Origin
Richmond, CA
Afternoon in Richmond on Friday
Local time
12:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richmond, CA to Long Beach, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 25m
Distance
405.8 mi
653 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$93
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 13m
★
6 AM
6h 25m
8 AM
6h 50m
10 AM
6h 34m
12 PM
6h 32m
3 PM
6h 35m
5 PM
6h 49m
8 PM
6h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richmond, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Richmond, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 405.8 miles and takes about 6h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 23rd Street, Barrett Avenue, I 80 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $93.27 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
202.9 miles from Richmond, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 12m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 25m. Total distance: 405.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 25m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 25m drive with frequent turns across 405.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
23rd Street 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.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 25m, 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 Richmond, CA to Long Beach, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 23rd Street | — | — |
| Barrett Avenue | — | — |
| I 80 West | — | — |
| Eastshore Freeway | — | — |
| Highway 80 | — | — |
| MacArthur Freeway | — | — |
| Arthur H | — | — |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
23rd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on Macdonald Avenue
56 ft
·
9 sec
·
Macdonald Avenue
2
Turn left onto 23rd Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
23rd Street
3
Turn right onto Barrett Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Barrett Avenue
4
Take the ramp right toward I 80 West: Oakland
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 80 West: Oakland
5
Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
6
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Interstate Highway 80
7
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
8
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
9
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
10
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
11
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
12
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224 mi
·
4 hr
·
Westside Freeway
13
Keep slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
14
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
15
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
16
Keep slight right
23 mi
·
26 min
17
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
18
Take the exit slight right toward I 710 South: Long Beach
377 ft
·
9 sec
·
I 710 South: Long Beach
19
Continue on I 710 South: Long Beach
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 710 South: Long Beach
20
Merge slight left onto Long Beach Freeway
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
21
Continue on Seaside Freeway
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
22
Take the exit slight left toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
23
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoreline Drive
24
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chestnut Place
25
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
26
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
East Ocean Boulevard
27
Arrive at your destination
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 202.9 miles from Richmond, CA, or about 3h 12m 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 89 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 202.9 miles or 3h 12m 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 28m
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 Richmond, 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 Richmond, CA
This is one driving day of about 405.8 miles and 6h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from Richmond, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 202.9 mi from Richmond, CA · 3h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
203 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 89 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 202.9 miles from Richmond, 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
$93.27 one way
$186.54 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
142 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $96.11 | $192.23 |
| premium | $6.18 | $98.69 | $197.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $89.60 | $179.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$93
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$118–$143
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 121.7 | 1 | $42.61 | $19.48 |
| Efficient EV | 101.5 | 1 | $35.51 | $16.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 162.3 | 2 | $56.81 | $25.97 |
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
47 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
Afternoon in Long Beach on Friday
Local time
12:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°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
9 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
6h 25m 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 Richmond, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 405.8 miles and takes about 6h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 23rd Street, Barrett Avenue, I 80 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 202.9 miles from Richmond, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $93.27 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 1 meaningful break 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 6h 25m, 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 Richmond, CA to Long Beach, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Richmond, CA to Long Beach, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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