How far is Cottonwood, CA from Long Beach, CA?
The driving distance from Cottonwood, CA to Long Beach, CA is about 556.1 miles (895 km), with a travel time of about 09h 06m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 509.8 miles (820.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 09h 06m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Census-designated place in Merced County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Cottonwood and Long Beach.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cottonwood and Long Beach.
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1
Start on 1st Street
19 m · 2 sec · 1st Street
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2
Turn left onto Main Street
1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street
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3
Continue on Bowman Road
922 ft · 25 sec · Bowman Road
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4
Take the ramp left
1263 ft · 31 sec
-
5
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
15.9 mi · 17 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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6
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
15.7 mi · 17 min · Westside Freeway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
78.8 mi · 1 hr 28 min · Westside Freeway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway
-
10
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
-
11
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
-
12
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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14
Keep slight right
23 mi · 26 min
-
15
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · San Diego Freeway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward I 710 South: Long Beach
115 m · 9 sec
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17
Continue on I 710 South: Long Beach
1624 ft · 40 sec
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18
Merge slight left onto Long Beach Freeway
2.4 mi · 3 min · Long Beach Freeway
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19
Continue on Seaside Freeway
2637 ft · 41 sec · Seaside Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight left toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
1821 ft · 38 sec
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21
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi · 2 min · Shoreline Drive
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22
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
923 ft · 30 sec · South Chestnut Place
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23
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
2661 ft · 2 min · West Ocean Boulevard
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24
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
533 ft · 22 sec · East Ocean Boulevard
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25
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Ocean Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Cottonwood and Long Beach.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi · 04h 14m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Sunny leaving Cottonwood and Sunny near Long Beach.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Cottonwood to Long Beach?
The road trip is about 556.1 miles (895 km) and usually takes 09h 06m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
South Dos Palos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 276 miles from Cottonwood and 280.2 miles from Long Beach.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 509.8 miles (820.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $122.90 one way or $245.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 174.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cottonwood and Sunny near Long Beach.
Stop Ideas Near South Dos Palos
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to South Dos Palos.
Merced station
Madera
Denair station
Fresno station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Cottonwood and Long Beach. Straight-line distance: 509.75 mi (820.36 km).
#1 Cottonwood
Located in Shasta County at an elevation of 433 feet, this Northern California census-designated place is situated in the northern Sacramento Valley near where Cottonwood Creek meets the Sacramento River.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 40.3857100, -122.2808400 |
| Altitude | 132 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Long Beach
The second most populous city in California, Long Beach is a major center for business, manufacturing, and tourism.
| Population | 454,681 |
| Coordinates | 33.7669600, -118.1892300 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
End: E Ocean Boulevard (-118.189233, 33.766923)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 895 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 18h 31m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 54m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 07m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 16m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 56m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 56m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $122.90 | $245.81 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $127.58 | $255.15 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $131.31 | $262.61 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $165.15 | $330.29 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in California · Oct 15, 2026