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Trip from Ridgecrest, CA to Long Beach, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 31m

Distance

176.3 mi

284 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 19m ★
6 AM
3h 32m
8 AM
3h 56m
10 AM
3h 40m
12 PM
3h 38m
3 PM
3h 41m
5 PM
3h 55m
8 PM
3h 24m

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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city in Kern County, California, United States

Ridgecrest, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Long Beach, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 176.3-mile journey from Ridgecrest, CA to Long Beach, CA is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 31 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via the Antelope Valley Freeway, Aerospace Highway, and I-405 Truck, with 54% of the drive on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $41. Given its relatively short duration and mixed driving profile, it's well-suited for a single-day excursion rather than requiring an overnight stop. This drive effectively transitions you from the Pacific Coast region to another part of the Pacific Coast, offering a straightforward path south.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

88.2 miles from Ridgecrest, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 176.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a mixed drive on this route, characterized by stretches of open highway interspersed with other road types. With 54% of the trip on highways, you'll experience periods of consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 49.1 miles on the Antelope Valley Freeway, providing a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. As you progress, the road will likely shift between freeway conditions and potentially more varied road segments, keeping the driving experience dynamic rather than monotonous.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Antelope Valley Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 49.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 56.8 miles in near CA 14; CA 58 BUS; US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway.

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 17 significant decision points across 176.3 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 56.8 miles (CA 14; CA 58 BUS; US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 125.4 miles (CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 126.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

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

6
56.8 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in | CA 14; CA 58 BUS; US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway

At end of road, turn left onto CA 14; CA 58 BUS; US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
125.4 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in | CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
126.3 mi into trip | ~2h 30m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
129.5 mi into trip | ~2h 34m 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
173.9 mi into trip | ~3h 26m 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
Antelope Valley Freeway 49.1 mi 54m
Aerospace Highway 35.7 mi 39m
I 405 Truck 23 mi 26m
San Diego Freeway 18 mi 20m
Redrock Randsburg Road 12.1 mi 16m
Blue Star Memorial Highway 9.9 mi 11m
Garlock Road 8.4 mi 12m
South China Lake Boulevard 6 mi 9m
Longest stretch: Antelope Valley Freeway — 49.1 mi, about 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West Ridgecrest Boulevard

268 ft · 13 sec · West Ridgecrest Boulevard
2

Turn right onto US 395 BUS

6.0 mi · 9 min · South China Lake Boulevard
3

Turn left onto US 395

9.9 mi · 11 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
4

Turn right onto Garlock Road

8.4 mi · 12 min · Garlock Road
Use the right lane.
5

Continue on 797

12 mi · 16 min · Redrock Randsburg Road
6

Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist

0.3 mi · 23 sec · Midland Trail
7

Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist

20 mi · 23 min · Aerospace Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

At end of road, turn left onto CA 14; CA 58 BUS; US 6 Hist

4.7 mi · 6 min · Sierra Highway
Use the left lane.
9

Continue on CA 14

16 mi · 16 min · Aerospace Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on CA 14; CA 138

48 mi · 53 min · Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14

1.0 mi · 1 min · Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 36 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto I 5

2.6 mi · 3 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

For this 176.3-mile drive, starting early can help you avoid potential traffic as you approach the Long Beach area. With a total duration of about 3.5 hours, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Plan for one main stop, perhaps midway, to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, especially since the longest stretch without a break is over 49 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $41, and ensure you have enough to reach your destination or a convenient service area. Given the relatively short distance, you have flexibility in your timing, but being aware of the highway share and the longest stretch is key to pacing yourself.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 88.2 miles from Ridgecrest, CA, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.1 miles.

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 39 miles or 52m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 88.2 miles or 1h 48m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 51m

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 Ridgecrest, 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 Ridgecrest, CA

This is one driving day of about 176.3 miles and 3h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Ridgecrest, 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.
The longest stretch is on Antelope Valley Freeway for about 49.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 88.2 mi from Ridgecrest, CA · 1h 48m into the drive

city in Los Angeles County, California, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Santa Clarita, CA

88 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.

Popular next leg

Santa Clarita, CA to Long Beach, CA

55.9 mi · 1h 11m

Pacing Suggestions

California City, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Santa Clarita, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 88.2 miles from Ridgecrest, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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...

18 mi from route ~44 min detour Free near mile 139.8
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...

25 mi from route ~62 min detour Free near mile 54.7
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$40.52 one way

$81.04 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $41.76 $83.51
premium $6.18 $42.87 $85.75
diesel $5.61 $38.92 $77.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$41

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$66–$91

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 61.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 52.9 0 $18.51 $8.46
Efficient EV 44.1 0 $15.43 $7.05
EV Truck/SUV 70.5 0 $24.68 $11.28

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 15, 2026

Origin

Ridgecrest, CA

Afternoon in Ridgecrest on Thursday

Local time

12:29 PM

PDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Long Beach, CA

Afternoon in Long Beach on Thursday

Local time

12:29 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

19 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 31m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Ridgecrest, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 176.3 miles and takes about 3h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Antelope Valley Freeway, Aerospace Highway, I 405 Truck. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.2 miles from Ridgecrest, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 176.3 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 56.8 miles (CA 14; CA 58 BUS; US 6 Hist / Sierra Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 125.4 miles (CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 126.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Ridgecrest, CA to Long Beach, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument.

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