Origin
Long Beach, CA
Afternoon in Long Beach on Thursday
Local time
1:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Long Beach, CA to San Bernardino, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
71.8 mi
115 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 71.8-mile drive from Long Beach, CA to San Bernardino, CA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 27 minutes. Designed as a 1-day trip, it's perfect for a quick transfer within the Pacific Coast region. You'll primarily be on major freeways like the Long Beach Freeway, Artesia Freeway, and Riverside Freeway. With an estimated fuel cost of $17, this route is quite budget-friendly. Expect a consistent driving experience without the need for overnight stops, making it a practical choice for your travel plans.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 71.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is almost entirely highway, with a 95% highway share, offering a high-speed driving experience. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 46 miles on the Riverside Freeway. The drive maintains a consistent profile, largely characterized by freeway travel, so expect a straightforward journey where the road conditions remain predictable. The primary roads guiding you are the Riverside Freeway, Artesia Freeway, and Long Beach Freeway, all major arteries designed for efficient travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Riverside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 46 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Riverside Freeway and Artesia Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.8 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.2 miles (CA 91 / Riverside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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
8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward CA 91 East: Riverside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8A
Toward CA 91 East: Riverside
6
30.2 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
CA 91 / Riverside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 91 / Riverside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
70.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward 5th Street, Civic Center
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 44A
Toward 5th Street, Civic Center
6
71.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
West 5th Street
Turn right onto West 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside Freeway | 46 mi | 53m |
| Artesia Freeway | 12.6 mi | 14m |
| Long Beach Freeway | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| East Ocean Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| West 5th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Shoreline Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Seaside Freeway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Riverside Freeway
— 46 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Beach, CA and San Bernardino, 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
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 8A
Toward CA 91 East: Riverside
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 91 East: Riverside
10
Merge onto CA 91
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Artesia Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on CA 91
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 91
37 mi
·
42 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 215
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 44A
Toward 5th Street, Civic Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto West 5th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 5th Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
16
Arrive at destination
West 5th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.9 mi from Long Beach, CA · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.9 miles from Long Beach, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in San Bernardino, CA
The final approach into San Bernardino, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.50 one way
$33.01 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $17.01 | $34.01 |
| premium | $6.18 | $17.46 | $34.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.85 | $31.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$17
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.54 | $3.45 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.28 | $2.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.7 | 0 | $10.05 | $4.60 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
San Bernardino, CA
Afternoon in San Bernardino on Thursday
Local time
1:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 27m 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 San Bernardino, CA covers 71.8 miles and takes about 1h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Riverside Freeway, Artesia Freeway, Long Beach Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.9 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 $16.50 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.8 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.2 miles (CA 91 / Riverside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Long Beach, CA to San Bernardino, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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