Trip from San Gabriel, CA to Long Beach, CA

Drive Time

39m

Distance

27.3 mi

44 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 36m ★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m

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

Downtown San Gabriel, CA, CA

San Gabriel, CA

Soly Moses

Downtown Long Beach, CA, CA

Long Beach, CA

Saidamir Mukhitdinov

Trip Overview

Traveling from San Gabriel to Long Beach is a straightforward 27.3-mile trip that typically takes about 39 minutes. Because the distance is so short, you can easily complete this journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Long Beach Freeway, Mission Road, and Shoreline Drive to reach the Pacific Coast. With a fuel budget of just $6, this route is an economical way to move between these two Southern California locations. The drive is practical and efficient, making it ideal for a quick transition from the inland suburbs to the waterfront.

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

13.7 miles from San Gabriel, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 77% of this drive takes place on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Long Beach Freeway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of the trip at 20.6 miles. While the route begins with local navigation on Mission Road, it quickly transitions into a fast-paced interstate grind. The personality of the drive is utilitarian rather than leisurely, prioritizing speed and direct access over scenic winding roads. By the time you reach Shoreline Drive, the character of the road shifts to accommodate the coastal environment.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Beach Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.6 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

463 ft 9 ft

Total Climb

136 ft

Total Descent

519 ft

Highest Point

463 ft

~2.3 mi in

Elevation Range

454 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Beach Freeway and Mission Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Anderson Way.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 27.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Anderson Way): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (Fremont Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (West Valley Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | South Anderson Way

Turn left onto South Anderson Way

Navigation decision point

5
3 mi into trip | ~6m in | Fremont Avenue

Turn left onto Fremont Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
3.2 mi into trip | ~6m in | West Valley Boulevard

Turn right onto West Valley Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
24.9 mi into trip | ~33m 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,...
6
26.7 mi into trip | ~37m in | West Ocean Boulevard

Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Towns Along This Route

Between San Gabriel, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Convention Center and Aquarium.

Convention Center

24.9 mi in | ~33m

Aquarium

24.9 mi in | ~33m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Long Beach Freeway 20.6 mi 25m
Mission Road 3 mi 5m
Shoreline Drive 1.3 mi 2m
West Valley Boulevard 0.6 mi 1m
West Ocean Boulevard 0.5 mi 1m
Seaside Freeway 0.5 mi <1m
South Chestnut Place 0.2 mi <1m
Fremont Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Long Beach Freeway — 20.6 mi, about 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

212 ft · 20 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto South Anderson Way

99 ft · 7 sec · South Anderson Way
3

Turn left onto Mission Road

239 ft · 11 sec · Mission Road
4

Continue on Mission Road

2.9 mi · 5 min · Mission Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
5

Turn left onto Fremont Avenue

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Fremont Avenue
Use the left lane.
6

Turn right onto West Valley Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Valley Boulevard
Use the right lane.
7

Turn left onto I 710

21 mi · 25 min · Long Beach Freeway
Use the left lane.
8

Continue on I 710

0.5 mi · 40 sec · Seaside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10

Continue on Shoreline Drive

1.3 mi · 2 min · Shoreline Drive
Use the none lane.
11

Turn left onto South Chestnut Place

0.2 mi · 30 sec · South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
12

Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Ocean Boulevard
Use the none lane.
13

Continue on East Ocean Boulevard

0.1 mi · 21 sec · East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
14

Arrive at destination

East Ocean Boulevard

Trip Plan

Since this is a quick 39-minute jaunt, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours remains a smart strategy. You won't need to plan for any formal stops, as the entire 27.3-mile distance is easily manageable in one go. Keep your $6 fuel budget in mind, but ensure your tank is topped off before you hit the freeway to avoid unnecessary detours. Given the high highway percentage, focus on maintaining a steady speed while navigating the transition from the Long Beach Freeway onto the local Shoreline Drive exit. Embracing the brevity of this trip allows you to spend more time enjoying your destination rather than worrying about the logistics of the drive itself.

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 13.7 miles from San Gabriel, CA, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.6 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 27.3 miles or 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 13.7 miles or 19m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 31m

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 Gabriel, 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 Gabriel, CA

This is one driving day of about 27.3 miles and 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from San Gabriel, 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.
The longest stretch is on Long Beach Freeway for about 20.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 13.7 mi from San Gabriel, CA · 19m into the drive

Downtown los-angeles-ca

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Los Angeles, CA

14 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

Los Angeles, CA to Long Beach, CA

24.9 mi · 34m

Pacing Suggestions

Huntington Beach, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Los Angeles, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 13.7 miles from San Gabriel, 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

$6.32 one way

$12.64 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $6.52 $13.04
premium $6.24 $6.71 $13.42
diesel $5.64 $6.07 $12.13

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 8.2 0 $2.87 $1.31
Efficient EV 6.8 0 $2.39 $1.09
EV Truck/SUV 10.9 0 $3.82 $1.75

Gas CO2

10 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (70% 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

San Gabriel, CA

Afternoon in San Gabriel on Sunday

Local time

3:06 PM

PDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Long Beach, CA

Afternoon in Long Beach on Sunday

Local time

3:06 PM

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 cooler at arrival

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

Road read

39m 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 Gabriel, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 27.3 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Beach Freeway, Mission Road, Shoreline Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.7 miles from San Gabriel, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.32 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 27.3 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Anderson Way): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (Fremont Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles (West Valley Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here.
Between San Gabriel, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Convention Center and Aquarium.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 9 ft to 463 ft elevation with about 136 ft of total climbing.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Long Beach, CA to San Gabriel, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

26.7 mi 37m

Explore more options from San Gabriel, CA or browse trips ending in Long Beach, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

Explore maps for San Gabriel, CA or Long Beach, CA on MapSof.net.