This 406.4-mile drive from Long Beach, CA to Pacifica, CA is designed as a single-day adventure, estimated to take around 7 hours and 45 minutes. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with 97% of the journey on the Westside Freeway and US 101, making it a highly efficient trip. The estimated fuel cost is about $93, and with just two recommended stops, you can cover significant ground quickly. This route is a straightforward, highway-focused experience connecting two points within the Pacific Coast region of California.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
203.2 miles from Long Beach, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 49m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 406.4-mile journey. With 97% of your travel on freeways like the Westside Freeway and US 101, you'll experience long stretches of consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 182.5 miles on the Westside Freeway, offering a chance to make good time. While the primary character is highway cruising, the route is designed to efficiently move you between these two California coastal cities.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 38 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 182.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and US 101. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in.
Route Complexity10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 406.4 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: at 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 33 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
4.7 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Santa Monica, San Diego
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.
Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Santa Monica,...
9
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...
8
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
8
5.2 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
9
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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Long Beach, CA and Pacifica, CA, road signs point toward Hollister and San Jose.
Hollister
290.7 mi in|~5h 23m
San Jose
290.7 mi in|~5h 23m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
182.5 mi
3h 15m
US 101
46.7 mi
53m
CA 152
41.1 mi
51m
San Diego Freeway
40.8 mi
47m
I 5 Truck
39.3 mi
45m
Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi
25m
South Valley Freeway
19.9 mi
22m
Long Beach Freeway
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 182.5 mi, about 3h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Beach, CA and Pacifica, CA.
1
Start on East Ocean Boulevard
0.7 mi·2 min·East Ocean Boulevard
2
Turn right onto North Golden Avenue
414 ft·6 sec·North Golden Avenue
3
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 710 North
4
Merge onto Shoreline Drive
0.5 mi·47 sec·Shoreline Drive
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·31 sec
Toward I 710 North
6
Merge onto I 710
0.5 mi·41 sec·Seaside Freeway
7
Continue on I 710
2.3 mi·3 min·Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi·10 sec
Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Santa Monica, San DiegoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 405 North, I 710: Long Beach Freeway North, Santa MonicaUse the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 405 North: Santa MonicaUse the sharp right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 405 North: Santa MonicaUse the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 405 NorthUse the straight lane.
13
Merge onto I 405
41 mi·47 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
183 mi·3 hr 15 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 403BToward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
20
Continue on CA 152; CA33
29 mi·33 min·CA 152; CA33
Use the straight lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152
12 mi·16 min·CA 152
22
Take the exit onto CA 152
0.5 mi·1 min·CA 152
Toward US 101 North: San Jose
23
Merge onto US 101; CA 152
20 mi·22 min·South Valley Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
22 mi·25 min·US 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
25 mi·28 min·US 101
Use the slight left lane.
26
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 423BToward I 380 West: San BrunoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto I 380
160 ft·2 sec·Quentin L. Kopp Freeway
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi·28 sec
Exit 5Toward CA 82: El Camino RealUse the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Turn right onto CA 82
0.2 mi·23 sec·El Camino Real
Use the right lane.
30
Turn left onto Sneath Lane
1.7 mi·2 min·Sneath Lane
Use the left / uturn lanes.
31
Turn right onto CA 35
1.4 mi·2 min·Skyline Boulevard
Use the right lane.
32
Turn left onto Sharp Park Road
2.1 mi·3 min·Sharp Park Road
Use the left lane.
33
Turn slight right
159 ft·7 sec
Toward Francisco BoulevardUse the right lane.
34
Turn straight onto Francisco Boulevard
218 ft·6 sec·Francisco Boulevard
35
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward CA 1 South: Half Moon Bay, Santa CruzUse the right lane.
36
Merge onto CA 1
0.9 mi·1 min·Cabrillo Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Turn sharp left onto Reina del Mar Avenue
90 ft·4 sec·Reina del Mar Avenue
38
Arrive at destination
Reina del Mar Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour, 45-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Long Beach to avoid potential traffic. With only two suggested stops and the majority of the route on freeways, you can easily break up the 406.4 miles into manageable segments. The longest stretch is over 180 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 182.5-mile mark on the Westside Freeway, as it's the longest stretch before potential services.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 203.2 miles from Long Beach, CA, or about 3h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.5 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 89 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 203.2 miles or 3h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pacifica, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Long Beach, CA
This is one driving day of about 406.4 miles and 7h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Long Beach, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 182.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 203.2 mi from Long Beach, CA
· 3h 49m into the drive
The midpoint is around 203.2 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 182.5 miles.
Arriving in Pacifica, CA
The final approach into Pacifica, 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 Pacifica, CA.
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.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 406.4
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 406.4
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...
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
$15
near mile 406.4
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 406.4
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
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 112.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$93.41 one way
$186.82 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg142 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$96.26
$192.51
premium
$6.18
$98.83
$197.66
diesel
$5.61
$89.73
$179.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$93
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$118–$143
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
121.9
1
$42.67
$19.51
Efficient EV
101.6
1
$35.56
$16.26
EV Truck/SUV
162.6
2
$56.90
$26.01
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
48 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 4 hours ago
Origin
Long Beach, CA
Evening
in Long Beach on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
W 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pacifica, CA
Evening
in Pacifica on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°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
21 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
7h 45m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Pacifica, CA covers 406.4 miles and takes about 7h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, US 101, CA 152. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 203.2 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 $93.41 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 406.4 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: at 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.
Between Long Beach, CA and Pacifica, CA, road signs point toward Hollister and San Jose.
