Origin
Santa Maria, CA
Evening in Santa Maria on Sunday
Local time
5:31 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Santa Maria, CA to Long Beach, CA
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
48.6 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Maria, CA
El Puerto de Santa María
Long Beach, CA
Saidamir Mukhitdinov
Trip Overview
Spanning 48.6 miles, this drive from Santa Maria to Long Beach is a quick trip you can easily complete in about 1 hour and 7 minutes. Because of the manageable distance and duration, it works perfectly as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops. You will primarily navigate via the San Diego Freeway, Ventura Freeway, and Long Beach Freeway to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $11 for fuel should cover your transit costs, making this an economical choice for your travel plans. Both the starting point and your arrival in Long Beach are located within the Pacific Coast region, ensuring a consistent coastal climate throughout your journey.
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
24.3 miles from Santa Maria, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience as 85% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time on major thoroughfares, including a significant 31.3-mile stretch on the San Diego Freeway. The road maintains a consistent, fast-paced character that prioritizes speed over technical maneuvering or winding backroads. While you won't encounter major changes in road type, the transition between freeway systems keeps the drive feeling direct and purposeful. It is a straightforward commute that allows you to focus on the road ahead without the complexity of navigating local surface streets.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
San Diego Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 31.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and Ventura Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 48.6 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 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
3.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the ramp toward US 101 South: Ventura Freeway, Los Angeles
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 101 South: Ventura Freeway, Los Angel...
7
11.1 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Santa Monica
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Sa...
9
11.2 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 South: San Diego Freeway, Santa Monica
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 405 South: San Diego Freeway, Santa Mo...
8
11.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 405 South: San Diego Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405 South: San Diego Freeway
7
46.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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,...
Towns Along This Route
Between Santa Maria, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
Los Angeles
3.6 mi in
|
~11m
Santa Monica
11.1 mi in
|
~19m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 31.3 mi | 36m |
| Ventura Freeway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| Long Beach Freeway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Shoreline Drive | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Canoga Avenue | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Mulholland Drive | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Santa Maria Road | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| West Ocean Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 31.3 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Maria, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on Santa Maria Road
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Santa Maria Road
2
Continue on Mulholland Drive
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Mulholland Drive
3
Turn right onto Alhama Drive
427 ft
·
15 sec
·
Alhama Drive
4
Turn left onto Golondrina Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Golondrina Street
5
Turn right onto Saltillo Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Saltillo Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto Canoga Avenue
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Canoga Avenue
Use the none lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 101 South: Ventura Freeway, Los Angeles
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto US 101
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Santa Monica
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 405 South: San Diego Freeway, Santa Monica
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward I 405 South: San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 405
13 mi
·
15 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
377 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
this road
Exit 32B
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
16
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
19
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoreline Drive
Use the none lane.
20
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
21
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
Use the none lane.
22
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
23
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
Since this is a short trip with zero mandatory stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You can easily complete the entire 48.6-mile trek in one go, so there is no need to worry about splitting the drive into multiple days. Before you head out, double-check your tank to ensure you have enough fuel to cover the estimated $11 cost for the journey. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert during the transitions between the San Diego, Ventura, and Long Beach freeways, as these interchanges are where you will likely encounter the most traffic density. Use the time saved by this quick drive to enjoy your destination in Long Beach once you arrive.
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 24.3 miles from Santa Maria, CA, or about 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.3 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 48.6 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.3 miles or 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 55m
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 Maria, 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 Santa Maria, CA
This is one driving day of about 48.6 miles and 1h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Santa Maria, 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 San Diego Freeway for about 31.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.3 mi from Santa Maria, CA · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 48.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.3 miles from Santa Maria, 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
$11.25 one way
$22.51 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $11.61 | $23.21 |
| premium | $6.24 | $11.95 | $23.89 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.80 | $21.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.10 | $2.33 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.25 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.80 | $3.11 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Evening in Long Beach on Sunday
Local time
5:31 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
19 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
1h 7m 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 Santa Maria, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 48.6 miles and takes about 1h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Diego Freeway, Ventura Freeway, Long Beach Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.3 miles from Santa Maria, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.25 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 is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 48.6 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 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Santa Maria, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
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