Best departure time to avoid traffic

[adykate]

We will be visiting the Disneyland resort area for several days next week. On our departure day we will be driving from the Disney area to about Redding. I am trying to figure out the best time to leave, to avoid the worst of LA traffic, and also rush hour traffic in the Sacramento area. I had planned on doing a few hours in the park and then starting our drive, but I am worried I will hit rush hour traffic in the Sacramento area. If we leave first thing in the morning, we will likely be stuck in the LA morning mess. Suggestions about the best time to depart to lessen traffic issues?

 

[GatorChris]

It's LA. The only time traffic isn't bad is between 9pm and 4am. If you go to the parks, you'll still hit daytime traffic. It won't be as bad as early morning, but still bad. And then Sacramento....hit the carpool lanes on I5. Still slow, but faster than the normal lanes.

 

[donaldanddaisy]

I can just tell you what we did -- left DL at 11:45 am ... still ran into tons of traffic getting out -- took 2 hours before we were over the Grapevine. Stopped twice -- once was a little longer -- and we were home in Sacramento around 7:30 -- missed all the Sacramento traffic. I wouldn't worry about that too much -- Sacramento really only has traffic from 5 pm to 6 pm. If you think you are going to hit it, stop for an early dinner.

 

[ParkHopper1]

I drive frequently from the Anaheim area back home to Nor Cal. Your best bet is to depart by 11am at the latest. There is a lunch rush in LA traffic at 12 noon then it is just moderately bad from 2p-4p then by 4p it gets stupid.

I would not worry about Sacramento. You will be doing essentially a reverse commute and most of the traffic will be heading southbound...and rush hour in Sac feels like Saturday driving compared to LA traffic!

10am departure and you should be free sailing all the way home.

 

[MillauFr]

If you want to leave in the morning you can bypass most of the traffic by taking the 57/210/5. It will be a little sticky heading into Pasadena but it won't cost you too much time. I have never found the traffic in LA to be too bad as compared to Seattle.

 

[wench]

I have never found the traffic in LA to be too bad as compared to Seattle.[/QfUOTE]


OMG so true! We have the most horrid traffic in Seattle!!!

 

[MillauFr]

OMG so true! We have the most horrid traffic in Seattle!!

Yes 45 minutes for my wife to drive 5 miles to Pike Place Market this evening to meet me for dinner. I couldn't take it any more and started riding my bike to work. It is faster.

 

[wench]

Yes 45 minutes for my wife to drive 5 miles to Pike Place Market this evening to meet me for dinner. I couldn't take it any more and started riding my bike to work. It is faster.

Ughhh! I try to avoid it as much as possible, but every time I'm heading to SeaTac on may way to DL or WDW I panic about having enough time to get through Seattle. Year before last there was an 8 mile backup through downtown on my way to the airport. Good thing I left an hour earlier than the already extra hour I always plan. I live for hitting the express lanes in the right direction!

 

[Pucka1378]

You must not have been in the right areas of LA to think the traffic is not that bad LOL I used to live there and my husbands commute from our house to work was about 10miles that usually took him 1.5-2hrs in the morning taking all surface streets. It was quite common for us to spend an hour or so to go 5 miles etc.

As for commuting up to NorCA.... we usually leave DLR between 10am-1pm. We usually hit a bit of traffic but nothing crazy. It is usually better traffic wise before noon.

 

[Nonsuch]

If you want to leave in the morning you can bypass most of the traffic by taking the 57/210/5...

Another route is 5/91/605/210/5, carpool most of the way.

 

[Carolynleanne]

Ugh I was wondering about this. We'll be leaving LAX to head to Disneyland Resort around 10am and I'm wondering how bad it'll be... We usually do John Wayne airport but couldn't this time

 

[Handbag Lady]

Ugh I was wondering about this. We'll be leaving LAX to head to Disneyland Resort around 10am and I'm wondering how bad it'll be... We usually do John Wayne airport but couldn't this time

That's not so bad at that time. Take the 105/605/91/5.

 

[agamble]

We left the park at 7pm one time and traffic was okay, but we left around 2pm during a rainy day and it was pretty awful getting through LA. Not parking lot, but snail pace.

 

[ehrawn]

Use the google maps traffic layer for the day and time your anticipate traveling on:
https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3092439?hl=en