Road trip cost
At 416 miles and roughly 6 hr 42 min of driving, the route from Long Beach, CA to Phoenix, AZ is a long-haul trip. Budget for multiple fuel stops, food, and possibly an overnight stay — gas alone can run well over a hundred dollars depending on your vehicle.
416 mi
6 hr 42 min
1
1
1 suggested fuel stop
Key takeaway
Drive intensity
Doable in a single day.
Pre-filled with the Long Beach → Phoenix distance.
Estimated Trip Cost
$0.00
Per Person
$0.00
Gallons
0.00gal
Total miles: 416 (one way).
We summarize publicly available data — no scraping, no external API calls. Figures are calibrated periodically; use the calculators above for your exact inputs.
Estimated one-way fuel cost at $3.45/gal (US average). Adjust for your local price.
Assuming a 28 MPG sedan over the 416-mile route.
$46.80
one way · ~14.9 gal
$51.26
one way · ~14.9 gal
$57.20
one way · ~14.9 gal
A typical 28 MPG sedan with a 12.5-gallon tank covers about 350 miles per fill-up. Plan 1 stop along the way and fuel up before any remote stretches.
Assuming a realistic 230-mile highway range, plan 1 DC fast-charging stop. Tesla Superchargers and Electrify America have strong coverage on most US corridors.
Midpoint
Palm Springs, CA
Roughly halfway between Long Beach and Phoenix. A natural place to fuel up, grab a meal, swap drivers, or stop overnight on longer drives.
Route personality
Long-distance interstate driveEV-friendly corridorBeach destinationLong Beach, CA
Phoenix, AZ
Summer
Peak beach and theme-park traffic; expect 20–40% longer drive times around weekends.
Summer
Desert highs over 110°F stress engines, tires and EV batteries — drive early or late, never midday.
Late summer / early fall
Western wildfire smoke can drop visibility and force I-5 / I-80 detours — check InciWeb.
For one or two people, driving usually wins on cost. Solo travelers with no luggage may find a budget flight cheaper once you add parking and meals.
A one-way drive uses about $51 in gas (28 MPG, $3.45/gal). A typical short domestic flight costs $80–$220 per person plus $30–$60/day for airport parking and any baggage fees.
October through April is most comfortable. Summer driving means extreme heat and higher AC fuel use.
Mostly toll-free — you can drive this without a transponder.
A mid-size sedan or hybrid is the sweet spot — comfortable for the distance with strong MPG.
Moderate — plan at least two 15-minute breaks and swap drivers if possible.
Most drivers complete this route in a single day. Leave early to avoid arriving tired in evening traffic.
This 416-mile route between Long Beach, CA and Phoenix, AZ is a popular drive in the region. Expect roughly 6 hr 42 min behind the wheel under normal traffic conditions.
The drive is about 416 miles and takes roughly 6 hr 42 min under normal traffic. Add buffer for stops, construction, and rush hour around either city.
In a 28 MPG sedan, expect about 14.9 gallons one way. A 22 MPG SUV would use roughly 18.9 gallons.
At the US average of $3.45/gal, a 28 MPG vehicle costs about $51.26 one way. Round trip roughly doubles that. Use the calculator above for your exact MPG and local gas price.
A typical gas sedan needs about 1 fuel stop one way. A modern EV with ~230 miles of highway range needs about 1 DC fast-charge.
For one or two people, driving usually wins on cost. Solo travelers with no luggage may find a budget flight cheaper once you add parking and meals.
October through April is most comfortable. Summer driving means extreme heat and higher AC fuel use.
Palm Springs, CA is roughly halfway and makes a natural fuel, food, or overnight break.
Estimated 416-mile fuel cost for each pick at average US prices. Tap any vehicle for a full cost breakdown.
Cheapest to drive
57 MPG · hybrid
~$25
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest EV
134 MPGe · ev
~$17
est. one-way charging cost
See full breakdownBest sedan
37 MPG · sedan
~$39
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest SUV for comfort
33 MPG · suv
~$43
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownBest truck for cargo
26 MPG · truck
~$55
est. one-way fuel cost
See full breakdownRelated routes
Reverse drives, connecting routes and regional alternatives — each with distance and driving cost at current US gas prices.
Reverse drive
Phoenix to Long Beach driving cost
416 mi · 6.7 h
Other road trip cost estimates that start in Long Beach, CA.
Other routes with Phoenix, AZ as the destination.
Same-state and neighboring-state drives with similar driving cost.
Longer connected routes leaving Phoenix, AZ — great for multi-day road trip planning.
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