Alternative routes through LA

[JBHinkle55]

Heading down to DL from Oregon. Will be driving from Yreka to Anaheim on Thursday March 1. If we leave at 6 AM, we're looking at arriving in LA right around 5 or 6 PM.

Now we won't be going into the park at all that first night, but that being said, I'd prefer to not spend 3 hours in LA traffic on I-5.

I was wondering what would be some popular alternative routes to take once we get out of the Grapevine.

I was thinking about taking the I-210E through Pasadena to the I-605S. We're staying in Cypress, so we should be able to take the 605 all the way there.

Any other ideas? Thanks!

 

[awdsmama]

I'm making the Oregon-Anaheim drive later in March so I look forward to seeing the replies.

How often are you stopping and do you know where yet?

Safe travels!

 

[CalvaryMike]

There was a really good thread on this back when the 405 was being closed (carmageddon). If this site wasn't so slow, I'd search it out for you.

 

[Bruins]

I like your idea. Looking at it on the map, it looks longer, but you'd be going around all the downtown traffic. I would skip the 405 and 91 east as well- The 405 through the Valley and West LA and the 91 going east are all miserable at rush hour.

I work near Cypress, so I'd be happy to give you some help with traffic in that area as well. Are you staying closer to the 91 or 605?

 

[Mugglemama]

Your best bet might be to head over to PCH, get off at Lincoln, take it past LAX where it turns into Sepulveda, stay on it until you get to Artesia, head up Artesia to the 91, and take the 91 in (you end up on the 5 again for the last couple of minutes before taking the Disneyland Drive Exit....but it's literally just for a couple of minutes).

This is the route we usually take, simply because we have family in the LAX area who we stop to visit. The time you spend on that route might equal what you would have spent staying on the 5 through downtown...however, the scenery is fantastic for much of it, and at least going through town you get to move every time a traffic signal changes.

You'd just have to decide when you want to head over to the coast from the 5. Personally, I'd head to San Jose and catch the 101 down to Oxnard and get on PCH from there (which is also what we always do). The 101 is a beautiful drive through wine country and then along the coast, past the historic missions, etc. 5 is just....crap. Sorry, there's no other way to say it, lol.

Taking the 101 from San Jose as opposed to the 5 adds an hour to our trip, but it is so worth it, to me.

All of that said, we always stop for a meal or an activity in order to avoid the rush hours (4-7) on any L.A. county portion of our trips.

 

[JBHinkle55]

I'm making the Oregon-Anaheim drive later in March so I look forward to seeing the replies.

How often are you stopping and do you know where yet?

Safe travels!

Our most popular stops in Northern California are Redding (First In-N-Out in California!!), Corning (The Olive Pit, great olives and garlic among other things), Williams (Granzella's deli). We tend to try to get thru Sacramento without stopping, and then one last stop in either Tracy or Santa Nella before the seemingly endless stretch of I-5 up to the grapevine.

If you have time,

If we need gas during that time, we usually aim for Kettlemen City (In-N-Out again...), Coalinga (Harris Ranch Resort), or that little rest area right before the Grapevine begins.

Really we'll stop anywhere there is an In-N-Out

I like your idea. Looking at it on the map, it looks longer, but you'd be going around all the downtown traffic. I would skip the 405 and 91 east as well- The 405 through the Valley and West LA and the 91 going east are all miserable at rush hour.

I work near Cypress, so I'd be happy to give you some help with traffic in that area as well. Are you staying closer to the 91 or 605?

Yeah I want no part of the 405. Been stuck on that for HOURS. We're staying closer to the 605, on Katella just a bit past the Los Al Airfield at the Hampton Inn. I love that hotel!

Your best bet might be to head over to PCH, get off at Lincoln, take it past LAX where it turns into Sepulveda, stay on it until you get to Artesia, head up Artesia to the 91, and take the 91 in (you end up on the 5 again for the last couple of minutes before taking the Disneyland Drive Exit....but it's literally just for a couple of minutes).

This is the route we usually take, simply because we have family in the LAX area who we stop to visit. The time you spend on that route might equal what you would have spent staying on the 5 through downtown...however, the scenery is fantastic for much of it, and at least going through town you get to move every time a traffic signal changes.

