Anyone driven I-5 to/from Anaheim lately?

[disneydenisel]

Hello,

We leave Friday and I heard that the ongoing construction on I-5 near SR 58 has been causing longer backups due to summer travel (1 hour to go 5 miles). Just checking to see if anyone has driven this route lately and what their experiences have been.

Driving south from San Jose, I was thinking of taking Lerdo Hwy and then cutting over to Buttonwillow Dr until it meets up with SR 58, then heading back to I-5. Then I'd have to find a reverse workaround for the ride home.

Any advice from those of you who travel this route regularly. Should we leave Thursday night instead and drive at night?

 

[Lissame]

I'm very interested in this as well, since we're driving there on Saturday.

 

[byebyekitty]

I went down on Tuesday June 7 from San Jose, and came back to the bay area on Sunday June 12.

Going down was totally ok. I did not even notice the road work.
Coming back was very slow in that area because one of the two lanes was closed. However, I did not remember the MPH and how far away the traffic started to slow down. I was listening to the music so did not pay attention.

 

[GrandBob]

I haven't travelled that section of I-5 since last year, so I can't help you on the conditions. But wherever you try to cross from 5 to 99 in that area will take up to 1/2 hour, whether it's 46, Lerdo Hwy, or 58.

If I were you, I'd watch the CalTrans highway conditions page to see if it's a problem. If it is, there are a couple of routes you can take to avoid it (BTW, how far north in CA are you?)

1. Cross over from I-5 to 99 at Manteca, on 120. Or just take 99 all the way from Sacramento. Then take 99 all the way down to the Grapevine.

2. Take 101 all the way - south through San Jose, past Monterey, through Santa Barbara, all the way to LA. More interesting drive. Remember to slow down for several miles before and after the speed trap at King City.

 

[disneydenisel]

I haven't travelled that section of I-5 since last year, so I can't help you on the conditions. But wherever you try to cross from 5 to 99 in that area will take up to 1/2 hour, whether it's 46, Lerdo Hwy, or 58.

If I were you, I'd watch the CalTrans highway conditions page to see if it's a problem. If it is, there are a couple of routes you can take to avoid it (BTW, how far north in CA are you?)

1. Cross over from I-5 to 99 at Manteca, on 120. Or just take 99 all the way from Sacramento. Then take 99 all the way down to the Grapevine.

2. Take 101 all the way - south through San Jose, past Monterey, through Santa Barbara, all the way to LA. More interesting drive. Remember to slow down for several miles before and after the speed trap at King City.

From San Jose, we won't be able to take 120 since it is the wrong direction. I could cut over to 99 from 152, I think? We have taken 101 before and it took a lot longer than I have this time around.

I'll keep watching traffic. I am thinking Friday will be worse than today, for example, since it is a getaway weekend!

 

[SpaceMania]

uhoh. any idea how long this construction is going to last?

 

[Lissame]

uhoh. any idea how long this construction is going to last?

On the California Hwy website it says until October.

 

[SpaceMania]

On the California Hwy website it says until October.

Greaaaat. I guess i will have to plan for this next month as well.

 

[disneydenisel]

So my sister said her friend went last weekend, Friday to Sunday. It was slow in more than one place on Friday, and on Sunday, it took 10 hours from San Diego to Dublin, CA. I was anticipating 9 hours from San Diego to San Jose, but the extra hour might be the traffic.

I think I will use surface roads around the construction area. My only other alternatives are to 1) fly for $1300...3 more RT tickets or 2) drive Thursday night if I thought it was better at night.

 

[Nonsuch]

Just checking to see if anyone has driven this route lately and what their experiences have been.

We drove south through the construction on Thursday June 2 around 4PM, with no backup.
Our return trip was via 99, so I can't comment on northbound traffic.

 

[pixiewings71]

We just went "around" it, on the way down we took 46 to 99 and on the way back we did the opposite. We just decided it was worth the 30 minute detour to have the peace of mind knowing we weren't going to be stuck in traffic.

