Anybody drive from San Jose to Anheim via Rt 1?

[tiggerwannabe]

The plan is to drive from San Jose along route 1 to Disneyland...

where and how do we get by or around Los Angeles?

I know the traffic gets its ugliest there and need some real directions on how to avoid this...do I go from Route 1 to 5 along the route somewhere or is there an easier way???

~My main stop on that route will be Monterey, after that I am totally open to suggestion~

 

[Albort]

Route 1 doenst hit the I-5. It does however hit the CA-101. (I think)

I wouldnt reccoment Route 1. Its windy and gives your riders car sick. It great if you havent gone on it before and have a great deal of time to kill. It will probably take you 3-4 hours longer taking Route 1.

 

[got2travel]

If you're set on driving Hwy 1, I can't help as we've never gone down that route. I tried Hwy 1 north of San Francisco headed up to Mendicino and made myself carsick even though I was the one driving. I have no desire to go all the way south on that Hwy. But that's just me.

However, if after Monterey you don't need to stay on the coast, take 152 East and you'll hit 101 in Gilroy. You can either take 101 South on down to LA. Or stay on 152 and you'll reach Hwy 5 then it's just a straight shot down to Anaheim.

 

[mamacatnv]

Route 1 is beautiful but windy, twisty and harrowing in many places. The traffic can be horrendous on this route, especially between Carmel and Morro Bay.

I don't think there is a way to truly "avoid" Los Angeles. Eventually I would opt to get on I-5 someone and head to DL. Just watch your time of day to avoid the major rush hours.

We haven't driven that route in years, but it is worth it IMO if you have the time and want to slow down and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. I would not attempt it in 1 day.

 

[Albort]

I don't think there is a way to truly "avoid" Los Angeles. Eventually I would opt to get on I-5 someone and head to DL. Just watch your time of day to avoid the major rush hours.

Sure there is, drive at like 3AM in the morning. the Freeways are soo freakin empty becuase a 5-6 lane highway is sooo wide open.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I edited my post because I think it wasn't quite the advice I'd want to receive in your situation.

Just driving the 1 is scenic, but can be slow. And to really take advantage of many of the best views, one has to pull over at the various turnouts and such. Of course unless you do it a lot, which most of us don't, you won't know which turnouts are the spectacular ones and which ones are Meh. This takes a lot of time and you won't get there in a day if you do that. So just driving the 1 isn't where the fun is. It can actually be aggravating if you're scheduled to be somewhere and you get behind a truck. To do the one and fully enjoy yourself takes 2 or 3 days and overnight stops at various spots. Then you're at your leisure and if you get stuck behind a truck, you just pull over at the next turnout for a spectacular view. There will be another turnout when you catch back up to him.

Note that the fastest way time wise is to take the 101 to Gilroy, then take 152 East over toward Los Banos, to the 5 and on down. But the 5 in the central valley is boring and ugly. But I'd nevertheless suggest it if you're on a schedule, Save the PCH for when you're not trying to get there in one day and have time to spend a couple or even 3 days on it stopping for the views, overnighting and doing things at various places along the way, and the like.
You could also take US 101 all the way in to where it meets with the 5 in LA. It will take longer than the 5, but a lot less time then the 1. It's not also as ugly as the 5. But not as scenic as the 1.

Be sure to check construction updates and the like before you go no matter the route you choose.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Thank you!!!

The more people I have answer this question the more informed my group will be as to exactly what route to take.

~I really appreciate ALL your input~

 

[yeaUHS]

i'm from oakland and its only about a 6-7 hour drive at the most, depends what time you leave in the morning. last trip we left at 8 and got there around 2:30

 

[mamacatnv]

i'm from oakland and its only about a 6-7 hour drive at the most, depends what time you leave in the morning. last trip we left at 8 and got there around 2:30

Via Rte 1????

I can see this on I-5 but Rte 1 can get so bogged down with traffic, 1 motor home and it's all over.

 

[mrs.beast]

we have gone down hwy 1 many times. our kids are 1,3,5 and we usually stop in Santa barbara. it is usually an ok trip but the last 3 times we hit massive traffic towards the end of SB and coming into SB that took 1-2 hours. It was horrible. We love hwy 1 because there are more places to stop to eat/bathroom/run around for our kids, but the traffic we had last summer, made our trips 10+ hours. We went in the summer and also in 05 in early Nov., the first week. The traffic was there during the summer, but not Nov.

 

[LittleWoodenHead]

I used to drive a lot between Santa Cruz (on the north side of Monterey Bay) and L.A. I also recommend you avoid taking Highway 1 all the way down. It's beautiful, to be sure, but very slow going -- and all the twists and turns are really taxing.

However, if after Monterey you don't need to stay on the coast, take 152 East and you'll hit 101 in Gilroy. You can either take 101 South on down to LA. Or stay on 152 and you'll reach Hwy 5 then it's just a straight shot down to Anaheim.

There are several highways (68, 183, 156) that will take you to the 101 from the Monterey area without the need to backtrack all the way to the 152. Also, IIRC, doesn't the 152 wind through some mountains on the way to the 5? (I always took the 156 between the 1 and the 101.)

On my trips, I also liked to avoid going through San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Ventura, etc. So, I'd only take the 101 south as far as Paso Robles, where I would catch the 46 East to the 5. From there, it's a straight shot down to L.A. (and Anaheim). It's not a picturesque drive -- in fact, it's incredibly boring -- but it's usually a lot faster than staying on the 101.

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Thank you again...

I'll take all this and put it together tonight and see what kinda route I can come up with.

I am quite sure after a few hours of travel on such a windy, hazardous road my crew will gladly let me lead them back inland just to get the ride over with.