How long from DL to San Diego? [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

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magicalfoursome

03-13-2010, 09:58 AM

How long is the car ride from San Diego.? On google maps it says up to 4 hours with traffic! We will be traveling from San Diego to Lax on a Tuesday morning to catch a 2pm flight. Thanks!

Monkey Monkey

03-13-2010, 11:45 AM

Where in SD will you be leaving from, the harbor? I would allow 3 hours to LAX, but it likely won't take you that long, especially if you use the HOV lane on Interstate 5, assuming you leave after 9 am.

magicalfoursome

03-13-2010, 01:33 PM

We plan on staying in Coronado. Change of plans now we are staying in La Jolla and flying out of LAX on the red eye at 10:30 pm.

wdwfanatic316

03-19-2010, 06:04 PM

magicalfoursome

03-19-2010, 06:37 PM

We have a 6:30 am flight on a Sun morning for our trip in Jun/July, so I just did a quick schedule and that means we'll need to leave our hotel in San Diego by 1:00 am :scared1: At least we'll have a day and a half to recover before returning back to work!

You might as well not go to bed!!:scared1: Planning our trip to DL and San Diego has been so much harder than planning a trip to WDW!! I know WDW--where I want to stay and what I want to see-- this is our first trip to Southern California and I am clueless! :confused: I just changed our whole itinerary again!! I must have been CRAZY thinking of changing hotel rooms twice in one week! We are now going to drive from LAX to San Diego on our arrival day to spend a few days there. Then we are driving to DL for a few days in the Anaheim area. Have a wonderful trip!!

wdwfanatic316

03-19-2010, 10:45 PM

You might as well not go to bed!!:scared1: Planning our trip to DL and San Diego has been so much harder than planning a trip to WDW!! I know WDW--where I want to stay and what I want to see-- this is our first trip to Southern California and I am clueless! :confused: I just changed our whole itinerary again!! I must have been CRAZY thinking of changing hotel rooms twice in one week! We are now going to drive from LAX to San Diego on our arrival day to spend a few days there. Then we are driving to DL for a few days in the Anaheim area. Have a wonderful trip!!

I feel the exact same way! I just feel kind of clueless about what to do, and in what order! :confused3 I actually just talked to DH and thinks we should switch our trip around and go to San Diego first and then Anaheim/DL last so that it will be a shorter drive to the airport. It makes sense, but means about a half day less at DL :sad2:

Where are you staying at in San Diego? I'm still trying to decide, but am considering the Dana at Mission Bay and the Ocean Park Inn.

Good luck with your planning and have a great trip! :thumbsup2

Kewz1

03-22-2010, 02:31 PM

We're also doing San Diego and DL on our upcoming trip. We're flying into the Orange Co/John Wayne airport instead of LAX though.

As much as we're looking forward to this trip I am worried that traffic is going to throw major wrenches into our plans. I guess we'll find out soon enough!

Kristen

magicalfoursome

03-22-2010, 03:09 PM

I feel the exact same way! I just feel kind of clueless about what to do, and in what order! :confused3 I actually just talked to DH and thinks we should switch our trip around and go to San Diego first and then Anaheim/DL last so that it will be a shorter drive to the airport. It makes sense, but means about a half day less at DL :sad2:

Where are you staying at in San Diego? I'm still trying to decide, but am considering the Dana at Mission Bay and the Ocean Park Inn.

Good luck with your planning and have a great trip! :thumbsup2

That is the same reason we are going to San Diego first, then DL-- to be closer to the airport for departure. I have decided to stay at the Candy Cane Inn in DL and I am also undecided about SD. I would like to stay in La Jolla or Coronado. I am picky about my hotel and everywhere that looks great to me has a high price tag! I am going to wait to see if any summer deals come out.

erinbharris

03-23-2010, 10:00 AM

We have the same issues going on--where to stay, what order to do things in...etc.

I think we've set on going to San Diego first, then Disneyland. We're flying in and out of SNA.

