Long Beach, California keeps coming up in your LA research, but no one’s telling you whether it’s actually worth the drive from Hollywood. Long Beach is a beautiful destination with waterfront attractions, historic ships, and a completely different vibe than Hollywood. But is it worth your time? We’ll help you decide that in this guide.
Long Beach sits 25 miles south of Hollywood – close enough for a day trip, far enough that you’ll spend a full day there once you factor in drive time. In this post, we’ll go over everything Long Beach has to offer, practical planning tips for getting there from Hollywood, and help you decide if this coastal city fits your itinerary.
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What Makes Long Beach Different from Hollywood
Long Beach is the second-largest city in Los Angeles County, with about 470,000 residents. Locals call it LBC, and it has a completely different vibe than Hollywood. Hollywood runs on entertainment industry energy – studios, celebrity sightings, red carpets. Long Beach runs on waterfront culture – working shipping ports, historic naval vessels, and a laid-back beach town atmosphere.
Long Beach sits 25 miles south of Hollywood – about 45 minutes to an hour each way depending on traffic. That’s two to three hours of drive time round trip. Once you’re there, plan on spending at least four to six hours exploring. Add it up and you’re looking at a full-day commitment.
The distance creates a real separation from the Hollywood scene, which is exactly the appeal for some visitors and exactly why others skip it.
The Main Attractions in Long Beach
The Queen Mary and Waterfront
The RMS Queen Mary is Long Beach’s signature attraction. This historic ocean liner sailed the Atlantic from 1936 to 1967 and is now permanently docked along the waterfront. You can take self-guided tours through the ship’s original Art Deco rooms, eat at the onboard restaurants, or even book a hotel room and stay overnight.
The Queen Mary sits near Rainbow Harbor and Shoreline Village, where you’ll find restaurants, shops, and waterfront walking paths. The Pike Outlets shopping center is also nearby if you want to combine your visit with some shopping. This whole waterfront area works well as a base for your Long Beach day – park once and walk to multiple spots.
Plan for two to three hours if you’re touring the ship. The Queen Mary is genuinely unique – you can’t see this piece of ocean liner history anywhere else.
The Aquarium of the Pacific
The Aquarium of the Pacific sits right on Rainbow Harbor and ranks among the largest aquariums in the United States. You’ll see over 500 species, including sharks, sea otters, jellyfish, and tropical fish. The aquarium focuses on Pacific Ocean marine life with exhibits organized by region.
This is a family-friendly attraction that works well if you’re traveling with kids or if marine life is a specific interest. Plan for two to three hours minimum to explore the exhibits at a comfortable pace.
The location makes it easy to combine with the Queen Mary or a walk along Shoreline Drive. Both attractions sit within walking distance of each other along the oceanfront.
Whale Watching with Harbor Breeze Cruises
Long Beach is a popular place for whale watching. Harbor Breeze Cruises runs tours year-round, though what you see depends on the season. Gray whales migrate past from December through April. Blue whales and other species appear during summer and fall months.
Tours last two and a half to three hours. You’ll head out into the Pacific Ocean and hopefully spot whales, dolphins, and sea birds. Whale sightings depend on weather, migration patterns, and timing. Book ahead, especially during peak season.
Rancho Los Cerritos: Historic Adobe Architecture
Rancho Los Cerritos is an 1844 adobe house with gardens that tells the story of California history from the Tongva people through Spanish and Mexican periods to American statehood. The property once served as part of a cattle ranch granted by the Mexican government. Jotham Bixby purchased the rancho in 1866, and the Bixby family shaped much of Long Beach’s early development.
Admission is free. You can tour the house and gardens in about an hour.
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)
The Museum of Latin American Art is the only museum in the United States dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American art. The collection focuses on works created since 1945 by artists from Latin America and Latino artists in the United States.
MOLAA offers something genuinely unique for contemporary art enthusiasts. Combine it with other Long Beach attractions to make the most of your day.
Naples Island and the Canals of Naples
Naples Island is a residential neighborhood built around Venetian-style canals. You can walk the bridges, watch the Gondola Getaway Venetian gondola tours drift past, and explore the walkable streets of this beach city neighborhood. Long Beach’s Belmont Shore sits right next to Naples and offers sandy beaches, cafes, and beach vibes along the ocean and the beach.
This area takes 30 to 45 minutes to explore. Alamitos Beach is also nearby if you want to spend time on the sand.
Downtown Long Beach: The Pine Avenue Scene
Downtown Long Beach centers around Pine Avenue, where you’ll find restaurants, bars, and the seaside atmosphere locals enjoy. The Long Beach Convention Center and entertainment venues sit in this area, along with the performing arts center.
Good for lunch or dinner if you’re spending the full day. The downtown area gives you a feel for Long Beach as a working beach city.
See LA’s Top Landmarks in Half a Day
Want to see Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and LA’s top landmarks without the full-day commitment?
Our Half Day Best of LA tour covers the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, the Farmers Market, Griffith Observatory, and Santa Monica Pier – all in half a day with expert local guides.
