How far is Palo Alto, CA from Long Beach, CA?
The driving distance from Palo Alto, CA to Long Beach, CA is about 379.9 miles (611.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 04m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 337.3 miles (542.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 09m 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 06h 04m.
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 Kings County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Palo Alto and Long Beach.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palo Alto and Long Beach.
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1
Start on Middlefield Road
30 m · 11 sec · Middlefield Road
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2
Turn sharp right onto Embarcadero Road
1 mi · 3 min · Embarcadero Road
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3
Take the ramp straight toward US 101 South: San Jose
2301 ft · 58 sec
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4
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Bayshore Freeway
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5
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
42.4 mi · 49 min · Bayshore Freeway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
1539 ft · 40 sec
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7
Turn left onto East 10th Street
108 m · 13 sec · East 10th Street
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8
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi · 50 min · Pacheco Pass Highway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
3148 ft · 1 min
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10
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181.1 mi · 3 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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11
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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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
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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 · 28 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 Palo Alto 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
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181 mi · 03h 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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto to Long Beach?
The road trip is about 379.9 miles (611.4 km) and usually takes 06h 04m 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?
Kettleman City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 189.7 miles from Palo Alto and 190.2 miles from Long Beach.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 337.3 miles (542.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.6 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 $77.36 one way or $154.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 119.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Palo Alto and Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny near Long Beach.
Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City
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 Kettleman City.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Corcoran station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Palo Alto and Long Beach. Straight-line distance: 337.27 mi (542.79 km).
#1 Palo Alto
The most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.
| Population | 67,008 |
| Coordinates | 37.4418800, -122.1430200 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| 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 (-118.189236, 33.766924)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 611 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 39m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 29m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 35m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 19m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 25m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 44m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $77.36 | $154.72 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $81.35 | $162.69 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $83.72 | $167.44 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $101.47 | $202.95 |
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 07, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.