Right now we're trying to decide between Hojo and the Hyatt in Anaheim...and as for San Diego I haven't picked anything yet. I am going to tentatively book the Homewood at Carlsbad (can always cancel) because it looks decent (fairly new), has breakfast, and is close to Legoland. Then I'm going to watch on Hotwire and maybe bid on Priceline.

:)

aurorae

03-23-2010, 01:02 PM

I'm thinking about doing a week later this year. Have kind of decided to fly in and out of SNA. Then see Universal and DL first, before going to SD. That way I only have to change hotels once, first hotel in Anaheim and second in SD. I'll commute to Universal from Anaheim, maybe on a Sunday so the traffic won't be as bad (?)

I don't like the whole packing and checking out and checking in and unpacking thing.

I'll pick a flight out so it isn't real early in the morning so won't have to leave SD in the middle of the night, and it will be on a Sunday so hopefully traffic not as bad.

It's cheaper for me to fly into any of the LA airports than to SD. But I haven't looked at rental cars yet, that might change my mind.

Disney Dreams

03-23-2010, 05:10 PM

Part of the challenge you are all experiencing that makes it harder than WDW is:

1 - You are including a city that is about 2 hours away (depending on traffic) from DL in your plans.

2 - You are flying out of an airport that is about an hour (depending on traffic) from DL AND 3 hours (if not more) from SD.

Visually, you are doing this:

A

B

C

Starting in B. Driving 2 hours to C and then returning 3 hours (or more) to A.

San Diego is an amazing city and if I could convince my DH, we'd live there; however, combining it with a DL vacation when flying in and out of SD is logistically undesirable - and not a fair comparison to a WDW vacation because you are including an additional (semi-distant) city.

HTH,
Dreams

magicalfoursome

03-23-2010, 05:38 PM

San Diego is an amazing city and if I could convince my DH, we'd live there; however, combining it with a DL vacation when flying in and out of SD is logistically undesirable - and not a fair comparison to a WDW vacation because you are including an additional (semi-distant) city.

HTH,
Dreams

I know I am planning a lot in my one week stay but I really want to see DL and San Diego. I don't know when I will able to get back! I am happy to see that you think San Diego is amazing-- I can't wait!! Our plan now is to fly into LAX, drive to San Diego for 3 nights, and then drive to DL for 4 nights. I am thinking of The Dana on Mission Bay in San Diego-- thanks to the previous poster I had to check that resort out too! The choices of beaches and hotels are overwhelming! All the beaches in San Diego look wonderful and I keep changing my mind. :faint: First it was Coronado, then La Jolla, now Mission Bay. I am sure DL vets get overwhelmed when planning their WDW vacations too!

Disney Dreams

03-23-2010, 06:32 PM

I know I am planning a lot in my one week stay but I really want to see DL and San Diego. I don't know when I will able to get back! I am happy to see that you think San Diego is amazing-- I can't wait!! Our plan now is to fly into LAX, drive to San Diego for 3 nights, and then drive to DL for 4 nights. I am thinking of The Dana on Mission Bay in San Diego-- thanks to the previous poster I had to check that resort out too! The choices of beaches and hotels are overwhelming! All the beaches in San Diego look wonderful and I keep changing my mind. :faint: First it was Coronado, then La Jolla, now Mission Bay. I am sure DL vets get overwhelmed when planning their WDW vacations too!

When you divide it like you are, it works. It's almost like 2 vacations. 4 nights at DL, 3 nights SD. If you are flying home from LAX just know that the SD - LAX can take awhile depending upon time of day and traffic.

Coronado is gorgeous. La Jolla is fabulous. Mission Bay is fun. They are all nice and each has their own "beat." It really depends upon what you like and plan on doing. You can't go wrong with any of those choices though.

