Best route, LGB - Disneyland Area

[adykate]

We will be arriving at LGB at 4:15pm on a Friday afternoon. We are somewhat familiar with the area, but definitely not experts. I am wondering if it would be best to avoid any major freeways and take side streets all the way over to the Disney area because of traffic issues? Or is traffic just as bad on the side streets, with the addition of a lot of stoplights? We are really hoping to make it to the 6:30 Soundsational Parade, but know it is going to be super close by the time we get over there and park.

 

[mrkyyyle]

IMO fastest way is to take lakewood blvd north to the 91 east to the 5 south and get off on DL drive! Probably a 30-45min drive that time of early evening on a Friday.

LGB is nice and easy to get your bags quickly so at least that part is fast

I go that route every month or so for business (live off the exit right before DLR)

Hope this helps!

 

[Tyggress]

A 4:15pm arrival on a Friday afternoon will nearly guarantee not making it to the parade in time. The most direct route from a freeway standpoint is the 405 (busiest freeway in America) to 605 to 91 to 57. All of those are very busy, and on a Friday afternoon are likely going to be parking lots.

I don't know if the side streets would be any faster, as I'm not familiar with the side streets in that area. But landing at 4:15, renting a car, getting on the road and getting to Disneyland, parked and into the park in 2.5 hours on a Friday during rush hour would be miraculous.

How long are you going for? Could you see the parade the next day?

 

[mrkyyyle]

A 4:15pm arrival on a Friday afternoon will nearly guarantee not making it to the parade in time. The most direct route from a freeway standpoint is the 405 (busiest freeway in America) to 605 to 91 to 57. All of those are very busy, and on a Friday afternoon are likely going to be parking lots.

I don't know if the side streets would be any faster, as I'm not familiar with the side streets in that area. But landing at 4:15, renting a car, getting on the road and getting to Disneyland, parked and into the park in 2.5 hours on a Friday during rush hour would be miraculous.

How long are you going for? Could you see the parade the next day?

You'd actually want to go on the 5 south, it has a left side HOV off ramp onto DL Drive.

Lakewood Blvd going north isn't too bad in terms of stop lights and then you only have to go on 1 freeway that is busy (91 east). The 5 south isn't busy on that portion of the freeway at that time of day.

 

[adykate]

Thanks so much for the info! Yes, we know it is likely not going to happen, but we will try anyway. We are coming in for the half marathon on Sunday, and staying until Thursday, so plenty of time to get to the parades. We just have two young girls (2 and 3.5yo) who LOVE the Soundsational parade (and a couple adults ), and it would be great to make it in time to see it Friday evening to start off our trip. We won't be going into the parks on the weekend due to blockout days on a couple of our passes, so we just wanted to try and catch the parade Friday to tide our girls over until Monday. I am celebrating 8 years of being a stage IV cancer, and my grandfather passed away yesterday. He was the reason I grew up going to Disneyland and became a Disney nut, so this trip is extra special for me. Just trying to get in as much Disney magic and fun as possible .

 

[Skpnw]

We can make it from LGB to Disney in around 30-40 min taking the road that eventually becomes Katella. We leave LGB and go under the overpass (either freeway or a runway) and then take a left onto Willow which eventually becomes Katella. However, never have taken it on a Friday afternoon. Yes, there are stoplights but we have never sat through more than 1 cycle of lights.

 

[mrkyyyle]

Thanks so much for the info! Yes, we know it is likely not going to happen, but we will try anyway. We are coming in for the half marathon on Sunday, and staying until Thursday, so plenty of time to get to the parades. We just have two young girls (2 and 3.5yo) who LOVE the Soundsational parade (and a couple adults ), and it would be great to make it in time to see it Friday evening to start off our trip. We won't be going into the parks on the weekend due to blockout days on a couple of our passes, so we just wanted to try and catch the parade Friday to tide our girls over until Monday. I am celebrating 8 years of being a stage IV cancer, and my grandfather passed away yesterday. He was the reason I grew up going to Disneyland and became a Disney nut, so this trip is extra special for me. Just trying to get in as much Disney magic and fun as possible .

Have fun! My wife works in DTD and said how busy it already was this afternoon for the holiday weekend/races!