Origin
San Diego, CA
Morning in San Diego on Monday
Local time
11:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Diego, CA to Long Beach, CA
Drive Time
2h 12m
Distance
105.9 mi
170 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 3m
★
6 AM
2h 12m
8 AM
2h 31m
10 AM
2h 19m
12 PM
2h 17m
3 PM
2h 20m
5 PM
2h 30m
8 PM
2h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Diego, CA
Lindsey Willard
Long Beach, CA
Saidamir Mukhitdinov
Trip Overview
Spanning 106.2 miles, the journey from San Diego to Long Beach is a straightforward trek along the Pacific Coast that typically takes about 1 hour and 47 minutes. Because of the manageable duration, this trip is ideal as a simple day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via West Broadway, 1st Avenue, and I-5 North as you make your way north. With fuel costs estimated at $14, it is an economical route for travelers moving between these two major coastal hubs. Whether you are heading up for business or a quick change of scenery, the simplicity of the path makes it an easy addition to your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
52.9 miles from San Diego, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route emphasizes navigation through city corridors. You will spend time maneuvering through local streets like West Broadway and 1st Avenue before transitioning to I-5 North. Since the highway share is 0%, you should be prepared for frequent turns and urban traffic patterns rather than long, high-speed highway stretches. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on West Broadway, confirming that this is a hands-on driving experience. Stay alert behind the wheel, as the road requires constant attention to turns rather than long-distance cruising.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Broadway 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from San Diego, CA to Long Beach, CA is easy. At 2h 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Diego, CA to Long Beach, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Broadway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1st Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| San Diego Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Corona Del Mar Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 22 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 7th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West Broadway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on Front Street
26 ft
·
6 sec
·
Front Street
2
Turn left onto West Broadway
289 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Broadway
3
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue
4
Take the ramp left toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 5 North: Los Angeles
5
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
13 mi
·
15 min
·
San Diego Freeway
6
Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway
36 mi
·
43 min
·
San Diego Freeway
7
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
8
Keep slight right to continue on San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
14 mi
·
16 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
9
Continue on Corona Del Mar Freeway
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Corona Del Mar Freeway
10
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
San Diego Freeway
11
Keep slight left
2.7 mi
·
3 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward CA 22 West: Long Beach
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
CA 22 West: Long Beach
13
Keep slight left to continue on East 7th Street
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
East 7th Street
14
Turn left onto Junipero Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Junipero Avenue
15
Turn right
167 ft
·
5 sec
16
Turn straight onto East 3rd Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 3rd Street
17
Turn left onto Cerritos Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cerritos Avenue
18
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Ocean Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Ocean Boulevard
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Flexibility is your greatest advantage on this 106.2-mile drive, as you can easily complete the entire trip in under two hours without needing planned stops. To ensure the smoothest transit, check local traffic reports before departing, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can be impacted by congestion on city streets. You should set aside $14 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Since there are no mandatory stops required, you have the freedom to pace yourself however you prefer. A pro tip for this specific route is to prioritize your GPS navigation early on, as the transition from West Broadway and 1st Avenue onto I-5 North requires quick adjustments to local traffic flow.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.9 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 1h 6m 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 80 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.9 miles or 1h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 48m
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 San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA
This is one driving day of about 105.9 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from San Diego, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.9 mi from San Diego, CA · 1h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.9 miles from San Diego, 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
$24.52 one way
$49.05 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $25.29 | $50.58 |
| premium | $6.24 | $26.03 | $52.06 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $23.53 | $47.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.12 | $5.08 |
| Efficient EV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.27 | $4.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.4 | 0 | $14.83 | $6.78 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Morning in Long Beach on Monday
Local time
11:21 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
2 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
2h 12m 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 San Diego, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 105.9 miles and takes about 2h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Broadway, 1st Avenue, I 5 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.9 miles from San Diego, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from San Diego, CA to Long Beach, CA is easy. At 2h 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Diego, CA to Long Beach, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Diego, CA to Long Beach, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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