Origin
Long Beach, CA
Afternoon in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
12:25 PM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Long Beach, CA to Pasadena, CA
Drive Time
43m
Distance
29 mi
47 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Long Beach, CA
Saidamir Mukhitdinov
Pasadena, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
If you are looking to get from Long Beach to Pasadena, this 29-mile trip serves as a straightforward connection between two distinct Pacific Coast hubs. Expect a drive time of roughly 43 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of just $7, it is a highly economical route for a quick change of scenery. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major arterial roads, moving efficiently from the coast toward the inland basin. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of pace, the simplicity of this journey allows for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
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
14.5 miles from Long Beach, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
This 29-mile journey is heavily highway-focused, with 73% of your time spent on high-speed thoroughfares. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 20.6 miles on the Long Beach Freeway, which serves as the backbone of the trip. The transition from the coastal environment into the Pasadena area involves shifting from these fast highway lanes onto local roads like South Fremont Avenue and Fair Oaks Avenue. While the initial portion of the drive provides a consistent, steady pace, the final miles require you to navigate the transition into urban street navigation. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive designed for speed rather than leisure.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Beach Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Beach Freeway and South Fremont Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 29 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 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.8 miles (Columbia Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 710 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 710 North
7
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 710 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Toward I 710 North
6
26.8 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Columbia Street
At end of road, turn right onto Columbia Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
27 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
Fair Oaks Avenue
Turn left onto Fair Oaks Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
28.5 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
US 66 HISTORIC / East Colorado Boulevard
Turn right onto US 66 HISTORIC / East Colorado Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach Freeway | 20.6 mi | 25m |
| South Fremont Avenue | 3.3 mi | 7m |
| Fair Oaks Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Ocean Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| West Valley Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Shoreline Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Seaside Freeway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Colorado Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Long Beach Freeway
— 20.6 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Beach, CA and Pasadena, CA.
1
Start on East Ocean Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
East Ocean Boulevard
Use the none lane.
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
Use the none lane.
6
Merge onto I 710
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
Use the none lane.
7
Continue on I 710
21 mi
·
25 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the none lane.
8
Turn right onto West Valley Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Valley Boulevard
Use the none lane.
9
Turn left onto South Fremont Avenue
3.3 mi
·
7 min
·
South Fremont Avenue
Use the left lane.
10
At end of road, turn right onto Columbia Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Columbia Street
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto Fair Oaks Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Fair Oaks Avenue
Use the none lane.
12
Turn right onto US 66 HISTORIC
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Colorado Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto North Garfield Avenue
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Garfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto East Holly Street
73 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Holly Street
15
Arrive at destination
East Holly Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a short 43-minute trip, you have plenty of freedom to plan your departure around your own preferences. Since you won't need to schedule any formal stops along the way, you can easily complete the entire distance in one go without fatigue. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $7, so it is a good idea to ensure you have a full tank before leaving to avoid unnecessary detours. To make the most of your travel, try to avoid peak commuter hours to ensure you maintain that projected 43-minute duration. Focus your attention on the transition from the Long Beach Freeway to Fair Oaks Avenue, as this is where the route shifts from highway speeds to local traffic patterns.
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 14.5 miles from Long Beach, CA, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.6 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 29 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.5 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pasadena, 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 29 miles and 43m.
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 Long Beach Freeway for about 20.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.5 mi from Long Beach, CA · 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.5 miles from Long Beach, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Pasadena, CA
The final approach into Pasadena, 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 Pasadena, 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
$6.72 one way
$13.43 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $6.93 | $13.85 |
| premium | $6.24 | $7.13 | $14.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.44 | $12.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| Efficient EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.54 | $1.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.06 | $1.86 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Pasadena, CA
Afternoon in Pasadena on Sunday
Local time
12:25 PM
PDT
Current temp
77°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
3 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
43m 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 Long Beach, CA to Pasadena, CA covers 29 miles and takes about 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Beach Freeway, South Fremont Avenue, Fair Oaks Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.5 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 $6.72 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 13 significant decision points across 29 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 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 1.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.8 miles (Columbia Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Long Beach, CA to Pasadena, 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 Pasadena, CA
More trips to Pasadena, CA
Explore more options from Long Beach, CA or browse trips ending in Pasadena, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Long Beach, CA or Pasadena, CA on MapSof.net.