You'd just have to decide when you want to head over to the coast from the 5. Personally, I'd head to San Jose and catch the 101 down to Oxnard and get on PCH from there (which is also what we always do). The 101 is a beautiful drive through wine country and then along the coast, past the historic missions, etc. 5 is just....crap. Sorry, there's no other way to say it, lol.

Taking the 101 from San Jose as opposed to the 5 adds an hour to our trip, but it is so worth it, to me.

All of that said, we always stop for a meal or an activity in order to avoid the rush hours (4-7) on any L.A. county portion of our trips.

I agree about the PCH. We did the drive last summer, and it has to be the most breathtaking and scenic drive in the continental US. If we had the time, I would for sure do it again. Big Sur is amazing!

There was a really good thread on this back when the 405 was being closed (carmageddon). If this site wasn't so slow, I'd search it out for you.

Oh thanks for the tip, I'll have to look that up now!

 

[skiingfast]

The best option is to stay on the 5.

If you aren't trying to make it to the parks that day, stop and have dinner when you get off the Grapvine and down into the Valley.

 

[Mugglemama]

I agree about the PCH. We did the drive last summer, and it has to be the most breathtaking and scenic drive in the continental US. If we had the time, I would for sure do it again. Big Sur is amazing!

Maybe I didn't explain clearly enough...I wasn't suggesting taking the 1 through Big Sur. That drive takes FOREVER. I was actually suggesting catching the 101 in San Jose through to Oxnard, and then getting on the 1 in Oxnard.

Whatever you decide, the 5 or the 101, or something else...remember that rush "hour" really isn't an hour, but actually lasts from about 3:30 to about 7pm...and ALL of those routes are going to be affected during those hours. You might want to seriously consider stopping not just for a meal, but possibly an activity as well. I'm not overly familiar with the city of Valencia, but maybe there's a mall, or a movie theater? Just something to think about.

 

[CDanger]

Be sure to check traffic on your smart phone as you enter Castaic.

I would strongly consider either taking the 5S to the 134E to the 210E to the 605S to the 5S or my next suggestion. If the 5 is not backed up in the San Fernando valley, it moves pretty quickly and will get you into a carpool lane on the 134 that carries over to the 210. There is also a carpool lane on the 605 and one begins shortly after you merge onto the 5.

If the 5S looks bad in the San Fernando Valley, take the 210E up there, however be warned that the 210E to the 210E in Pasadena (look at a map) can eat up LOTS of time.

The coastal route certainly won't save any time, and the 5 can really back up with no carpool alternative.

If you do stick with the 5, at the very least take the 10E to the 710S to the 5S. Its a small diversion but will save you no less than 10 minutes during rush hour. You can pull this again at the 605S to the 91E, however I'm not sure how necessary that is since they finished construction.

As another poster mentioned, rush hour in LA lasts from around 3PM to around 8PM.



Just a lurker around here but I consider myself an expert on rush hour freeway navigation around here and just HAD to chime in

 

[AutismMomma]

No comment on traffic or routes, but I have to say that I find it so interesting that for people I know that live in my area, the freeways are called I-5 and I-80 and Hwy 99, etc, but when you get down south, everything become "the 5" and "the 405" etc. Just a funny difference in Northern and Southern CA!

 

[TinkFlies]

There really isn't a way around it that isn't longer or on surface streets making it just as long. Last time we went we got through LA early enough but then decided to go out to eat somewhere else. It was gridlock at 9 pm at night!!

I vote get off and eat around Magic Mountain. We've done that if it's after 3 pm when we arrive.

Also echo taking 101 if you have the time but it's definitely a longer route.

 

[Malcon10t]

We go 210E to the 605S to the 91E (carpool lanes) to the 5. While the 210E from Pasadena to te 605 can be a PAIN, it is NOTHING compared to the 5. We do this during rush hours and always beat my sister who swears the 5 s faster. (We usually beat her by 45 mins.) It is NOT faster after about 8pm.