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Should you visit Long Beach? Yes, if…
You’re a Return Visitor to LA
You’ve already done Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the main tourist corridor. Now you’re looking for different experiences in Southern California. Long Beach gives you that waterfront culture and beach city atmosphere that feels nothing like Hollywood Boulevard. Pair it with other areas you skipped on your first trip.
You’re Into Maritime History
The Queen Mary alone justifies the drive if historic ships excite you. You can’t tour a 1930s luxury ocean liner anywhere else on the West Coast. Add in the possibility of whale watching and the Aquarium of the Pacific, and Long Beach becomes a full day of maritime-focused experiences.
You’re Visiting During Whale Watching Season
December through April means gray whale migration season. Harbor Breeze Cruises can take you out to spot these massive mammals heading along the Pacific Coast. Blue whales and other species appear during summer and fall. If marine life excites you and you’re visiting during peak season, Long Beach moves up the priority list.
You Want Beach Variety
Long Beach offers a different beach experience than Santa Monica or Manhattan Beach. You get working waterfront energy alongside the sand and surf. Belmont Shore and Alamitos Beach give you that Southern California beach scene with a more local feel.
You Have Five or More Days in Southern California
Extra time changes everything. You can hit Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica, then branch out to Long Beach without feeling rushed or like you’re missing the main attractions.
You Can Probably Skip Long Beach If…
This is Your First Trip to LA
Hollywood, Beverly Hills, celebrity homes, and Santa Monica are the experiences that define an LA vacation for most first-time visitors. Long Beach works better after you’ve checked those boxes. With five to seven days total, spending one in Long Beach means less time for the main tourist corridor.
Maritime Attractions Don’t Appeal to You
If historic ships, aquariums, and whale watching don’t interest you specifically, Long Beach loses its main advantage. The city’s appeal centers on waterfront culture. Without that interest, the drive becomes harder to justify.
You’re Focused on Entertainment Industry Experiences
Long Beach doesn’t offer studio tours, celebrity sightings, or Hollywood energy. If your LA trip centers on the entertainment world, stay closer to Hollywood and Beverly Hills where that culture dominates.
Planning Your Long Beach Day Trip
Time Breakdown
Here’s what a Long Beach day actually looks like from Hollywood:
- Drive down: 45-90 minutes depending on traffic
- Exploring Long Beach: 4-6 hours minimum to see multiple attractions
- Drive back: 45-90 minutes depending on traffic
That’s 6-8 hours minimum, but more realistically 7-9 hours when you account for parking, meals, and LA traffic patterns. You’re dedicating a full day.
Compare that to a Half Day Best of LA tour that covers Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Griffith Observatory, and Santa Monica in 4-5 hours. The time commitment matters when you’re planning your Southern California itinerary.
Getting There from Hollywood
Drive yourself: Take the 101 South to the 110 South, which becomes CA-47. Or take I-405 South to the 710 South. PCH is scenic but slower. Parking in Long Beach is significantly easier than Hollywood – most attractions have dedicated lots.
Ride-share: Expect $60-80 each way depending on surge pricing and time of day. That’s $120-160 round trip, which adds up quickly.
LA Metro: There’s no direct, quick public transit option from Hollywood to Long Beach. You’d need multiple transfers and 2+ hours each way. Not practical for a day trip.
Water taxis: Once you’re in Long Beach, water taxis connect different waterfront areas if you want to skip walking between attractions.
The Verdict: Is Long Beach, California Worth Visiting?
Long Beach is a beautiful Southern California city with genuine appeal. The question is whether it’s worth visiting on your specific trip with your timeline and interests.
If you’re a first-time visitor with five to seven days, Hollywood and Beverly Hills deliver the classic LA experience most people come for. Long Beach works better as a return trip destination or for visitors with extended time.
If you’re into maritime history, the Queen Mary makes the trip worthwhile. If you’re visiting during whale watching season, Harbor Breeze Cruises justifies the drive south of downtown Los Angeles. If you want family-friendly beaches with a local feel and plan to take the kids, the Long Beach area offers that with less tourist density than Santa Monica.
The city of Long Beach has everything from the East Village Arts District for boutique shopping to live music venues throughout the city. The upcoming 2028 Summer Olympic games will bring even more attention to this coastal city. But here’s the reality: Long Beach sits far enough from Hollywood that it requires a full-day commitment.
Explore Hollywood Then Decide
Most visitors get more value starting with Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the main LA highlights before deciding if they have time for Long Beach. That’s where our tours come in. With over 15,000 five-star reviews, we’ve helped thousands of visitors maximize their LA time.
Our Half Day Best of LA tour covers the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, Griffith Observatory, the Farmers Market, and Santa Monica Pier – all the essentials in one efficient route with expert local guides.
Want the full LA experience? Our Perfect Day in LA tour takes you to all of those iconic landmarks plus through celebrity homes in the Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills. You’ll see more of LA in one day than most visitors manage in three, guided by locals who actually know the city and make it fun.