- Dreams

AZBeth

03-23-2010, 06:40 PM

magicalfoursome

03-23-2010, 07:47 PM

You might want to look at Glorietta Bay Inn on Coronado. This is where we always try to stay. It is a great hotel, not right on the beach but right across the street. I don't know when you are planning your trip but I have ususally had luck getting a good deal there. It also gets good reviews on TA.

Another thought could you fly into SD and then fly out of LAX or SNA?

San Diego is a wonderful city with tons of fun things to do with children, I can't imagine only staying there 3 -4 days but I know you have to do what you can do...

Glorietta Bay Inn was where I had first decided to stay in Coronado! I looked at the Hotel Coronado but it was too pricey. Glorietta does get great reviews on trip advisor and looks like a great place to stay. We are going the end of July. I had thought of flying into SD and out of LAX or SNA but the cost was too high --- also the car rental would have been higher too! I then decided on La Jolla because we want to snorkel and see the seals at Children's Cove. I also want to visit Mission Bay. I want to see it all in 3 days!! Is it easy to drive and park at the different beaches? Which beach is best for ocean fun, great food, and touristy shopping? :confused: We are also going to Sea World and the day we drive to Anahiem we are going to the San Diego Zoo. My family never rests on vacation-- we like to go and go and go!!

PAL_1

03-24-2010, 12:11 AM

I want to see it all in 3 days!! Is it easy to drive and park at the different beaches? Which beach is best for ocean fun, great food, and touristy shopping?

San Diegan here. When are you visiting our fair city? Sorry, I didn't read back through the entire thread. I'll try to steer you in the right direction, but maybe not for a while. We're off to WDW in 2 days!

magicalfoursome

03-24-2010, 06:49 AM

San Diegan here. When are you visiting our fair city? Sorry, I didn't read back through the entire thread. I'll try to steer you in the right direction, but maybe not for a while. We're off to WDW in 2 days!

We are coming July 22nd until July 25th. On the 25th we plan on going to the SD Zoo on our way to Anaheim. I just learned that the comic convention will be in SD the exact time we will be there. Will it affect us? Have a wonderful trip to WDW!! :wizard:

PAL_1

03-24-2010, 10:15 AM

^That's a great time to visit San Diego for beach weather. June gloom should be over, and the water as warm as it gets.

Regarding the beaches, you can visit one after another with little problem during the week or early on the weekend. Some of the more popular areas stack up with traffic and parking can be a problem.

You'll find lots of touristy shopping at Seaport Village on San Diego Bay http://www.seaportvillage.com/. The Embarcadero is just north of Seaport Village, the Midway aircraft carrier museum and the cruise ship terminal. Since you plan to visit La Jolla, you might stroll around the shops in the village. There are some high end places.

If I were to hit the highlights of San Diego's beach scene, here's where I'd go:

*Coronado's Strand, wide open sand, the beautiful Hotel Del

* Cabrillo Monument out on the tip of Pt Loma. Beautiful views, tide pools, and an historic lighthouse.

*From there I'd take the scenic drive along Sunset Cliffs to Mission Beach and Mission Bay. Mission Bay is a sparkling jewel fringed by parklands. Visit virtually anywhere but Fiesta Island's sandy wasteland. The western most areas such as Mariner's Cove and Bonita Cove and Vacation Isle are generally the nicest. You'll find Belmont Park and the historic Giant Dipper roller coaster at the foot of West Mission Bay Drive. Think touristy beach-side carnival.

*La Jolla - you can take surface streets from Mission Bay into La Jolla. That enclave is slow to navigate however you drive. Explore the point and Scripps Cove north of the Childrens' Pool, and also consider continuing just a bit farther north to La Jolla Shores for the mildest surf our coast has to offer.

*Bonus beach - north of La Jolla you'll find Torrey Pines State Park. You can stroll the quiet beach beneath the bluffs, or continue on into the state park for a series of easy hikes featuring gorgeous views.

Depending on how you spend your time, this could easily take more than a day or as little as half a day if you spend most of it in the car.

ComicCon should only impact the area immediately around the San Diego Convention Center.