 

[disfaninca]

I think the best route is coming down the 5, then getting on the 134 to the 210.
Keep in mind that usually the evening rush hour affects traffic leaving L.A. So as you come down through the San Fernando Valley, you shouldn't hit too much traffic until you merge into the 134. By then there is a car pool lane all the way to the 605. There will definitely be heavy traffic on the 210 heading that way, nut you shouldn't have problems in the carpool lane. The fact that you are heading down Thursday, you should be okay. If you were heading out Friday, you would definitely be stuck in traffic (even the carpool lane) on the 210 from everyone leaving town. We have been stuck in "out of town" traffic many of times.

 

[GrandBob]

We go 210E to the 605S to the 91E (carpool lanes) to the 5.

I've done this route during rush hour, following the suggestion of LA area DISers. It indeed does seem not quite as bad as 5. But in looking at the map, I've wondered, it looks like it would be shorter to continue on 210E all the way to 57S. Once you get down to Anaheim, it would be a short hop over to DLR via Ball or Katella. I'm sure there's a very good reason why nobody ever recommends this route. Can you locals fill us in on why? Thanks.

-Bob

 

[disfaninca]

I've done this route during rush hour, following the suggestion of LA area DISers. It indeed does seem not quite as bad as 5. But in looking at the map, I've wondered, it looks like it would be shorter to continue on 210E all the way to 57S. Once you get down to Anaheim, it would be a short hop over to DLR via Ball or Katella. I'm sure there's a very good reason why nobody ever recommends this route. Can you locals fill us in on why? Thanks.

-Bob

It's been a while since I have been on the 57. Ever since the 210 went all the way through to the 10, but from what I remember, there are no carpool lanes on the 57, and it is farther out on the 210 than the 605.

 

[jlmarr]

We're staying closer to the 605, on Katella just a bit past the Los Al Airfield at the Hampton Inn. I love that hotel!

If it's the one I'm thinking of, it's a nice location. Not on the main drag (i.e. Katella) and walking distance to a Starbucks, Target, and BevMo. There's a SoupPlantation just southwest on Chapman and Valley View.

 

[JBHinkle55]

If it's the one I'm thinking of, it's a nice location. Not on the main drag (i.e. Katella) and walking distance to a Starbucks, Target, and BevMo. There's a SoupPlantation just southwest on Chapman and Valley View.

Yup that's the place! We always stay there, best breakfast I've had in a hotel on top of relatively cheap, yet well maintained rooms.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Stay on the 5, go and eat right after the Grapevine! I wouldn't risk getting off LA traffic can be everywhere and I would for sure NOT go the 101, one problem and you are stuck for a LONG time!

You WILL be carpool, so that might help!

 

[cyclenut]

Yeah I want no part of the 405. Been stuck on that for HOURS. We're staying closer to the 605, on Katella just a bit past the Los Al Airfield at the Hampton Inn. I love that hotel!

That Hampton Inn is where my relatives stay when they come for a visit. I live near there. The last time down they stayed at the Best Western a little further down Katella which is cheaper and still nice. It used to be a Holiday Inn Express. I think it is technically in Stanton, but it is just over the Cypress border and still a decent area. The rooms were clean and decent, and while it isn't as nice as the Hampton Inn, it is cheaper.

I noticed a lot of suggestions to stay on the 5 to the 605, which isn't a real bad idea, but the better suggestion is to get over to the 210 and then head straight south on the 605. I've done that before when coming home from up north. Your best bet though is to just hang out north of the Grapevine (maybe up in Santa Nella) so that you hit LA after 7pm and then just stay on the 5 to the 605. It will still be crowded, but not nearly as bad. When I leave work at 5:30 it takes me almost twice as long to get home as when I leave work at 6:30 (I'm on the 405 but that pattern is pretty much the same on all freeways out of LA to OC).

Something else to keep in mind. The 405/22/605 interchange is undergoing construction right now. They are actually close the freeway at night (after 11pm) periodically as they build and replace bridges. Coming south on the 605 and exiting at Katella will mean you will avoid most of that construction traffic. If you were to take the 405 then you would go right through that area before you reached your destination.