 

[roobug]

We drove that last Tuesday with no traffic and we were so glad we didn't take the detour! On the way home on Sunday night it was terrible. We sat in traffic for about 40 minutes - but again I don't know that I would take the detour as it's longer and will cost more in gas money, and might be slow too because of the increased traffic.

 

[goofyfordisney]

We drove down on Satureday, June 11th from San Jose to San Diego on Highway 5 - we left San Jose at around 9:00 am and didn't really hit any major back-up on Highway 5 - I think it was right around the Buttonwillow area...there was about a 2 mile section that was 1 lane - but it wasn't bad.

There were signs for future expected delays thru the LA area on Highway for the July 16th - July 18th time period as well.

We experienced really bad delays between Orange County and North San Diego counties (I think that both counties are having their local fairs). It took us about an extra hour to get to San Diego than I had planned for.

Coming home yesterday, June 14th - we left DL at noon and hit major traffic in LA near the 110 freeway because of an injury accident...but Highway 5 past the Grapevine (the construction zone) wasn't bad at all. We made it back to San Jose within 6 hours or so...not bad.

We were originally going to go down on 101 - but that has its own problems sometimes too...just decided to take a chance with Highway 5 since we were going to San Diego.

Good luck!

 

[sassy*girl]

Well I don't like the I-5 traffic at all once you get over the grapevine.

I got these directions on some message boards a couple of years back and this is the only way we go now. Well worth the extra miles to hit no traffic.

We take 99 until it hits I-5 at the grapevine then take I-210 E then 91 E then get back on I-5 for about 5 mins until we hit harbor blvd.

We have gone this way different days and times and never hit any traffic. I think it is only like 20 miles longer but well worth it to us.

 

[ladybugskye]

We did the same thing a couple of weeks ago. Just take I-5 to the 46 to 99. The detour is only about a half-hour out of the way. I feel it was way worth it to not have to worry about the slow-down.

 

[pixiewings71]

We drove that last Tuesday with no traffic and we were so glad we didn't take the detour! On the way home on Sunday night it was terrible. We sat in traffic for about 40 minutes - but again I don't know that I would take the detour as it's longer and will cost more in gas money, and might be slow too because of the increased traffic.

I guess it depends on where you live, where we are the detour was well worth it and added less than 5 minutes to our drive time.

We did the same thing a couple of weeks ago. Just take I-5 to the 46 to 99. The detour is only about a half-hour out of the way. I feel it was way worth it to not have to worry about the slow-down.

This was how we felt.

 

[helenb]

Thanks for the tips! We are doing this drive in July, and I'll be looking for updates closer to that time!

 

[stubby]

Hoping that since we are not going to be on the 5 til late in the day..that traffic won't be too bad. We will be arriving to DL around 11-12 at night.

 

[CaliDreamin]

We take 99 until it hits I-5 at the grapevine then take I-210 E then 91 E then get back on I-5 for about 5 mins until we hit harbor blvd.

I'm so glad you mentioned this sassy*girl! Someone else recommended this route to me, but I couldn't really remember what they said. Could you tell me where 210 meets 91 please? I was trying to map it out and don't see a direct connection between the two. Is there another highway you take from 210 to get to 91. Thanks so much for your help!! DD and I are headed down from Sac on Sunday. Can't wait!!!

 

[OnTheRoadAgain]

I'm so glad you mentioned this sassy*girl! Someone else recommended this route to me, but I couldn't really remember what they said. Could you tell me where 210 meets 91 please? I was trying to map it out and don't see a direct connection between the two. Is there another highway you take from 210 to get to 91. Thanks so much for your help!! DD and I are headed down from Sac on Sunday. Can't wait!!!

I think maybe they mean 210 E, 57 S, then 91 W to Harbor south. Or 210 E, 57 S, then exit Ball Road going west to Harbor south. It will add almost 20 miles going that way, but if you are hitting Los Angeles during the morning or afternoon weekday commute (this is most of the day and early evening) or if there is an accident, it could be worth the extra time.... you need to try to get get the traffic report from somewhere like an AM radio news channel 980 and 1070. They both run the traffic report every 10 minutes, slightly staggered.