If you are planning to travel from Long Beach to Lawndale, you are looking at a quick 15.6-mile trip that typically takes about 22 minutes. Because this journey is so brief, it works perfectly as a simple day trip that requires no overnight stays. You will primarily utilize the San Diego Freeway and the Long Beach Freeway, with a bit of East Ocean Boulevard to get you started. Budgeting about $4 for fuel should be plenty for this short transit across the Pacific Coast region. It is a straightforward, functional drive that gets you between these two Southern California points with minimal fuss. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick meeting, the route is designed for efficiency rather than leisure.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 22m. Total distance: 15.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 76% of your time spent cruising on major arteries. Expect a fast-paced experience, highlighted by a notable 9.2-mile stretch along the San Diego Freeway that allows you to maintain steady momentum. While the journey begins near the coast, the personality of the road is defined by its industrial and urban highway connections rather than scenic winding lanes. You will find that the transitions between the Long Beach Freeway and the San Diego Freeway are the primary technical components of the trip. Behind the wheel, it feels like a standard metropolitan commute where the focus remains on navigating traffic flow rather than taking in the sights.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 9.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and Long Beach Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 15.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
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 15 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
7
5.5 mi into trip|~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 405 North
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 Lawndale, CA, road signs point toward San Diego and Santa Monica.
San Diego
4.7 mi in|~7m
Santa Monica
4.8 mi in|~7m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
San Diego Freeway
9.2 mi
10m
Long Beach Freeway
2.3 mi
3m
East Ocean Boulevard
0.7 mi
2m
Shoreline Drive
0.5 mi
<1m
Seaside Freeway
0.5 mi
<1m
Manhattan Beach Boulevard
0.3 mi
<1m
Hawthorne Boulevard
0.2 mi
<1m
North Golden Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 9.2 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Long Beach, CA and Lawndale, 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
9.2 mi·10 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 42AToward CA 107: Hawthorne BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto Hawthorne Boulevard
0.2 mi·16 sec·Hawthorne Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Manhattan Beach Boulevard
0.1 mi·23 sec·Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Use the left / uturn lanes.
17
Continue on Manhattan Beach Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.59 one way
$7.17 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg6 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$3.69
$7.39
premium
$6.18
$3.79
$7.59
diesel
$5.61
$3.44
$6.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging
· 0 stops
· 60% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
4.7
0
$1.64
$0.75
Efficient EV
3.9
0
$1.37
$0.62
EV Truck/SUV
6.2
0
$2.18
$1.00
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Long Beach, CA
Afternoon
in Long Beach on Friday
Local time
4:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
SSW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Lawndale, CA
Afternoon
in Lawndale on Friday
Local time
4:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°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
1 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
22m 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 Lawndale, CA covers 15.6 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Diego Freeway, Long Beach Freeway, East Ocean Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.8 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 $3.59 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 short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 15.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
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 Lawndale, CA, road signs point toward San Diego and Santa Monica.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
How this page is built
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.