I hope that helps. Enjoy your visit! We spend a lot of time on and around the water - we're feel lucky to live here.

magicalfoursome

03-24-2010, 05:21 PM

Pal_1,
Thank you so much for the info!! Enjoy your trip!!

kymom94

04-09-2010, 08:36 AM

wdwfanatic316

04-09-2010, 08:59 PM

I know this discussion is a couple of weeks old, but when I read your posts, I was thinking the same thing. This by far has been the hardest trip to plan. We are flying into LAX doing DL for 2 days then heading South. From there is where it is getting complicated. Can't decide about LL, SW, getting a city pass, a Go card, etc. Any insights would be appreciated. We are flying home from SAN.

We're going for the first trip to SoCal/DL at the end of June :yay: and thought sharing our schedule might help your planning (or at least give you comfort to know there's someone else out there who feels lost with planning this DL trip!) :goodvibes

Sun-arrive at LAX, drive to San Diego, stay at Dana-Mission Bay
Mon-SeaWorld
Tues-SD Zoo
Wed-beach (maybe La Jolla), Mission Bay activities
Thurs-check out Dana-Mission Bay, Legoland, drive to Anaheim and ck in HoJo
Fri-Disneyland
Sat-California Adventure
Sun-fly out of LAX

In San Diego, I'm hoping we have time to fit in visiting some of the museums at Balboa Park and maybe a visit to Coronado Island.

I'm not sure if the schedule is way too ambitious or not, but I'm hoping we get most of it in! Good luck with your planning and hope we get some good tips!:surfweb:

kymom94

04-10-2010, 07:22 AM

Thanks for the reply. It IS encouraging. This is going to be a great trip, I just had no idea how hard it would be to plan. Our schedule sounds very similar to yours, but backwards. We start in DL (we are staying at HoJo too!) and end in SD with the SW, the beach, La Jolla and the zoo. We are flying home from SD. For whatever reason it was a cheaper flight and the times were nicer since we are flying with kids. I don't think we would do well on an overnight flight home. I hope your trip is wonderful! And thanks again!

Koda

04-10-2010, 07:38 AM

We are visiting Southern CA at the end of June/early July. I too struggled with how to schedule our trip. My daughter has a gymnastic meet in San Diego at the end of June, so that part was locked in. Since we don't know when we will ever be back in CA, we really want to work in LA/Hollywood, and of course, DL!

I wound up booking 2 one way flights...we fly into SNA, and out of LAX. I actually got some pretty good deals ($100/person for non-stop flights), but I booked months ago. Of course when you add the fees, and travel insurance (which I always get when booking so far in advance), with the 2 flights, it comes to about:goodvibes $250/person. We could have saved $ flying in/out of the same airport, but I figure we are paying for our extra vacation time.

I just booked a rental car through rentalcars.com. I got a premium car that holds 5 passengers, and 5 suitcases (we are a family of 5) for $590/2 weeks. That is the best deal I have found. I also priced it out as if we were returning to the same airport, and the price was not much different. My DH is adament that we can do this 2 week trip with only a carry-on each! It will be a challenge for my 14 y.o. DDs!

We will be switching hotels more often than I would like... San Diego for 5 nights, DL for 3 nights, Hollywood for 2 nights, Santa Monica for 3 nights. Timewise it just seemed to work out the best that way. Hopefully, it will all go smoothly!

Good Luck with your planning!

nemofans

04-11-2010, 01:24 PM

kymom94

04-12-2010, 07:07 AM

We are planning a SD/DL trip & trying to figure out the best way to do this. Right now, we are thinking of flying one way to LAX or SNA & staying at DL for about 3 days. Then rent car & drive to SD & stay for 3 days. Then we will fly out of SD one way. We have been to SD once & DL once separately. This is the 1st time combining the 2 as 1 trip.

