How far is Imperial, CA from Long Beach, CA?

The driving distance from Imperial, CA to Long Beach, CA is about 213.4 miles (343.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 164 miles (264 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
213.4 mi
03h 26m
Flight
164.07 mi
264.04 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Imperial.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
164.07 mi
Kilometers
264.04 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
213.4 mi
Kilometers
343.44 km
Drive Time
03h 26m

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 03h 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Long Beach
Tue, May 12, 10:18 PM PDT
Return by in Imperial
Wed, May 13, 1:44 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Imperial
2026-05-12T18:51
Arrive Long Beach
Tue, May 12, 10:18 PM PDT
Route Timing
03h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:26 AM to 11:26 AM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:08 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Imperial
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Santee
CA

A city in San Diego County, California.

From Imperial
105.8 mi
01h 43m
To Long Beach
107.6 mi
01h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
104°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSE
Destination
64°F
Tuesday

Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Imperial and Long Beach.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Imperial and Long Beach.

  1. 1

    Start on East Barioni Boulevard

    31 m · 7 sec · East Barioni Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Imperial Avenue

    5 mi · 9 min · North Imperial Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the exit right

    1329 ft · 32 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Kumeyaay Highway

    90 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Kumeyaay Highway

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward Lake Jennings Park Road

    1450 ft · 39 sec

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Lake Jennings Park Road

    2.3 mi · 4 min · Lake Jennings Park Road

  7. 7

    Continue on Mapleview Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Mapleview Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto San Vicente Freeway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · San Vicente Freeway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 52 West

    2800 ft · 48 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on San Clemente Canyon Freeway

    12.9 mi · 15 min · San Clemente Canyon Freeway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 805 South, I 805 North

    1746 ft · 23 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 805 North: Los Angeles

    1534 ft · 20 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Jacob Dekema Freeway

    4.3 mi · 5 min · Jacob Dekema Freeway

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    1.3 km · 56 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway

    35.4 mi · 42 min · San Diego Freeway

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway

    18.1 mi · 21 min · San Diego Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor

    14.1 mi · 16 min · San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor

  18. 18

    Continue on Corona Del Mar Freeway

    4 mi · 5 min · Corona Del Mar Freeway

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway

    9.6 mi · 11 min · San Diego Freeway

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    2.7 mi · 3 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 22 West: Long Beach

    2.5 mi · 4 min

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on East 7th Street

    2.7 mi · 7 min · East 7th Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Rose Avenue

    1321 ft · 51 sec · Rose Avenue

  24. 24

    At the end of the road, turn right onto East 4th Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · East 4th Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Alamitos Avenue

    2029 ft · 1 min · Alamitos Avenue

  26. 26

    Turn right onto East Ocean Boulevard

    1888 ft · 1 min · East Ocean Boulevard

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Ocean Boulevard

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Imperial and Long Beach.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
27 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Kumeyaay Highway
90 mi · 42%
San Diego Freeway
65.7 mi · 31%
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
14.1 mi · 7%
San Clemente Canyon Freeway
12.9 mi · 6%
North Imperial Avenue
5.29 mi · 2%
Jacob Dekema Freeway
5.1 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Kumeyaay Highway

Merge slight left onto Kumeyaay Highway

90 mi · 01h 37m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 26m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+49.4 mi
164 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Santee
01h 43m from Imperial
Leave By
10:08 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Imperial and Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny near Long Beach.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Imperial to Long Beach?

The road trip is about 213.4 miles (343.4 km) and usually takes 03h 26m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Santee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 105.8 miles from Imperial and 107.6 miles from Long Beach.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 164 miles (264 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.4 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:08 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.44 one way or $86.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 66.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Imperial and Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny near Long Beach.

Stop Ideas Near Santee

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Santee and the surrounding midpoint area.
El Primero Boutique Hotel
Coffee break 14.5 mi away

El Primero Boutique Hotel

Chula Vista , CA
416 3rd Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910, United States
Rating 4.7/5 266 reviews Hotel,Bed & breakfast,Motel
Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan
Food stop 9.1 mi away

Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan

El Cajon , CA
3007 Dehesa Rd, El Cajon, CA 92019, United States
Rating 4.5/5 1,568 reviews Golf course,Bar,Event venue,Hotel,Public golf course,Resort hotel,Restaurant
Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton
Stay option 14.3 mi away

Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton

Coronado , CA
1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118, United States
Rating 4.5/5 14,668 reviews Hotel
San Diego County Administration Center
Meeting point 11.9 mi away

San Diego County Administration Center

San Diego , CA
1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101, United States
Rating 4.6/5 20 reviews County government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Santee.

RAIL

Old Town Transit Center

23 mi away
4005 Taylor Street
RAIL

Santa Fe Depot

23 mi away
1050 Kettner Blvd
RAIL

Sorrento Valley station

25 mi away
11170 Sorrento Valley Road
RAIL

Solana Beach

32 mi away
105 North Cedros Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Imperial and Long Beach. Straight-line distance: 164.07 mi (264.04 km).

Imperial

#1 Imperial

City in Imperial County, California, United States

Population19,663
Coordinates32.8475500, -115.5694400
Altitude-18
CountryUnited States
Long Beach

#2 Long Beach

The second most populous city in California, Long Beach is a major center for business, manufacturing, and tourism.

Population454,681
Coordinates33.7669600, -118.1892300
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: East Barioni Boulevard (-115.569439, 32.847508)
End: E Ocean Boulevard (-118.189236, 33.766924)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 343 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.53 gal
28.51 L · about $43.44
Round trip
$86.88
15.06 gal · 57.02 L
Estimated CO2
66.9 kg one way
Round trip: 133.8 kg / 295 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $43.44 $86.88
Mid-grade $6.07 $45.68 $91.35
Premium $6.24 $47.01 $94.02
Diesel $7.57 $56.98 $113.96

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 · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Imperial and Long Beach. The current time is 18:51:44.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.