Century City Mall Dining Terrace
Near the start, short detour
Los Angeles, California
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+13102773898
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 21m
Distance
388.7 mi
626 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$89
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Belmont, CA
Wikimedia Commons
This 388.7-mile drive from Long Beach, CA, to Belmont, CA, will take you approximately 7 hours and 21 minutes, making it a feasible day trip. The route primarily utilizes the Westside Freeway, CA 152, and the San Diego Freeway, with 99% of the journey on highways. Expect a fuel cost of around $89 for this journey. With two planned stops, you can break up the drive effectively. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip across California, connecting two points along the Pacific Coast region.
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
194.4 miles from Long Beach, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 39m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 182.5 mi | 3h 15m |
| CA 152 | 41.1 mi | 51m |
| San Diego Freeway | 40.8 mi | 47m |
| I 5 Truck | 39.3 mi | 45m |
| US 101 | 35.9 mi | 41m |
| Golden State Freeway | 22.3 mi | 25m |
| South Valley Freeway | 19.9 mi | 22m |
| Long Beach Freeway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Long Beach, CA and Belmont, CA.
Start on East Ocean Boulevard
Turn right onto North Golden Avenue
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto Shoreline Drive
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 710
Continue on I 710
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 405
Merge onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Continue on CA 152; CA33
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152
Take the exit onto CA 152
Merge onto US 101; CA 152
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
Take the exit
Turn left onto Marine Parkway
Continue on Ralston Avenue
Turn left onto CA 82
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 7-hour, 21-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Long Beach to avoid potential traffic. With a fuel cost estimated at $89, plan your refueling stops accordingly, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 182.5 miles on the Westside Freeway. While it's manageable as a day trip, having two stops planned provides flexibility for rest or a quick break. Keep an eye on the CA 152 segment, as highway conditions can vary.
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.
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 86 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 194.4 miles or 3h 39m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belmont, CA than in the middle of the route.
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 388.7 miles and 7h 21m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
194 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.
A short stop after about 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 194.4 miles from Long Beach, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 182.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Los Angeles, California
Near the start, short detour
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+13102773898
Bubu's Restaurant
Long Beach, California
Urban Putt San Jose
San Jose, California
Near the start, short detour
Los Angeles, California
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+13102773898
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Long Beach, California
Hours: 8 am–4 pm
+15625347279
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
San Jose, California
Hours: 5–10 pm
+18339984994
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
San Jose, California
Hours: 10 am–2 pm
+14085138290
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Marina Del Rey, California
Hours: 10 am–10 pm
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Santa Monica, California
Hours: 4:30 pm–12 am
+13102300402
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Marina Del Rey, California
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+13103399706
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Coalinga, California
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Stevenson Ranch, California
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Coalinga, California
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Valencia, California
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18774943833
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Valencia, California
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18774943833
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Valencia, California
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Valencia, California
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Valencia, California
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Long Beach, CA
Hours: 9 am–6 pm
+15624324900
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Long Beach, California
Hours: 9 am–6 pm
+15625903100
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
Long Beach, California
Hours: 8 am–5 pm
+15624729514
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
San Jose, California
Hours: 10 am–4 pm
+14087946400
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
San Jose, California
Hours: 8 am–7 pm
+14087947275
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Los Angeles, California
Hours: 12–8 pm
+14243455068
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
San Jose, California
Hours: 1–10 pm
+14086220505
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
San Mateo, California
Hours: 10 am–10:40 pm
+16504583025
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 387.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 North: Santa Monica
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward Ralston Avenue, Marine Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$89.34 one way
$178.68 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $92.06 | $184.13 |
| premium | $6.18 | $94.53 | $189.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $85.82 | $171.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$89
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$114–$139
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 136 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 116.6 | 1 | $40.81 | $18.66 |
| Efficient EV | 97.2 | 1 | $34.01 | $15.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 155.5 | 1 | $54.42 | $24.88 |
Gas CO2
136 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Long Beach on Saturday
Local time
11:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Belmont on Saturday
Local time
11:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 99% of the 388.7 miles spent on major freeways like the Westside Freeway and San Diego Freeway. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 182.5 miles on the Westside Freeway, offering a consistent pace. The road maintains a highway profile for the majority of the trip, so anticipate a steady and efficient journey without significant changes in road type. This route is designed for covering distance effectively.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and CA 152. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in.
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 25 significant decision points across 388.7 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 4.8 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; at 5.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Long Beach, CA and Belmont, CA, road signs point toward Hollister and San Jose.
Hollister
San Jose
Founded 1888
Long Beach is a large port city in Los Angeles County in Southern California. Long Beach has some nice people-gathering amenities and genuine tourist attractions, such as a world-class aquarium and the Queen Mary floating museum/hotel. Special events are also held in the city like the annual Long Beach Grand Prix (a premier racing event held on city streets) and the annual Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride event. When compared to other areas like Hollywood, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and West L.A., Long Beach may not always be at the top of someone's tourist visit to the Los Angeles area, but the city draws its fair share of visitors and has proven it can definitely hold its own.
Top landmarks
Founded 1926
Belmont is on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 21m. Total distance: 388.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 21m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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