We had to check prices for our flight. We are in CVG (cincinnati) and it was cheaper to fly to LAX and home out of SAN. We have young children so the flight times also had to be considered. It was a few dollars more for a morning flight for us to LAX, but otherwise we would be getting in at 11:30pm PST which would be like 2:30am EST. No way I was going to start my vacation out that way!

Good luck to you both on your vacations!

kristie73

04-20-2010, 11:34 AM

Monkey Monkey

04-20-2010, 12:05 PM

I have a trip planned to San Diego in July. We will drive up to Disneyland for 3 nights. I really hadn't considered the traffic though. :sad2: What's the best time to leave San Diego on a Monday morning to get to Disneyland?:confused:

When I drive up to DLR during the week, I try to leave by 6:30am when the park opens at 9. It usually only takes me an hour and a half to get there, but I allow extra time for rush hour traffic and parking, waiting for the tram, etc.

I live in northeast San Diego, so I take a different route than from downtown (I take the 15 to 78 to 5), but you'll find that traffic is typically heavier going south in the morning than north.

Of course, if you don't mind getting there after the park opens, you can leave around 9am and miss most of the traffic.

Monkey Monkey

04-20-2010, 12:08 PM

Oh, but if you're going to be there in July, the park will probably open at 8. I would leave by 5:30am and you probably won't hit much traffic at all, and will be at the gates with time to spare.

Poly-Anna

04-25-2010, 08:45 AM

Just starting to research our Southern Cal trip for next year. HELP! :scared1:

Game plan (and tell me if this is a doable plan) is for about 9-10 days, flying into SAN arriving about noon from the east coast and driving to/staying at DL for 3 days or so to visit Knotts and DL. Then down to SD for 6 or so days staying maybe at Loews Coronado and enjoying the beach there with a day trip or 2 to the Zoo, Legoland, Animal Park and/or SW (we've been to SW in Orlando many times so not a necessity to see the one in SD).

Then flight home from SAN leaving at noon. We like flying Southwest and LAX seems more expensive and maybe insane??!! I would like to try to avoid Los Angeles this trip if possible.

Is Coronado nice for a beach or is Mission Bay better for children? Any thoughts about Loews Coronado?

Any recommendations/suggestions welcome. :)

PineapplePrincessCA

04-25-2010, 09:05 AM

Is Coronado nice for a beach or is Mission Bay better for children?

Coronado is an awesome beach, especially for children. Surf is very mild.

Poly-Anna

04-25-2010, 09:36 AM

Everything I've read so far said that Coronado was a really nice beach. Good to know! I think we might just stay there and drive in for the Zoo and a few other attractions when in SD. Thanks again! :cool1:

PineapplePrincessCA

04-25-2010, 09:40 AM

It's a large beach, so even though is very popular (w/ tourists and locals) I rarely see it crowded.

Here are some pic of Coronado beach from last summer...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc30b3127ccef8825da9d70900000040O08EcsWbNu3aA9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9cc30b3127ccef8829f6f569e00000040O08EcsWbNu3aA9 vPh4/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Jenna319

05-05-2010, 01:11 AM

I had just planned on driving down to SD for a day but now, I'm really considering spending 3 nights & ending our SoCal trip there!

I currently have booked 6 nights at PPH from 9/2-9/8 Thursday-Wednesday, with the Buy 3, Get 2 free package and includes 5 day park hoppers. However, I've made up my mind that I do want to change to DH just because I've always wanted to stay there, it will be our 1st time staying on-site, & I don't know when we will get back to Cali as we visit WDW every year and decided on skipping that and heading to DLR. For some reason, I just cannot get myself excited about PPH.

The main reason we are heading to Cali (besides our obvious mutual love of Mickey Mouse) is my husband is a huge Dodgers fan so we plan on going to see 1 or 2 games in LA on Friday &/or Sat night, as well as driving down to see the Dodgers play the Padres in San Diego one day....

