Origin
Sonora, CA
Afternoon in Sonora on Thursday
Local time
4:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sonora, CA to Long Beach, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
7h 3m
Distance
355.8 mi
573 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$82
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 52m
★
6 AM
7h 4m
8 AM
7h 26m
10 AM
7h 11m
12 PM
7h 9m
3 PM
7h 13m
5 PM
7h 25m
8 PM
6h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sonora, CA
Dominik Gryzbon
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 355.8-mile drive from Sonora, CA to Long Beach, CA is designed for a single day, clocking in at approximately 7 hours and 3 minutes of pure travel time. You'll primarily be on CA 99 and the Golden State Freeway/Highway, with about 70% of the journey on highways. With a fuel cost estimated at $82 and two recommended stops, it's a manageable trip for one day. The route offers a highway-focused experience as you make your way south through California. Consider this a straightforward transit between the Pacific Coast regions.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
177.9 miles from Sonora, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 40m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 3m. Total distance: 355.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 70% of the 355.8 miles on major roadways like CA 99 and the Golden State Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 96.8 miles, so be prepared for extended periods on the open road. While largely a highway transit, the character of the drive will evolve as you move through different parts of California. It’s a route that prioritizes covering distance efficiently, rather than winding scenic byways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
CA 99 is the longest continuous segment at about 96.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 99 and Golden State Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 114.6 miles in near CA 99.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 355.8 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 114.6 miles (CA 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.6 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 219.3 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 28 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
114.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 32m in
|
CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
155.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 16m in
|
CA 99 / Golden State Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99 / Golden State Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
219.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 24m in
|
CA 99 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99 / Golden State Freeway toward CA 99 South: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 99 South: Los Angeles
8
309 mi into trip
|
~6h 6m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
7
353.4 mi into trip
|
~6h 58m 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,...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 99 | 96.8 mi | 1h 47m |
| Golden State Freeway | 94.8 mi | 1h 47m |
| Golden State Highway | 58.6 mi | 1h 2m |
| La Grange Road | 26.2 mi | 38m |
| I 405 Truck | 23 mi | 26m |
| 2nd Street | 18 mi | 27m |
| San Diego Freeway | 18 mi | 20m |
| CA 108 | 7.9 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
CA 99
— 96.8 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sonora, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on South Stewart Street
197 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Stewart Street
2
Turn right onto Theall Street
161 ft
·
11 sec
·
Theall Street
3
Turn left onto CA 49
244 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Washington Street
4
Turn right onto CA 49
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Stockton Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto CA 108
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
CA 108
6
Enter roundabout onto CA 49; CA 108
105 ft
·
1 sec
·
CA 49; CA 108
7
Continue on CA 49; CA 108
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
CA 49; CA 108
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on CA 108; CA 120
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
CA 108; CA 120
9
Turn left onto J59
26 mi
·
38 min
·
La Grange Road
Use the left lane.
10
At end of road, turn right onto CA 59; J16
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Merced Falls Road
11
Continue on CA 59; J16
387 ft
·
6 sec
·
La Grange Road
12
Continue on CA 59; J16
18 mi
·
27 min
·
2nd Street
13
Turn right
142 ft
·
5 sec
Toward CA 59 South
14
Turn right onto CA 59
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
V Street
15
Turn left onto CA 59; CA 140
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
West 13th Street
16
Take the ramp onto CA 140 East; CA 59
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
CA 140 East; CA 59
Toward CA 99 South
17
Merge onto CA 99; CA 59; CA 140
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
CA 99; CA 59; CA 140
18
Continue on CA 99; CA 140
55 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
CA 99; CA 140
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
41 mi
·
44 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
59 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Golden State Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on CA 99
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
27 mi
·
30 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Toward CA 99 South: Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi
·
26 min
·
I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
377 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Use the slight right lane.
29
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
this road
Exit 32B
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
30
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
33
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoreline Drive
34
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
35
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
36
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
37
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, aim for an early morning departure from Sonora to avoid potential traffic delays as you head south. With two planned stops, you can break up the 355.8 miles into manageable segments, perhaps one around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 96.8 miles on CA 99, and plan your refueling accordingly to stay within the estimated $82 fuel cost. This route is well-suited for a single-day journey, allowing for flexibility in your stop timing.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 177.9 miles from Sonora, CA, or about 3h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.8 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 78 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.9 miles or 3h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 51m
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 Sonora, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sonora, CA
This is one driving day of about 355.8 miles and 7h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Sonora, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on CA 99 for about 96.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 177.9 mi from Sonora, CA · 3h 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
178 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 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 177.9 miles from Sonora, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before CA 99 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 96.8 miles.
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
$81.78 one way
$163.56 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
125 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $84.27 | $168.54 |
| premium | $6.18 | $86.53 | $173.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $78.56 | $157.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$82
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$107–$132
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.7 | 1 | $37.36 | $17.08 |
| Efficient EV | 89 | 1 | $31.13 | $14.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 142.3 | 1 | $49.81 | $22.77 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
42 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.
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Afternoon in Long Beach on Thursday
Local time
4:55 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
W 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 11:57AM PDT until April 15 at 3:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 14 at 9:35AM PDT until April 15 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
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
6 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
7h 3m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Sonora, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 355.8 miles and takes about 7h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are CA 99, Golden State Freeway, Golden State Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 177.9 miles from Sonora, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $81.78 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 355.8 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 114.6 miles (CA 99): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.6 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 219.3 miles (CA 99 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Sonora, CA to Long Beach, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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