Best Freeway route from northern L.A. to Anaheim?

[Andona]

We will be driving down from Sequoia NP on a Thursday, hopefully we'll get to Santa Clarita by 1pm.

We're not local ( from Australia actually!) and would appreciate some traffic advice.

Looking at the map the I5 looks like the best route but I've read that it can be a nightmare for traffic jams. I've read about an alternative route that, although it's longer, is supposed to be quicker? That route was to take the I5 til just south of Santa Clarita, switch over to the 210, then the 605, then the 91 and finally back on the 5 for the last few miles.

Can anyone whose experienced driving the trip offer an opinion? I'd really appreciate it

TIA
Andona

 

[HydroGuy]

I am not an expert. I did live in Southern California for 28 years though and feel like I know my way around. Here is my two cents: If you want to get from northern LA to Anaheim there is no route that will be consistently traffic free. So the alternate you are proposing may be worse. Or better.

If you come into LA at 1PM on a Thursday you should be OK on Interstate 5. And that would be easiest for you. Personally I dislike Interstate 5 and like the 405 better so would probably do that.

But what I would for sure do is listen to the traffic radio which is on the low end of the AM radio spectrum. And I would adjust accordingly with map in hand.

The hard thing about Southern California traffic radio is they talk in code. They will not say "the 405" but the "San Diego Freeway" which is code for the 405. So it can be hard to decipher. Interstate 5 is "the Golden State" freeway.

Bottom line is you may hit traffic no matter which way you go and you should be mentally prepared for that. You can try traffic radio and that may give some guidance. The earlier you get to Santa Clarita the better. Use the car pool lanes wherever available (you can do this if you have 2 or more people in your car). And keep you fingers crossed.

 

[Melora]

We live here in SO Cal and drive these freeways often.

From Santa Clarita you will be going WAY out of your way taking any other route except the 5.

It is direct and will get you right to where you want to go. Yes it can be bad going through downtown but the 405 is bad going through the Sepulveda pass almost without fail. It also takes you quite a ways from the DLR and you have to back track on another extremely busy freeway.

The other route you suggested is a very roundabout and can be just awful.

I would take the 5 because there is always the possibility of traffic due to an unforeseen accident no matter which freeway you take.

 

[HydroGuy]

We live here in SO Cal and drive these freeways often.

From Santa Clarita you will be going WAY out of your way taking any other route except the 5.

It is direct and will get you right to where you want to go. Yes it can be bad going through downtown but the 405 is bad going through the Sepulveda pass almost without fail. It also takes you quite a ways from the DLR and you have to back track on another extremely busy freeway.

The other route you suggested is a very roundabout and can be just awful.

I would take the 5 because there is always the possibility of traffic due to an unforeseen accident no matter which freeway you take.

LOL but I do not think I have ever made it through LA on I-5 without bumper to bumper traffic at any time of day on any day of the week. Hence I-5 is always a last resort for me.

On the other hand I have often made it through 405 without traffic so that is why I take it whenever possible. But I usually am not coming from Santa Clarita but from your neck of the woods (Thousand Oaks - Hwy 101) where 405 is closer. I just really dislike I-5.

In any case I agree that for someone not from SoCal like the OP - just stick with I-5 and try to not get there during rush hour when you know you will have traffic.

 

[Talldewy]

I drive from Northern California, for many years I went down I5 directly to Anaheim. The last three or four times I did the 210 all the way to San Dimas where I took SR57 which exits onto Ball Road or Harbor Blvd. very near Disneyland. This route does add about 20 miles to the distance I drive but after six hours another twenty miles does not seem that bad. I have not hit any bad traffic taking this route (may be just luck) but there are also carpool lanes available for much of the distance. If you are using a GPS tell it to take you to San Dimas, they, when you get near there tell it to take you to Disneyland. Not doing this the GPS will route you on some weird routes.

To me it is worth the twenty miles to not have to go through the mess of all the different interchanges though the Los Angles/Hollywood area of I5. I find it a less stressful drive as I do not have my "shotgun" (right front seat passenger) worried about all the traffic.
There also always seems to be construction going on along the I5.

That is just my two cents and I am sure others will give you different opinions, some may be local to the area and are more use to the traffic hassles and willing to combat the traffic but then they usually know exactly where they are and where they want to go.

 

[kprincesskate]

I honestly think you should just take the 5. At 1pm, it won't be that bad. It will probably take longer to go the route you proposed. If you get to Santa Clarita (where I lived for many years) any later than 3pm, then I would consider taking an alternate route. I think 1pm is a good time because it is after lunch time and before work ends for the day.

