Origin
Sunland, CA
Night in Sunland on Thursday
Local time
9:46 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sunland, CA to Long Beach, CA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h
Distance
43.1 mi
69 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sunland, CA
Dominik Gryzbon
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 43.1-mile drive from Sunland, CA to Long Beach, CA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $10, it's an economical option for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes the Long Beach Freeway, Glendale Freeway, and Golden State Freeway, offering a direct connection between the Pacific Coast regions of Southern California. Given its short duration and manageable distance, no overnight stops are necessary, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 43.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this trip, with 78% of the drive taking place on major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch measures 16.1 miles along the Long Beach Freeway, providing a consistent pace. This route is characterized by its efficient movement through the urban landscape, prioritizing direct travel over scenic detours. You'll experience the typical flow of Southern California freeway driving as you transition between the Glendale and Golden State Freeways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 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 16.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Beach Freeway and Glendale Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.1 miles you will encounter 20 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: at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
6.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward CA 2 South: Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19
Toward CA 2 South: Los Angeles
7
14.6 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 5: Golden State Freeway, Los Angeles, Sacramento
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 5: Golden State Freeway, Los Angeles,...
8
14.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Golden State Freeway, Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Golden State Freeway, Los Ang...
7
15.1 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
8
20.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Stre...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sunland, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Los Angeles, Sacramento, Santa Ana, Convention Center and Aquarium.
Los Angeles
14.6 mi in
|
~22m
Sacramento
14.6 mi in
|
~22m
Santa Ana
20.5 mi in
|
~29m
|
via I 5
Convention Center
40.7 mi in
|
~55m
Aquarium
40.7 mi in
|
~55m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach Freeway | 16.1 mi | 20m |
| Glendale Freeway | 7 mi | 8m |
| Golden State Freeway | 6 mi | 7m |
| Foothill Boulevard | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Foothill Freeway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Shoreline Drive | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Lowell Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Long Beach Freeway
— 16.1 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sunland, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on Wentworth Street
117 ft
·
10 sec
·
Wentworth Street
2
Turn left onto Mount Gleason Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Gleason Avenue
3
Turn left onto Foothill Boulevard
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Foothill Boulevard
4
Turn right onto Lowell Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lowell Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 210 East: Pasadena
6
Merge onto I 210
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Foothill Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19
Toward CA 2 South: Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto Hillard Avenue
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
Hillard Avenue
Toward CA 2 South
9
Merge onto CA 2
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Glendale Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
Toward I 5: Golden State Freeway, Los Angeles, Sacramento
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 5 South: Golden State Freeway, Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
Use the slight left lane.
14
Merge onto I 5
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa Ana
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Merge onto I 5
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 130B
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 710
16 mi
·
20 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
21
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoreline Drive
22
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
23
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
24
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
25
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.5 mi from Sunland, CA · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.5 miles from Sunland, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.91 one way
$19.81 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $10.21 | $20.42 |
| premium | $6.18 | $10.48 | $20.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.52 | $19.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.03 | $2.76 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Night in Long Beach on Thursday
Local time
9:46 PM
PDT
Current temp
69°F
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
SSW 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
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 on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Sunland, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 43.1 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Beach Freeway, Glendale Freeway, Golden State 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 21.5 miles from Sunland, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.91 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 43.1 miles you will encounter 20 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: at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Sunland, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Los Angeles, Sacramento, Santa Ana, Convention Center and Aquarium.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
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