But now, as I am ADDICTED to planning our vacays and analyzing and pricing different scenarios, I'm starting to put together another idea in my head.... What if we stay 4 nights at DLH (cutting 2 nights off DLR stay :( but staying at dream hotel!!!), booking through the room only deal, which saves literally about half the cost especially since we do have 2 day park hoppers left over from WDW that we can trade in and use, and since we have other things on our itinerary (2 dodger games, hollywood, beach), 2 days would be enough for us to spend in the parks without feeling pressured to have to go everyday with the 5 day passes.....

And then..... from Monday-Thursday 9/6-9/9, stay in San Diego for 3 nights!! I never even considered staying 1 night in SD because we just planned on going to see the Dodgers but then I started thinking, who wants to drive back to Anaheim at 1030pm after a ballgame.... I started browsing the boards, found a recommendation for the Dana at Mission Bay, which offered a special package for birthday celebrations, if you stay on your bday, which it would be my husbands bday 9/8, you can stay 2 nights and get the 3rd night free! We have never been to San Diego, hear it is gorgeous, and maybe finding this deal is a sign we should split up our vacay??

Although it does sadden me to spend just 4 nights at DLR, it would be wonderful to do something new since we've been to DL 3 times before.... In the end, staying 4 nights at DLH (no tix), and 3 nights at the Dana would actually be total about $400 cheaper!!

So, my questions are: Anybody have any input on the Dana resort? Is it nice? Ive read the location is great and to upgrade to the newer buildings which I would plan on. How close is it to Petco Park? And most importantly, how far of a drive would it be to drive back to John Wayne from SD on an early Thursday morning? I have a camaro reserved as a bday surprise for my husband and it is required to be dropped off at the same airport it is picked up at. If we had a 10am flight out of Orange County, what time should we leave San Diego to give us enough time?? And does anyone know if there is a change/cancellation fee to switch hotels or switch from package to room only ressie and if so, how much? Thanks for any input!!! Only my wonderful DISers understand the obsession with planning Disney vacations!! Everyone else thinks I'm insane! :)

wdwfanatic316

05-05-2010, 09:23 PM

Jenna319- I'm sorry, I don't have any answers to your questions since I'm a total newbie to DL and SD, but just wanted to say that I I totally understand your confusion :confused3 with planning. I went back and forth with different options trying to decide what was best between SD and DL. We're staying at the Dana also, after a ton of reading online reviews. We reserved the newer section also. I hope it lives up to the good reviews and that you get your questions answered! :goodvibes

LuvindisCruiser

07-26-2010, 09:13 PM

We have done DLR vacation many times, with a day trip to SeaWorld. :lovestruc
If I remember correctly, isn't it about a 2 hour drive to SeaWorld from DLR ?
It goes by fast when hubby is driving and I am sleeping ! :rolleyes1

PortieOwner

08-03-2010, 11:35 AM

Data point: last week the trip from North County San Diego (Poway area off I-15) to DL was around 1:15 each way. There was jammed traffic on I-5 starting in Irvin or Santa Ana heading north but the carpool lanes get you past that. Traffic for most of the trip was moving at an average 75-80mph.

Coming home at 8pm traffic was heavy on I-5 but no jam-ups at all.

However, coming south through Orange County on I-5 there was jammed traffic in the morning, so watch for that or leave early.

Just like Disneyland, for Legoland and Seaworld and the San Diego Zoo you want to be there when they open, not 30 minutes later.

soaringirl

08-10-2010, 05:43 PM

JaxsonsMom

08-10-2010, 06:22 PM

Hi! I read some of the older posts, and have a question.. I'm (well, DH really) driving to Anaheim from San Diego on a Friday in September. the park opens at 9am, and I would like to arrive 8amish, since we have to leave the bags at check in, grab a quick bite and then go to park-opening. I was thinking leaving San Diego at 530am, but it might be too early, what time do you recommend me to leave then?

I think it only takes about 1.5 hours, since you are leaving early, traffic shouldn't be that bad. I assume you are taking the 5 all the way north.

I live in Escondido, which in north east of SD, and with my driving I get there in a little over an hour.

