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Trip from Long Beach, CA to Lemon Grove, CA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

2h 19m

Distance

111 mi

179 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 10m ★
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.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Long Beach, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in San Diego County, California, USA

Lemon Grove, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 111-mile drive from Long Beach, CA to Lemon Grove, CA is a straightforward trip designed for a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 19 minutes. Primarily utilizing the San Diego Freeway, Jacob Dekema Freeway, and San Diego Freeway, about 80% of this journey is on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $26, this route offers an economical option for traversing between these two Pacific Coast communities within California. You won't need to worry about breaking this trip into multiple days; it's perfectly manageable in one go, allowing for a full day at your destination.

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 Long Beach, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 111-mile journey. With an 80% highway share, you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained freeways like the San Diego Freeway and Jacob Dekema Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 55.8 miles on the San Diego Freeway, indicating long periods of consistent travel. This route offers a predictable driving experience, largely keeping you on fast-paced routes without significant diversions into slower local roads.

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 55.8 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 19.2 miles in near CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 22 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 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; at 34.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

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

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
8
109.9 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in

Take the exit toward Broadway, College Avenue

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 6 Toward Broadway, College Avenue
8
110 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Broadway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward Broadway

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
San Diego Freeway 55.8 mi 1h 5m
Jacob Dekema Freeway 13.9 mi 16m
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor 12.8 mi 14m
I 405 10.3 mi 11m
Corona Del Mar Freeway 4 mi 4m
Martin Luther King Junior Freeway 3.3 mi 3m
East 7th Street 3.3 mi 7m
East 3rd Street 1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: San Diego Freeway — 55.8 mi, about 1h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Long Beach, CA and Lemon Grove, 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

54 mi · 1 hr 3 min · San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 54 sec
Exit 31
21

Continue on I 805

14 mi · 16 min · Jacob Dekema Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 13A Toward CA 94 East: Martin Luther King Junior Freeway Use the slight right lane.
23

Merge onto CA 94

3.3 mi · 3 min · Martin Luther King Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 13 sec
Exit 6 Toward Broadway, College Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Keep slight left at fork

361 ft · 10 sec
Toward Broadway Use the straight / right lanes.
26

Continue on Broadway

0.9 mi · 1 min · Broadway
Use the straight / left lanes.
27

Turn right

184 ft · 18 sec
28

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 2-hour and 19-minute duration, leaving Long Beach in the morning, perhaps before 8 AM, will help you avoid peak traffic and arrive in Lemon Grove with plenty of daylight. Since this is a single-day trip and the longest stretch on one freeway is under an hour, you can easily complete it without needing scheduled stops for rest if you prefer. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $26 estimated cost suggests you'll want to ensure you're topped off before embarking, especially if you plan on exploring once you arrive in Lemon Grove.

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 Long Beach, CA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 55.5 miles or 1h 12m 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 54m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lemon Grove, 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 111 miles and 2h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Long Beach, 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 55.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 55.5 mi from Long Beach, CA · 1h 12m into the drive

city in Orange County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Irvine, CA

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

Oceanside, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oceanside, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 55.5 miles from Long Beach, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lemon Grove, CA

The final approach into Lemon Grove, 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 Lemon Grove, 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

$25.51 one way

$51.03 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $26.29 $52.58
premium $6.18 $26.99 $53.99
diesel $5.61 $24.51 $49.01

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, 2026-04-13.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 14 hours ago

Origin

Long Beach, CA

Late night in Long Beach on Wednesday

Local time

2:49 AM

PDT

Current temp

68°F

Sunny

WNW 0 to 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 9:35AM PDT until April 15 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR

Lake Wind Advisory

Lake Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 12:37AM PDT until April 15 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV

Destination

Lemon Grove, CA

Late night in Lemon Grove on Wednesday

Local time

2:49 AM

PDT

Current temp

72°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

4 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

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 Lemon Grove, 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 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 $25.51 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 22 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 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; at 34.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Long Beach, CA to Lemon Grove, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Lemon Grove, CA to Long Beach, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

111 mi 2h 19m

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