How far is Rancho Santa Margarita, CA from Long Beach, CA?
The driving distance from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA to Long Beach, CA is about 43.2 miles (69.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 53m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 34.8 miles (56 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
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 00h 53m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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.
A city located in Orange County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog
Patchy Fog
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Rancho Santa Margarita and Long Beach.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rancho Santa Margarita and Long Beach.
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1
Start on Foothill Transportation Corridor
2476 ft · 33 sec · Foothill Transportation Corridor
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2
Take the exit slight right toward Antonio Parkway
1871 ft · 26 sec
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3
Turn left onto Antonio Parkway
630 ft · 23 sec · Antonio Parkway
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4
Turn left onto CA 241 Toll North
2195 ft · 29 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto Foothill Transportation Corridor
8.4 mi · 10 min · Foothill Transportation Corridor
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6
Take the exit slight right toward CA 133 South: Laguna Beach
1.1 mi · 1 min
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7
Continue on Eastern Transportation Corridor
3.6 mi · 4 min · Eastern Transportation Corridor
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8
Continue on Laguna Freeway
2295 ft · 30 sec · Laguna Freeway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 North: Long Beach, San Diego Freeway
3268 ft · 1 min
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10
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · San Diego Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
9.7 mi · 11 min · San Diego Freeway
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12
Keep slight left
2.7 mi · 3 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward CA 22 West: Long Beach
2.5 mi · 4 min
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14
Keep slight left to continue on East 7th Street
2.7 mi · 7 min · East 7th Street
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15
Turn left onto Rose Avenue
1321 ft · 51 sec · Rose Avenue
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16
At the end of the road, turn right onto East 4th Street
1.1 km · 2 min · East 4th Street
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17
Turn left onto Alamitos Avenue
2029 ft · 1 min · Alamitos Avenue
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18
Turn right onto East Ocean Boulevard
1888 ft · 1 min · East Ocean Boulevard
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19
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Ocean Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Rancho Santa Margarita and Long Beach.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
San Diego Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
9.75 mi · 00h 11m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A comfortable day-trip route
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
Patchy Fog leaving Rancho Santa Margarita and Patchy Fog near Long Beach.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Rancho Santa Margarita to Long Beach?
The road trip is about 43.2 miles (69.6 km) and usually takes 00h 53m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Irvine is a useful midpoint, sitting about 21.6 miles from Rancho Santa Margarita and 21.7 miles from Long Beach.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 34.8 miles (56 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:44 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.77 one way or $17.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 13.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog around Rancho Santa Margarita and Patchy Fog near Long Beach.
Stop Ideas Near Irvine
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Newport Beach Municipal Operations
City of Lake Forest
City of Tustin Parks & Recreation
bamboo house
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Irvine.
Irvine Transportation Center
Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center
Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center
Fullerton Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Rancho Santa Margarita and Long Beach. Straight-line distance: 34.8 mi (56 km).
#1 Rancho Santa Margarita
A city in Orange County, California.
| Population | 47,569 |
| Coordinates | 33.6408600, -117.6031000 |
| Altitude | 289 |
| 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: 70 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 26m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 01h 04m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 51m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 43m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 37m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 32m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $8.77 | $17.54 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $9.22 | $18.44 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $9.49 | $18.98 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $11.50 | $23.00 |
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 · Jun 11, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.