It is a pretty easy (full) drive in the morning, use the carpool lanes and you shouldn't have a problem.

soaringirl

08-10-2010, 09:38 PM

I think it only takes about 1.5 hours, since you are leaving early, traffic shouldn't be that bad. I assume you are taking the 5 all the way north.

I live in Escondido, which in north east of SD, and with my driving I get there in a little over an hour.

It is a pretty easy (full) drive in the morning, use the carpool lanes and you shouldn't have a problem.

So maybe 6am should be better? and yes, I'm taking the 5, I already print the map in Mapquest with all directions!

JaxsonsMom

08-11-2010, 10:17 AM

So maybe 6am should be better? and yes, I'm taking the 5, I already print the map in Mapquest with all directions!

I think 6 is good, this will allow a little time (just in case) because you never know!

lakerfan2708

08-13-2010, 01:41 AM

I could do it in 2 and half hours. Maybe 2 if I drove really fast with a little help from the traffic.

ScooterL

08-13-2010, 03:29 PM

Hi! I read some of the older posts, and have a question.. I'm (well, DH really) driving to Anaheim from San Diego on a Friday in September. the park opens at 9am, and I would like to arrive 8amish, since we have to leave the bags at check in, grab a quick bite and then go to park-opening. I was thinking leaving San Diego at 530am, but it might be too early, what time do you recommend me to leave then?
What part of San Diego? Downtown? La Jolla? Mission Bay? It'll make a little bit of difference.

In general, I can leave San Diego (I live about 10 minutes north of downtown) and make it to the Disneyland parking garage in an hour and 20 minutes on a weekday, if I leave between 6:30 and 7:00. So, I think if you leave at 6:15 (adjusting that depending on how far north/south you are of downtown) you should arrive by 8:00 - barring there being some really bad accident that backs up the freeway, of course, but no one can predict that.

soaringirl

08-13-2010, 08:02 PM

What part of San Diego? Downtown? La Jolla? Mission Bay? It'll make a little bit of difference.

In general, I can leave San Diego (I live about 10 minutes north of downtown) and make it to the Disneyland parking garage in an hour and 20 minutes on a weekday, if I leave between 6:30 and 7:00. So, I think if you leave at 6:15 (adjusting that depending on how far north/south you are of downtown) you should arrive by 8:00 - barring there being some really bad accident that backs up the freeway, of course, but no one can predict that.

From The Dana at Mission Bay.. my goal is to arrive at 8am, so we can leave the bags, check-in, grab a quick bite and head for the parks!

Disbabe

09-28-2010, 12:33 PM

For this trip we are doing Anaheim and Hollywood, but couldn't resist a day at Seaworld.
I have planned a Sunday trip. How long would it take to get from Anaheim to Seaworld? I'm guessing the traffic would be less at the weekend??
As much as we wanted to spend time in San Diego we cannot fit in DL, Hollywood and SD in 2 weeks and give it all justified time, so plan doing the other and then perhaps another trip just for San Diego another year. My husband spent time working in San Diego and loved it.

PineapplePrincessCA

09-28-2010, 01:58 PM

I have planned a Sunday trip. How long would it take to get from Anaheim to Seaworld? I'm guessing the traffic would be less at the weekend??

I'd say about an hour and 45 min.

haley's mom

09-30-2010, 05:34 AM

PineapplePrincessCA

09-30-2010, 07:34 AM

So I-5 is the most direct route between DL and SW.

My question is we are going next week, 2 different days. One day at SW and 1 day at the SD Zoo. If I wanted to take a more Scenic route from SD to DL, what is best? I'm thinking both parks close early in October and I can either drive the I-5 and sit in traffic, or take my time on a longer route and see some cool spots.

Thanks!

I believe I-5 is the only route. :confused3 I'm not sure how else you'd get there. You could always get off freeway and make some stops, but I-5 is the major freeway between here and LA. Not sure what "cool spots" you're interested in. It would just be different views of the beach.