 

[mhconley]

We never drive I-5 through LA after spending 3-1/2+ hours in bumper to bumper stop and go traffic to get from Burbank to San Onofre three years ago.

We are going to take 210 east to 57 south when we go later this week. It is 17 miles further (71 miles vs. 53) but well worth the detour as it can take considerably less time. As an added incentive there is a carpool lane on 210 east of Pasadena and for the entire length of 57. (210 east to 605 south at 67 miles is also a good route.)

And in the highly unlikely case there is no traffic on I-5 you're only adding 17 miles to your trip.

When driving to San Diego we take 210 east to 57 south to 71 south to 91 east to 15 south to bypass LA completely.

Martin

 

[HydroGuy]

When driving to San Diego we take 210 east to 57 south to 71 south to 91 east to 15 south to bypass LA completely.

I have too many experiences like yours unfortunately.

If you want to take 15 to SD you do know you can take 210 all the way to 15 and then 15 south? That keeps you north of most of the LA traffic.

 

[the donut]

I'm with talldewy and mhconley. Unless we can get past downtown on the I-5 before 7am, we usually do some sort of bypass around a lot of it. Currently, there is a particularly slow patch due to construction between the 605 and the 91, and sometimes we even just do that small detour (605 to the 91 back to the 5). Having a carpool lane can make a significant difference since you'll be traveling with your family and can take advantage of those lanes.

If you have internet access, www.sigalert.com is a useful site to study traffic patterns.

 

[MAH4546]

Forget taking the 5. The traffic is unpredictable and often be a nightmare.

Just before arriving in downtown LA on the I-5 heading north, you can switch to the Harbor Freeway/110. Do this.

Then take the Harbor Freeway to the 91 East. Take 91 East and get back on the 5 South.

With the exception of a section through downtown, this entire route, unlike the 5, has carpool lanes. Portions of it even have an entirely seperate highway for carpools. It adds about 4 miles, but if there is traffic on the 5, it can save an hour.

 

[_yoko_]

Does anyone know at what point on hwy 5 turns in to carpool? I seem to recall it is near Anaheim, but anyone know the exact point? Thanks

 

[jazzatola]

Well, we live in N. California and always take this route... It takes us about 2 1/2 hours and that's in the late afternoon.. (from the Grapevine)

I 5 to 118 East to 210 to 605 and then you hit I 5 South.. It takes you around the LA traffic..we like this route and it seems quicker... Good luck

 

[Andona]

Thank you all so much for your help!

We will definitely try to tune into the traffic radio and I'll also spend some time setting up alternative routes in our GPS.

I knew this was the place to get help from the experts that drive this route a lot

Just one more question - last year we did some freeway driving in the USA and didn't use the HOV lanes at all - we were worried that we might have trouble getting to our exits from them.

Do you usually get plenty of opportunity/warning to get out of the HOV lane and off the Freeway when your exit comes up?

Andona

 

[mhconley]

I have too many experiences like yours unfortunately.

If you want to take 15 to SD you do know you can take 210 all the way to 15 and then 15 south? That keeps you north of most of the LA traffic.

I lived in Fallbrook and worked in Temecula 25 years ago and just got used to the 91/71/57 jog. I didn't even know the 210 was completed all the way to 15. I see on the map it goes all the way to 215 now.

Does anyone know at what point on hwy 5 turns in to carpool? I seem to recall it is near Anaheim, but anyone know the exact point? Thanks

IIRC the carpool lanes on I-5 southbound begin at the 91 freeway.

Just one more question - last year we did some freeway driving in the USA and didn't use the HOV lanes at all - we were worried that we might have trouble getting to our exits from them.

Do you usually get plenty of opportunity/warning to get out of the HOV lane and off the Freeway when your exit comes up?

Andona

All the exits from the carpool lanes are clearly marked and give ypu plenty of time to get across the freeway to exit. Disneyland has left side carpool only exits!

Martin

 

[disney-inspired]

We will be driving down from Sequoia NP on a Thursday, hopefully we'll get to Santa Clarita by 1pm.

We're not local ( from Australia actually!) and would appreciate some traffic advice.

Looking at the map the I5 looks like the best route but I've read that it can be a nightmare for traffic jams. I've read about an alternative route that, although it's longer, is supposed to be quicker? That route was to take the I5 til just south of Santa Clarita, switch over to the 210, then the 605, then the 91 and finally back on the 5 for the last few miles.

