Drive Time
6h 27m
Distance
408.4 mi
657 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$95
one way
Photo: Stephen Leonardi
The drive from Long Beach, CA to Sacramento, CA covers 408.4 miles and takes about 6h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Golden Avenue, I 710 North, Shoreline Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $94.58 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
204.2 miles from Long Beach, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 13m into the drive .
Expect a 6h 27m drive with frequent turns across 408.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 27m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Long Beach, CA to Sacramento, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Golden Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 710 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Shoreline Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Seaside Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Long Beach Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 405 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| San Diego Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Long Beach, CA and Sacramento, CA.
Start on East Ocean Boulevard
Turn right onto North Golden Avenue
Keep slight left to continue on I 710 North
Merge slight left onto Shoreline Drive
Keep slight left to continue on I 710 North
Merge slight right onto Seaside Freeway
Continue on Long Beach Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Santa Monica, San Diego
Keep slight left to continue on I 405 North, I 710: Long Beach Freeway North, Santa Monica
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 North: Santa Monica
Keep slight left to continue on I 405 North: Santa Monica
Keep slight left to continue on I 405 North
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
Merge slight right
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Keep slight left
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward J Street, Downtown
Turn right onto J Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Turn right onto H Street
Turn right onto 9th Street
Arrive at your destination
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 90 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 204.2 miles or 3h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sacramento, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Long Beach, CA
This is one driving day of about 408.4 miles and 6h 27m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 204.2 mi from Long Beach, CA · 3h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
204 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 90 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 204.2 miles from Long Beach, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Sacramento, 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 Sacramento, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$94.58 one way
$189.15 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $97.53 | $195.07 |
| premium | $6.24 | $100.38 | $200.76 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $90.73 | $181.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$95
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$120–$145
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 122.5 | 1 | $42.88 | $19.60 |
| Efficient EV | 102.1 | 1 | $35.73 | $16.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 163.4 | 2 | $57.18 | $26.14 |
Gas CO2
143 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Long Beach on Saturday
Local time
8:57 PM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Sacramento on Saturday
Local time
8:57 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
76°F
Santa Clarita, CA
204 mi in
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.
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