$22.39 one way

$44.77 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $23.07 $46.14
premium $6.18 $23.69 $47.37
diesel $5.61 $21.50 $43.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.2 0 $10.23 $4.68
Efficient EV 24.4 0 $8.52 $3.90
EV Truck/SUV 39 0 $13.64 $6.23

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Long Beach, CA

Evening in Long Beach on Thursday

Local time

7:11 PM

PDT

Current temp

69°F

Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny

SSW 5 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:43AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Medford OR

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 10:32AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Destination

La Jolla, CA

Evening in La Jolla on Thursday

Local time

7:11 PM

PDT

Current temp

68°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

1 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

2h 5m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 La Jolla, CA covers 97.4 miles and takes about 2h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Diego Freeway, San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor, 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 48.7 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 $22.39 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 23 significant decision points across 97.4 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: near the start (Long Beach Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles (CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Long Beach, CA to La Jolla, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More from Long Beach, CA

Willow Creek, CA 667.1 mi · 12h 23m Susanville, CA 594.5 mi · 11h 29m East Quincy, CA 553 mi · 10h 42m Clear Lake Riviera, CA 487.4 mi · 9h 23m Maxwell, CA 474.2 mi · 8h 44m Palermo, CA 471.6 mi · 8h 49m
Weekend drives from Long Beach, CA Scenic drives in CA

Explore more options from Long Beach, CA or browse trips ending in La Jolla, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

Explore maps for Long Beach, CA or La Jolla, CA on MapSof.net.