Trip from Santa Clara, CA to Long Beach, CA

Drive Time

5h 56m

Distance

369.3 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Santa Clara, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 369.3 miles and takes about 5h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on El Camino Real, Lafayette Street, Market Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.16 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

184.7 miles from Santa Clara, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 56m drive with frequent turns across 369.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

El Camino Real is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
El Camino Real	0 mi	0m
Lafayette Street	0 mi	0m
Market Street	0 mi	0m
The Alameda	0 mi	0m
I 880 North	0 mi	0m
US 101 South	0 mi	0m
Bayshore Freeway	0 mi	0m
CA 152 East	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: El Camino Real — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Lincoln Street

2

Turn left onto El Camino Real

3

Turn slight right

4

Turn slight right onto Lafayette Street

5

Turn left onto Market Street

6

Continue on The Alameda

7

Continue on The Alameda

8

Take the ramp slight right toward I 880 North: Oakland

9

Merge slight left

10

Take the exit right toward US 101 South: Los Angeles

11

Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway

12

Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road

13

Turn left onto East 10th Street

14

Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway

15

Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles

16

Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

17

Keep slight right

18

Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

19

Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South

20

Keep slight right

21

Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway

22

Take the exit slight right toward I 710 South: Long Beach

23

Continue on I 710 South: Long Beach

24

Merge slight left onto Long Beach Freeway

25

Continue on Seaside Freeway

26

Take the exit slight left toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium

27

Continue on Shoreline Drive

28

Turn left onto South Chestnut Place

29

Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard

30

Continue on East Ocean Boulevard

31

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 184.7 miles from Santa Clara, CA.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 81 miles

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

Halfway reset

Around 184.7 miles

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

Final approach

Last hour of driving

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 Santa Clara, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Santa Clara, CA

This is one driving day of about 369.3 miles and 5h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Santa Clara, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Bakersfield, CA

185 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

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.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 184.7 mi from Santa Clara, CA

Salinas, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bakersfield, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 184.7 miles from Santa Clara, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.45	$50.16	$100.32
midgrade	$3.85	$55.98	$111.95
premium	$4.15	$60.34	$120.68
diesel	$3.75	$54.52	$109.05

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 129.2 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Santa Clara, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 369.3 miles and takes about 5h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are El Camino Real, Lafayette Street, Market Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 184.7 miles from Santa Clara, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $50.16 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.