This 497.2-mile journey from Magalia, CA to Long Beach, CA takes approximately 9 hours and 24 minutes, making it a solid two-day trip rather than a single-day push. You'll be spending 93% of your time on highways, with the Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, and CA 70 being your main corridors. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $114. Given the long stretches involved, planning for at least two stops is advisable to break up the nearly 10-hour driving time. This route is primarily a highway-focused drive connecting two points within the Pacific Coast region.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
248.6 miles from Magalia, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 46m into the drive
.
Drive Character
Expect a drive that is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 93% of the route utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 303.7 miles on the Westside Freeway, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed. While the specific character of CA 70 and I 5 Truck isn't detailed, the profile suggests a predominantly fast-paced experience with minimal time spent on slower, more scenic local roads. This route prioritizes efficient travel over winding backroads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 303.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 54.1 miles in near CA 70.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 497.2 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 54.1 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 151.4 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 388 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
54.1 mi into trip|~1h 12m in|CA 70
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
151.4 mi into trip|~3h 2m in|I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
388 mi into trip|~7h 15m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
450.4 mi into trip|~8h 27m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
7
494.8 mi into trip|~9h 19m in
Take the exit toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center,...
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
303.7 mi
5h 28m
I 5 Truck
58.6 mi
1h 7m
CA 70
51.2 mi
1h
I 405 Truck
23 mi
26m
San Diego Freeway
18 mi
20m
Clark Road
14.7 mi
23m
Golden State Highway
7.7 mi
8m
Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
4.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 303.7 mi, about 5h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Magalia, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on Glover Lane
97 ft·6 sec·Glover Lane
2
Turn right onto Depot Lane
64 ft·3 sec·Depot Lane
3
Turn right onto New Skyway
0.9 mi·1 min·New Skyway
4
Continue on Skyway
0.3 mi·44 sec·Skyway
5
Turn left onto Clark Road
11 mi·18 min·Clark Road
6
Continue on CA 191
3.5 mi·4 min·Clark Road
7
Turn right onto CA 70
21 mi·24 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on CA 70
11 mi·12 min·CA 70
9
Continue on CA 70
1.5 mi·3 min·CA 70
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·5th Street
11
Turn left onto CA 70
4.2 mi·5 min·E Street
12
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
18 mi·20 min·CA 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto CA 99
4.9 mi·5 min·Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
14
Continue on CA 99
7.7 mi·8 min·Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 5
66 mi·1 hr 13 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi·48 sec·Westside Freeway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi·4 hr 13 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 5 Truck
Exit 158Toward I 405 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi·26 min·I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi·20 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
377 ft·9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long BeachUse the slight right lane.
24
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·39 sec·this road
Exit 32BToward I 710 South: Long Beach
25
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi·3 min·Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi·40 sec·Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, AquariumUse the slight left / straight lanes.
28
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Shoreline Drive
29
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
30
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·West Ocean Boulevard
31
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
32
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 9-hour, 24-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight driving. With 497.2 miles to cover and a $114 fuel estimate, planning for two stops is essential for comfort and safety. Breaking the trip into two days is highly recommended, perhaps aiming for a stop around the halfway point. Be mindful of the longest stretch of 303.7 miles on the Westside Freeway; ensure you are well-fueled and rested before embarking on it, as services might be less frequent during that segment.
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 248.6 miles from Magalia, CA, or about 4h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 303.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 109 miles or 2h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 248.6 miles or 4h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 248.6 miles or 4h 46m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 12m
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 Magalia, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Magalia, CA
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Long Beach, CA
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 109 miles from Magalia, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 303.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 248.6 mi from Magalia, CA
· 4h 46m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 462.9
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 394.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$114.28 one way
$228.56 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg174 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$117.76
$235.52
premium
$6.18
$120.91
$241.83
diesel
$5.61
$109.78
$219.55
Estimated Tolls: $0.06
New Skyway
(0.9 mi)$0.06
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$114
Tolls
$0
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$244–$354
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 174 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
1 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: sparse
Tesla Supercharger
Arvin, California
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
149.2
1
$52.21
$23.87
Efficient EV
124.3
1
$43.50
$19.89
EV Truck/SUV
198.9
2
$69.61
$31.82
Gas CO2
174 kg
EV CO2
58 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Magalia, CA
Night
in Magalia on Thursday
Local time
10:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Night
in Long Beach on Thursday
Local time
10:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Partly Sunny
SW 10 mph0% chanceLive 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
19 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
9h 24m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Magalia, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 497.2 miles and takes about 9h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, CA 70. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 249 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 248.6 miles from Magalia, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $114.28 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 497.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 54.1 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 151.4 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 388 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Magalia, CA to Long Beach, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
