Origin
Los Altos, CA
Late night in Los Altos on Monday
Local time
3:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Altos, CA to Long Beach, CA
Drive Time
7h 11m
Distance
376.7 mi
606 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$87
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 0m
★
6 AM
7h 11m
8 AM
7h 33m
10 AM
7h 19m
12 PM
7h 17m
3 PM
7h 20m
5 PM
7h 32m
8 PM
7h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Altos, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Long Beach, CA
Saidamir Mukhitdinov
Trip Overview
Driving the 376.7 miles from Los Altos to Long Beach is a straightforward journey typically taking about 7 hours and 11 minutes. Because this route is heavily focused on major highways, you can comfortably complete the trek in a single day, though staying alert is key for the long haul. You should budget approximately $51 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Pacific Coast hubs. While the trip is efficient, it remains a significant commitment that demands a focused approach to your schedule. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this highway-centric path offers a reliable, no-nonsense connection across California.
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
188.3 miles from Los Altos, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a high-speed, highway-focused experience, as 88% of this route consists of major thoroughfares. You will navigate the Pacheco Pass Highway and the I-5 Truck route, with the Westside Freeway serving as the backbone of your journey. Be prepared for a sustained stretch of driving, as the Westside Freeway accounts for the longest uninterrupted segment at 181.1 miles. The road’s personality is defined by consistent, fast-paced interstate travel that prioritizes efficiency over technical, winding backroads. You will find that the rhythm of the drive remains steady throughout, allowing you to settle into a consistent pace as you transition between regions.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North San Antonio Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 11m, 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 Los Altos, CA to Long Beach, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North San Antonio Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Foothill Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 280 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Junipero Serra Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 85 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Valley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 101 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 152 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North San Antonio Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Altos, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on North San Antonio Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North San Antonio Road
2
Continue on North San Antonio Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North San Antonio Road
3
Continue on Foothill Expressway
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Foothill Expressway
4
Take the exit slight right toward I 280 South: San Jose
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 280 South: San Jose
5
Turn slight left onto Junipero Serra Freeway
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Junipero Serra Freeway
6
Take the exit right toward CA 85 South: Gilroy
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
CA 85 South: Gilroy
7
Merge slight left onto West Valley Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
West Valley Freeway
8
Continue on US 101 South
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 101 South
9
Continue straight
20 mi
·
23 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
11
Turn left onto East 10th Street
354 ft
·
13 sec
·
East 10th Street
12
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
41 mi
·
50 min
·
Pacheco Pass Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5: Los Angeles
14
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
Westside Freeway
15
Keep slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
16
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
17
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
18
Keep slight right
23 mi
·
26 min
19
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
20
Take the exit slight right toward I 710 South: Long Beach
377 ft
·
9 sec
·
I 710 South: Long Beach
21
Continue on I 710 South: Long Beach
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 710 South: Long Beach
22
Merge slight left onto Long Beach Freeway
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
23
Continue on Seaside Freeway
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
24
Take the exit slight left toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
25
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoreline Drive
26
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
South Chestnut Place
27
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
28
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
East Ocean Boulevard
29
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
To keep your 7-hour and 11-minute drive manageable, plan for at least two intentional stops to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the longest leg is 181.1 miles, try to time your breaks to align with the conclusion of that stretch on the Westside Freeway. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid mid-day congestion and ensure you arrive in Long Beach with plenty of time to spare. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge throughout the trip, keeping the $51 estimate in mind as you pass through different service areas. If you find the highway pace tiring, remember that breaking the trip into two distinct segments can help you maintain focus behind the wheel.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 188.3 miles from Los Altos, CA, or about 3h 35m into the drive.
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 83 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188.3 miles or 3h 35m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Long Beach, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Los Altos, 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 Los Altos, CA
This is one driving day of about 376.7 miles and 7h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Los Altos, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 188.3 mi from Los Altos, CA · 3h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
188 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 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 188.3 miles from Los Altos, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Long Beach, CA
The final approach into Long Beach, 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 Long Beach, 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
$87.23 one way
$174.47 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
132 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $89.96 | $179.93 |
| premium | $6.24 | $92.59 | $185.18 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $83.69 | $167.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$87
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$112–$137
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 113 | 1 | $39.55 | $18.08 |
| Efficient EV | 94.2 | 1 | $32.96 | $15.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 150.7 | 1 | $52.74 | $24.11 |
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Late night in Long Beach on Monday
Local time
3:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°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
25 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
7h 11m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Los Altos, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 376.7 miles and takes about 7h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North San Antonio Road, Foothill Expressway, I 280 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 188.3 miles from Los Altos, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $87.23 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 11m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Los Altos, CA to Long Beach, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Los Altos, CA to Long Beach, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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