Trip from Susanville, CA to Long Beach, CA

Drive Time

11h 30m

Distance

594.9 mi

957 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$138

one way

Downtown Long Beach, CA, CA

Photo: Saidamir Mukhitdinov

Trip Overview

The drive from Susanville, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 594.9 miles and takes about 11h 30m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, CA 32 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 303.7 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $137.76 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

297.4 miles from Susanville, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h into the drive .

Drive Character

At 594.9 miles and 11h 30m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck.

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.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 303.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 100 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 594.9 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 100 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 110.2 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 151.8 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 26 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
100 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
8
110.2 mi into trip | ~2h 28m in | CA 149

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149 toward Oroville, Marysville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward Oroville, Marysville
6
151.8 mi into trip | ~3h 18m in | CA 70

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
548 mi into trip | ~10h 33m 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
592.5 mi into trip | ~11h 25m 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 Susanville, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Oroville and Marysville.

Oroville

110.2 mi in | ~2h 28m | via CA 149

Marysville

110.2 mi in | ~2h 28m | via CA 149

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 303.7 mi 5h 28m
I 5 Truck 58.6 mi 1h 7m
CA 32 52.4 mi 1h 10m
CA 70 49.2 mi 58m
Hillcrest Road 28.8 mi 38m
I 405 Truck 23 mi 26m
CA 36 18.1 mi 26m
San Diego Freeway 18 mi 20m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 303.7 mi, about 5h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Susanville, CA and Long Beach, CA.

1

Start on Foss Street

61 ft · 11 sec · Foss Street
2

Turn left onto CA 36

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street
3

Continue on CA 36

0.1 mi · 9 sec · South Pine Street
Use the straight lane.
4

Continue on CA 36

29 mi · 38 min · Hillcrest Road
5

Enter roundabout onto CA 36

138 ft · 9 sec · CA 36
6

Continue on CA 36

18 mi · 26 min · CA 36
7

Turn left onto CA 32

52 mi · 1 hr 10 min · CA 32
Use the left lane.
8

Turn left

361 ft · 10 sec
Use the left lane.
9

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 12 sec
Use the straight lane.
10

Merge onto CA 99

9.9 mi · 11 min · CA 99
Use the none lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149

5.5 mi · 6 min · CA 149
Toward Oroville, Marysville Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12

Merge onto CA 70

19 mi · 22 min · CA 70
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on CA 70

11 mi · 12 min · CA 70
Use the none lane.
14

Continue on CA 70

1.5 mi · 3 min · CA 70
Use the none lane.
15

Turn right onto 5th Street

0.2 mi · 31 sec · 5th Street
16

Turn left onto CA 70

4.2 mi · 5 min · E Street
17

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70

18 mi · 20 min · CA 70
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
18

Merge onto CA 99

4.9 mi · 5 min · Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
19

Continue on CA 99

7.7 mi · 8 min · Golden State Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
20

Merge onto I 5

66 mi · 1 hr 13 min · Westside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

0.8 mi · 48 sec · Westside Freeway
22

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

237 mi · 4 hr 13 min · Westside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
23

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
24

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway
Use the none lane.
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 none / 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
31

Continue on I 710

0.5 mi · 40 sec · Seaside Freeway
Use the none / 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
Use the none lane.
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
Use the none lane.
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

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 297.4 miles from Susanville, CA, or about 6h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 303.7 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

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

First stop

Around 131 miles or 2h 52m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 297.4 miles or 6h in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 297.4 miles or 6h

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 10h 18m

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 Susanville, 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.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Susanville, CA

Aim for roughly 297 miles and 5.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Long Beach, CA

Aim for roughly 297 miles and 5.8 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 131 miles from Susanville, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 303.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 297.4 mi from Susanville, CA · 6h into the drive

Downtown Chico, CA, CA

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Chico, CA

196 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Downtown Modesto, CA, CA

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Modesto, CA

393 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Modesto, CA

Overnight Options

Night 1

Roseville, CA

297 mi · about 5.8h in

A practical overnight split lands near Roseville, CA after about 297 miles or 5.8 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Chico, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 131 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Modesto, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 297.4 miles from Susanville, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 303.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 297 miles or 5.8 hours on the road.

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.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Long Beach, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$137.76 one way

$275.53 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 208 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $142.07 $284.15
premium $6.24 $146.22 $292.44
diesel $5.64 $132.17 $264.33

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$138

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$268–$378

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 208.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $62 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 178.5 2 $62.46 $28.56
Efficient EV 148.7 1 $52.05 $23.80
EV Truck/SUV 238 2 $83.29 $38.07

Gas CO2

208 kg

EV CO2

70 kg (66% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Susanville, CA

Morning in Susanville on Sunday

Local time

11:20 AM

PDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Long Beach, CA

Morning in Long Beach on Sunday

Local time

11:20 AM

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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

11 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

11h 30m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Susanville, CA to Long Beach, CA covers 594.9 miles and takes about 11h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, CA 32. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 297 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 297.4 miles from Susanville, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $137.76 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 3 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 26 significant decision points across 594.9 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 100 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 110.2 miles (CA 149): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 151.8 miles (CA 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Susanville, CA and Long Beach, CA, road signs point toward Oroville and Marysville.

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Return Trip

Long Beach, CA to Susanville, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

594.5 mi 11h 29m

Explore more options from Susanville, CA or browse trips ending in Long Beach, CA.

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