Can anyone whose experienced driving the trip offer an opinion? I'd really appreciate it

TIA
Andona

I drive between Santa Clarita and Fullerton (about 15-20 minutes North of Disneyland) and I find taking the 5 freeway directly South to Disneyland is horrible! What I have been doing is taking the 5 South, 210 East, 57 south and then exiting on Ball Rd. You just take Ball Rd for about 10 - 15 minutes and you will approach Disneyland Drive. You make a left for the parks and there you are, at the Mickey and Friends parking garage.

I would NOT recommend taking the 91 because it is always jampacked with traffic.

 

[disney-inspired]

We live here in SO Cal and drive these freeways often.

From Santa Clarita you will be going WAY out of your way taking any other route except the 5.

Not necessarily. I measured the distance between Santa Clarita and Disneyland via the 5 freeway and compared it to taking the 210 to the 57 and it was only a 3 mile difference. I do agree about the 405 though it is ALWAYS packed.

We never drive I-5 through LA after spending 3-1/2+ hours in bumper to bumper stop and go traffic to get from Burbank to San Onofre three years ago.

We are going to take 210 east to 57 south when we go later this week. It is 17 miles further (71 miles vs. 53) but well worth the detour as it can take considerably less time. As an added incentive there is a carpool lane on 210 east of Pasadena and for the entire length of 57. (210 east to 605 south at 67 miles is also a good route.)

I take the 210E to the 57S and I find it way less crowded or if it is busy, the traffic seems to move smoother. There are many crowded bumps in the 5 freeway. The first is when you approach the Hollywood freeway (70) and then again when you approach the 10/5/60 split. It's like nobody knows how to read the signs and then at the last minute cuts you off so they can get to the correct freeway.

Forget taking the 5. The traffic is unpredictable and often be a nightmare.

Just before arriving in downtown LA on the I-5 heading north, you can switch to the Harbor Freeway/110. Do this.

Then take the Harbor Freeway to the 91 East. Take 91 East and get back on the 5 South.

With the exception of a section through downtown, this entire route, unlike the 5, has carpool lanes. Portions of it even have an entirely seperate highway for carpools. It adds about 4 miles, but if there is traffic on the 5, it can save an hour.

The 91 is one of the most congested freeways, if it's a short distance it's probably better to take the streets to DL than the 91. Whenever I am completely forced to take the 91 I'm pulling my hair out!

 

[GrandBob]

Great information in this thread! Even if it's contradictory at times Thanks to all you locals.

If I can do a minor hijack, I have a question. We're leaving Monterey at around noon or 1PM on a Saturday (prior commitments eating into our mouse time ). That should get us into the LA basin around 6-7 PM on a Saturday. Will the traffic be bad enough that I should consider some of these detours? Thanks.

-Bob

 

[Hester]

I live in Santa Clarita.

The key is listening to the radio to see where the congestion is.

Last week for last trip to DLR, we took the 5 South, to the 170, to the 101 South, back to the 5 South.

There's no foolproof way, traffic is horrible here and has gotten much worse over the last 10-15 years.

The 5 is the straightest shot, but you may sit in some serious traffic. Just listen to the radio and have a freeway map handy for navigation.

 

[Hester]

Great information in this thread! Even if it's contradictory at times Thanks to all you locals.

If I can do a minor hijack, I have a question. We're leaving Monterey at around noon or 1PM on a Saturday (prior commitments eating into our mouse time ). That should get us into the LA basin around 6-7 PM on a Saturday. Will the traffic be bad enough that I should consider some of these detours? Thanks.

-Bob

Saturday traffic can be as bad as any other weekday. Yeah, I know, sounds ridiculous.

By 6-7 it does start to ease though. Avoid the 101 through Hollywood or Downtown. Also, avoid the 5 near the Chavez Ravine if there is a 7 o'clock Dodger game that night.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I just thought I would offer this to put some of the contradicting information regarding LA/OC traffic in perspective.

My DH was watching a football game the other day. The commentators were discussing driving from one spot in LA to another. One of them then said, "And for those of you not familiar with the area, that is a drive that could take anywhere from 30 minutes to a day and a half."

All we could do was laugh... because it's true!

Just because Mapquest says something is "20 miles," doesn't not mean you are 20 minutes away. It depends on time of day, day of the week, which roads, and so many other things when it comes to LA traffic. It truly could take you anywhere from 30 min. to a day and a half.

- Dreams