Traveling from San Jose to Long Beach covers 364.7 miles along the Pacific Coast, typically requiring about 5 hours and 49 minutes of time behind the wheel. Because the duration is manageable for a single day of travel, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day without needing an overnight stop. You should budget approximately $84 for fuel to cover the distance between these two California hubs. Since both locations are situated within the Pacific Coast region, you will remain in a familiar coastal environment throughout your journey. This route serves as a straightforward connection between Northern and Southern California, offering a practical way to reach your destination efficiently.
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
182.4 miles from San Jose, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 49m. Total distance: 364.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. The route consists entirely of local roads, meaning you will navigate through various intersections and changing traffic patterns rather than relying on high-speed highway stretches. This technical nature makes the 364.7-mile journey feel more involved as you transition between local corridors. Because the entire trip is comprised of local roads, you should prepare for a varied driving experience that lacks the consistency of a major interstate. Stay alert, as the winding nature of these roads requires constant navigation compared to typical highway travel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Devine 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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 49m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Jose, CA to Long Beach, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Devine Street
—
—
North San Pedro Street
—
—
West Saint James Street
—
—
West Julian Street
—
—
CA 87 South
—
—
Guadalupe Freeway
—
—
Guadalupe Parkway
—
—
Santa Teresa Boulevard
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Devine Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Jose, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on North Market Street
108 ft·6 sec·North Market Street
2
Turn right onto Devine Street
276 ft·18 sec·Devine Street
3
Turn left onto North San Pedro Street
305 ft·18 sec·North San Pedro Street
4
Turn right onto West Saint James Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·West Saint James Street
5
Continue on West Julian Street
358 ft·7 sec·West Julian Street
6
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 87 South
0.2 mi·32 sec·CA 87 South
7
Merge slight left onto Guadalupe Freeway
1.4 mi·1 min·Guadalupe Freeway
8
Continue on Guadalupe Parkway
4.1 mi·4 min·Guadalupe Parkway
9
Take the exit slight right toward Santa Teresa Boulevard
0.4 mi·31 sec·Santa Teresa Boulevard
10
Continue on Santa Teresa Boulevard
0.1 mi·23 sec·Santa Teresa Boulevard
11
Turn left onto CA 85 South
0.3 mi·41 sec·CA 85 South
12
Merge slight left
4.7 mi·5 min
13
Continue on US 101 South
0.4 mi·27 sec·US 101 South
14
Continue straight
20 mi·23 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
0.6 mi·1 min·I 5: Los Angeles
19
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181 mi·3 hr 14 min·Westside Freeway
20
Keep slight right
58 mi·1 hr 6 min
21
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
22
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi·18 sec·I 405 South
23
Keep slight right
23 mi·26 min
24
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
18 mi·20 min·San Diego Freeway
25
Take the exit slight right toward I 710 South: Long Beach
377 ft·9 sec·I 710 South: Long Beach
26
Continue on I 710 South: Long Beach
0.3 mi·40 sec·I 710 South: Long Beach
27
Merge slight left onto Long Beach Freeway
2.4 mi·3 min·Long Beach Freeway
28
Continue on Seaside Freeway
0.5 mi·41 sec·Seaside Freeway
29
Take the exit slight left toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
0.3 mi·38 sec·Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
30
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi·2 min·Shoreline Drive
31
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi·30 sec·South Chestnut Place
32
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·West Ocean Boulevard
33
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi·22 sec·East Ocean Boulevard
34
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is essential for this 5-hour and 49-minute drive, so aim to leave early to avoid peak local traffic congestion. Since you are limited to one planned stop on this route, choose your break location strategically to maximize your comfort during the long stretch of local roads. Given the $84 fuel estimate, verify your fuel levels before heading out to ensure you aren't searching for stations in unfamiliar areas. Flexibility is a major advantage here; since the total duration is under six hours, you have the freedom to pace your day as you see fit. Keep a close eye on your navigation system, as the turn-heavy nature of this path makes missing a single turn more impactful than it would be on a standard highway.
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 182.4 miles from San Jose, CA, or about 2h 54m 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 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 182.4 miles or 2h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 52m
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 Jose, 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 Jose, CA
This is one driving day of about 364.7 miles and 5h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from San Jose, 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 182.4 mi from San Jose, CA
· 2h 54m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 327
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
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 251.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$83.82 one way
$167.65 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg128 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$86.38
$172.76
premium
$6.18
$88.69
$177.38
diesel
$5.61
$80.52
$161.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$84
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$109–$134
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109.4
1
$38.29
$17.51
Efficient EV
91.2
1
$31.91
$14.59
EV Truck/SUV
145.9
1
$51.06
$23.34
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
San Jose, CA
Evening
in San Jose on Thursday
Local time
5:04 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Evening
in Long Beach on Thursday
Local time
5:04 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Partly Sunny
SW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 2:48PM PDT until April 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 16 at 2:48PM 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.
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
25 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
5h 49m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from San Jose, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 364.7 miles and takes about 5h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Devine Street, North San Pedro Street, West Saint James Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 182.4 miles from San Jose, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $83.82 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 49m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Jose, CA to Long Beach, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Jose, 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.
