You’re standing on the corner of Ocean Blvd, looking at the Queen Mary, and you realize you need to be in Downtown LA in an hour. Honestly? Good luck. The trek from Long Beach California to Los Angeles California is only about 25 miles, but in Southern California, miles are a lie. Time is the only currency that matters here. If you’re a local, you know the drill. If you’re a tourist, you’re about to learn why people in LA talk about traffic more than they talk about their own kids.
It’s a weird corridor. You’re moving from a laid-back port city to the sprawling, chaotic heart of the second-largest metropolis in the country.
The 710: The "Diesel Death Zone"
Most people instinctively hop on the 710. It’s the straightest shot. But the 710 isn't just a freeway; it’s a logistical artery for the Port of Long Beach. That means trucks. Thousands of them. According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, this corridor handles a massive chunk of the nation’s cargo, and you’ll feel every bit of that weight when you’re sandwiched between two 18-wheelers near Carson.
The pavement is chewed up. The air smells like salt and exhaust. It’s visceral.
Don't expect a scenic drive here. You’re passing through industrial hubs like Compton, Lynwood, and South Gate. It’s gritty. If you want the "California Dream" view, the 710 is not where you’ll find it. But it is efficient—if there hasn't been a jackknifed trailer near the 91 interchange. That interchange is a notorious bottleneck where lanes merge in a way that feels like a high-stakes game of Tetris played at 70 miles per hour. Or 5 miles per hour. There is no in-between.
Taking the Blue Line (The A Line)
If you’re over the freeway stress, the Metro A Line (formerly and forever known to locals as the Blue Line) is your best bet for getting from Long Beach California to Los Angeles California. It was the first light rail line in the modern LA Metro system, opening back in 1990.
It’s cheap. It’s relatively fast. It takes about an hour to get from the Downtown Long Beach station to 7th Street/Metro Center in LA.
But let’s be real for a second. The A Line has a reputation. It runs at grade for much of the trip, meaning it hits traffic lights and crosses streets. It’s not a sleek, subterranean hyperloop. You’re going to see the "real" LA. You’ll pass through neighborhoods that haven't been gentrified, see some incredible street art, and maybe deal with some "interesting" characters on the train. Metro has been pouring money into safety and cleaning lately—hiring more "Ambassadors" to roam the cars—but it’s still an urban transit experience. If you’re looking for a sanitized Disney version of travel, call an Uber. If you want to save $50 and skip the 405 parking lot, take the train.
The 110 and the "FastTrak" Gamble
Sometimes you have to take the 110 (the Harbor Freeway). If you’re heading to the Staples Center—sorry, Crypto.com Arena—this is your path. The 110 is unique because of the ExpressLanes.
These are toll lanes. They require a Transponder. If you have one, you can zip past the poor souls stuck in the general-purpose lanes near USC. The price fluctuates based on traffic. I’ve seen it cost $15 just to go a few miles during peak rush. Is it worth it? When you’re twenty minutes late for a Lakers tip-off or a meeting at the Wilshire Grand, yes. Every single penny.
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The 110 is also one of the oldest freeways in the country. The northern stretch, toward Pasadena, is terrifyingly narrow with short on-ramps, but the stretch between Long Beach and LA is wider and more modern. Just watch out for the merge at the 105. It’s a mess of concrete flyovers that look like something out of a sci-fi movie.
Why the 405 is Usually a Trap
Google Maps will sometimes tell you to take the 405 to the 110.
Don't do it.
Unless it’s 3:00 AM on a Tuesday, the 405 is a psychological experiment designed to test human patience. It’s consistently ranked as one of the most congested stretches of road in the United States. While it technically connects the two areas, it’s a massive detour that adds unnecessary miles and a high probability of a "sig-alert" (California speak for a major traffic accident).
The Commuter Secrets
If you’re doing the Long Beach California to Los Angeles California trek daily, you learn the "surface street" escapes. When the 710 turns red on the map, savvy drivers bail onto Atlantic Blvd or Long Beach Blvd.
It’s slower, sure. But you’re moving.
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There’s something hypnotic about driving through the Gateway Cities on surface streets. You see the taco trucks, the old neon signs of motels that have seen better days, and the massive rail yards. It’s the industrial backbone of California. You’ll pass the Watts Towers if you play your cards right—Simon Rodia’s folk art masterpiece made of scrap metal and broken glass. It’s worth the detour if the freeway is a literal parking lot.
The Cost of the Trip
Let's talk numbers because gas in California isn't getting any cheaper.
- Driving: 25 miles. At 20 MPG and $5.00 a gallon, you're looking at $6.25 each way just in fuel. Add in parking in DTLA, which can easily hit $40 a day, and your "quick trip" just cost you fifty bucks.
- Ride Share: An Uber or Lyft from Long Beach to LA usually ranges from $45 to $90. During a rainy Friday evening? Expect $120.
- Public Transit: The Metro fare is a flat $1.75. It includes two hours of free transfers. It’s the undisputed king of value.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think Long Beach is just a suburb of LA. It’s not. It’s the 7th largest city in California with nearly half a million people. When you travel from Long Beach California to Los Angeles California, you aren't going from a "small town" to a "big city." You’re moving between two massive, distinct urban hubs.
This means the traffic flows both ways. In the morning, the 710 North is packed with office workers heading to DTLA. But the 710 South is also busy with longshoremen and logistics managers heading to the Port. There is no "reverse commute" here. You are in it regardless of direction.
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Weather and Timing
Believe it or not, the weather matters.
When the "June Gloom" fog rolls into Long Beach, visibility on the 710 can drop significantly. People in SoCal also famously forget how to drive the second a single raindrop hits the pavement. If there’s a light drizzle, triple your estimated travel time.
The best time to make the trip? 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Or after 8:00 PM.
If you try to leave Long Beach at 7:30 AM, bring a podcast. A long one. Maybe a multi-part series on the history of the Roman Empire. You’ll have time.
Actionable Advice for Your Trip
- Check the "Sig-Alert": Before you even put your shoes on, check SigAlert.com. It gives you real-time speeds and identifies exactly where the crashes are. Google Maps is good, but Sig-Alert is the local gold standard.
- The TAP Card: If you’re taking the A Line, download the TAP app on your phone. Don't faff around with the paper ticket machines at the station. They’re often broken or have a line of confused tourists.
- The "Secret" Commuter Bus: Look into the LA Department of Transportation (LADOT) Commuter Express. Line 142 connects Long Beach to San Pedro, and there are other regional expresses that are often cleaner and faster than the light rail, though they run on limited schedules.
- Parking Hack: If you’re driving to LA for a game or concert, park at a Metro station like Willow or Wardlow in Long Beach and take the train the rest of the way. You’ll save $40 on parking and avoid the nightmare of exiting a parking garage with 20,000 other people.
- Air Quality: If you have asthma or respiratory issues, keep your windows up on the 710. The concentration of particulate matter from the heavy truck traffic is statistically higher along this specific corridor.
The journey from Long Beach California to Los Angeles California is a rite of passage for anyone living in the South Bay or the Gateway Cities. It’s a grind, it’s noisy, and it’s quintessentially Southern Californian. Whether you're riding the rails or white-knuckling it on the 110, just remember: everyone else is just as frustrated as you are. Roll with it.