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Trip from McCloud, CA to Long Beach, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

11h 42m

Distance

634.2 mi

1,021 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$146

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
11h 32m ★
6 AM
11h 42m
8 AM
12h 3m
10 AM
11h 50m
12 PM
11h 48m
3 PM
11h 51m
5 PM
12h 2m
8 PM
11h 36m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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census-designated place in Siskiyou County, California, United States

McCloud, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Long Beach, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from McCloud, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 634.2 miles and takes about 11h 42m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, Cascade Wonderland Highway, I 5 Truck for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 424.9 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $145.77 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

317.1 miles from McCloud, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

At 634.2 miles and 11h 42m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Westside Freeway and Cascade Wonderland Highway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 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 424.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Cascade Wonderland Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 193.1 miles in near I 5 / Westside Freeway.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 634.2 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 193.1 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 208.8 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 288.4 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
193.1 mi into trip | ~3h 34m 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
208.8 mi into trip | ~3h 51m 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
288.4 mi into trip | ~5h 19m 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.
8
587.4 mi into trip | ~10h 44m 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
631.8 mi into trip | ~11h 37m 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 424.9 mi 7h 38m
Cascade Wonderland Highway 90 mi 1h 41m
I 5 Truck 58.6 mi 1h 7m
I 405 Truck 23 mi 26m
San Diego Freeway 18 mi 20m
Mount Shasta - Mount Lassen Highway 8.6 mi 9m
Golden State Freeway 4.1 mi 4m
Long Beach Freeway 2.4 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 424.9 mi, about 7h 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between McCloud, CA and Long Beach, CA.

1

Start on Main Street

74 ft · 6 sec · Main Street
2

Turn left onto West Colombero Drive

0.9 mi · 2 min · West Colombero Drive
3

At end of road, turn right onto CA 89

8.6 mi · 9 min · Mount Shasta - Mount Lassen Highway
4

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
5

Merge onto I 5

55 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

36 mi · 38 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
7

Continue on I 5

93 mi · 1 hr 39 min · Westside Freeway
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

16 mi · 16 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

79 mi · 1 hr 27 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

0.8 mi · 48 sec · Westside Freeway
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

237 mi · 4 hr 13 min · Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

0.3 mi · 17 sec · I 5 Truck
Exit 158 Toward I 405 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck

23 mi · 26 min · I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight right at fork onto I 405

18 mi · 20 min · San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

377 ft · 9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach Use the slight right lane.
18

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 39 sec · this road
Exit 32B Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
19

Merge onto I 710

2.4 mi · 3 min · Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on I 710

0.5 mi · 40 sec · Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium Use the slight left / straight lanes.
22

Continue on Shoreline Drive

1.3 mi · 2 min · Shoreline Drive
23

Turn left onto South Chestnut Place

0.2 mi · 30 sec · South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
24

Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Ocean Boulevard
25

Continue on East Ocean Boulevard

0.1 mi · 21 sec · East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
26

Arrive at destination

East Ocean Boulevard

Trip Plan

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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 317.1 miles from McCloud, CA, or about 5h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 424.9 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 140 miles or 2h 37m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 317.1 miles or 5h 50m 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 317.1 miles or 5h 50m

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 10h 29m

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 McCloud, 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 McCloud, CA

Aim for roughly 317 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Long Beach, CA

Aim for roughly 317 miles and 5.9 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 140 miles from McCloud, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 424.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 317.1 mi from McCloud, CA · 5h 50m into the drive

Downtown Red Bluff, CA, CA

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Red Bluff, CA

209 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Popular next leg

Red Bluff, CA to Long Beach, CA

537.4 mi · 9h 52m

county seat of Fresno County, California, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Fresno, CA

419 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Fresno, CA

Popular next leg

Fresno, CA to Long Beach, CA

242.8 mi · 4h 35m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Laguna, CA

317 mi · about 5.9h in

A practical overnight split lands near Laguna, CA after about 317 miles or 5.9 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Red Bluff, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 141 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Laguna, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 319.4 miles from McCloud, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 319 miles or 5.3 hours on the road.

Final-third reset

Rest stop

Plan one more short stretch-and-water break in the final third of the drive so the last arrival window feels easier.

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.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Long Beach, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Whiskeytown Lake’s crystal-clear waters are iconic, but this 42,000-acre National Recreation Area offers much more. Explore waterfalls, hike rugged trails, uncover Gold Rush history, and witness the r...

12 mi from route ~31 min detour $15 near mile 66.1
Caution: Winter Hazards on Trails - Downed Trees and High Water
View on nps.gov
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

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...

20 mi from route ~50 min detour Free near mile 594.7
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

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...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour Free near mile 528.6
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$145.77 one way

$291.53 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 222 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $150.21 $300.42
premium $6.18 $154.23 $308.46
diesel $5.61 $140.02 $280.05

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$146

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$276–$386

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 221.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $67 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 190.3 2 $66.59 $30.44
Efficient EV 158.6 1 $55.49 $25.37
EV Truck/SUV 253.7 3 $88.79 $40.59

Gas CO2

222 kg

EV CO2

74 kg (67% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

McCloud, CA

Afternoon in McCloud on Thursday

Local time

2:34 PM

PDT

Current temp

35°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Long Beach, CA

Afternoon in Long Beach on Thursday

Local time

2:34 PM

PDT

Current temp

69°F

Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny

SSW 5 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 10:43AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Medford OR

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 10:32AM PDT until April 17 at 11:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

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

34 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

11h 42m 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 McCloud, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 634.2 miles and takes about 11h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Cascade Wonderland Highway, I 5 Truck. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
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 317 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 317.1 miles from McCloud, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $145.77 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 3 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 21 significant decision points across 634.2 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 193.1 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 208.8 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 288.4 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from McCloud, CA to Long Beach, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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