Country Bumpkin here- driving around LAX ?

[lillady718]

Ok I'm scared. In rethinking our plans, I've now decided it might be best to rent a car from LAX , and then go to San Diego for a couple days, then come back to Anaheim for the remains of the week (1st of August).

BUT - we are from a town of 4,500 population
Frequently shop in a city one hour away of 200,000 population

So how bad is it? I mean how crazy will it be to rent a car, and then navigate our way out of LAX and to San Diego. (hotel yet to be determined)

THanks for any advice......

 

[taeja71]

Thought I'd reply just in case you got scared and no one replies. If you can avoid driving from LAX to San Diego around the morning time ('til about 10am) and then leave any where you go before 2pm-3:30 you should be fine. The great thing about a big metropolitan cities is there are carpool lanes (2 passengers+). It's the most left lane of the highway you can get. I guess for you since your from out of town is to pay attention to the highway signs and the breaks in the carpool lanes so you can make your exits. If you cross the solid yellow you can be fined up to $250. in some areas if you get caught. I'm from the LA area myself and find driving the freeways stressful. Hope you have a good navigator/map reader riding shot gun. Don't stress about the speed, just be in the correct lane for you. People do drive faster (sometimes 80 mph) on the highway. Prepare to be cut in front of. People do it a lot if you leave too much space. ((I don't have that problem here in IN)). Also, be prepared to stop. Traffic can stop pretty quick and keep you foot close to the break just in case. Also, since its a metro place, there's lots of local AM news stations to listen to. I'm a KFWB news 980 AM fan myself. Traffic reports are given on the 11's. What you might get a kick out of is hearing a traffic report late at night and on the weekends. Hope all this info. helps you.
One good thing while you are driving is, if you are stuck in traffic you can enjoy the scenery (mountains, hills, all the commerical development and your kids might like all the bridges and overpasses).

 

[LuvTigger]

I can understand your fear, I felt the same way the first couple of times I went to LA. Taeja71 gave good advice, and I think the only "problems" we've had were people cutting in and having to stop suddenly because of traffic. My boyfriend likes to follow closer so people don't suddenly cut in, but I would rather allow more space to allow for the braking, which seems to be a more common occurrence.

Just be sure to stay towards the right lanes (unless you can take advantage of the carpool lane or need to take an exit on the left), unless you're passing. One thing I appreciate about LA driving is that at least people generally use the left lanes for passing only, and the right lanes are for steady or slower traffic.

Also, this isn't so much a "fear" thing as a navigational matter, but the first time it might be challenging getting onto the freeway toward DL. I've found that a lot of the car rental agencies outside of LAX (you'll have to catch a shuttle bus, none of the agencies have cars on the airport) are on the same strip, and you might have to turn right and make a few turns to get back onto the road that will lead you to the freeway on ramp, even though the direction you'd LIKE to turn is left (but you can't turn left because of a median). Our first trip together, BF and I spent 20-30 minutes driving in a circle in the LAX area because we couldn't get to the freeway on ramp!!!

I think as long as you keep with the flow of traffic and don't go into "panic mode", you'll be find. I know the freeways there seem crazy, but I actually believe that for the most part, there is some logic to the way people drive there!

 

[Magix]

Okay, so to get to the freeway easiest, have the rental car agency direct you to Century Blvd., then head back toward LAX (probably a right turn). Just make sure you stay in the right most lane, which won't go up the ramp to LAX, but will stay at regular road level. When you hit Sepulveda Blvd (immediately in front of the airport), turn left at the light, stay in the right most lane and after you pass through the tunnel (which is taking you under one of the LAX runways), your lane will veer off to the right. Follow it around the bend back to the left and you'll be on the 105 fwy. Just a short hop ahead on the right is a ramp to the 405 south. Simple, easy... nothing to worry about.

Now, for driving in general... DON'T PANIC! Just remember to breathe. Don't let your concerns freak you out. You'll be fine. Just drive how you drive, keep your eyes open and READ THE SIGNS (many locals haven't figured that simple trick out yet) and get into the lanes the signs tell you you need to be in as soon as they tell you... don't wait until the last minute. It's really not so hard to drive around here. Watch what traffic is doing a few cars ahead of you (and take a look as far ahead as you can see from time to time) and you'll see the brake lights coming on before you need to freak out about it (unless you're stuck behind an SUV, which completely blocks your view). If you see someone coming who looks intent on getting in front of you in a merge situation, just let them in... give them space. Everyone's happy and safe that way. Just call them a name and be done with it.

Really, it's just driving. No need to panic. It's not so horrible, if you don't spend all your time worrying about it before you even get here.

LAX to San Diego is pretty simple... 405 south until it merges onto the 5 South in Irvine, then stay on the 5 all the way down. Easy. You'll be there in 2.5 - 3 hours. Put on AM 1070 or 980 for traffic info and when you're done with that, find some nice, soothing music to listen to and keep calm.

You'll do fine.

 

[HaleyB]

Hi,

First off- When you rent a car from LAX the car company will pick you and your bags up in a van or small bus (they run about every 20 minutes and it is easy to find them) and take you to a lot where the cars actually are. This is good because you don't have to drive in the LAX loop, which is pretty bad. They will have basic maps and most of the lots have good signs pointing you in the right direction...

Second- Try Mousesavers for discount codes for the car. We booked a compact for $15 a day with a free upgrade code and had a full size four door sedan.

Freeway to San Diego- this is a pretty straight foward drive. Remember to not go too slow on LA freeways, it is safer to stay with the flow of traffic. California freeways are very well marked and have good signs, they are marked with both the number/direction and a city name. The exits are almost always easy to figure out. When two freeways merge just line up in the lane under the signs for the one you want. Use the HOV lanes (carpool lanes) whenever possible. Most exits are clover leaf style which means it is really easy to get off and back on in the oppisite direction if you ever need to, most exits even have a sign pointing you in the right direction. Traffic to San Deigo is hard to predict, sometimes it goes smoothly with almost no slow downs other times you can be in stand still traffic. Here is how I would go

105 E to 405 S
take the toll road, the 55 S to San Diego- I am not sure what the toll is but it is well worth it.
Then take the 5 S to the 805 and you are there.

I guess I forgot to say I grew up in LA, which is why I know the San Diego drive so well. We were just in LA for Mother's Day and we rented a car from LAX. Oh, and one more thing- when you go back to LAX to fly home give yourself 3 hours, you need the extra hour to return the car and in case you get lost around the airport. It took us a full 2 hours to get through security last Sunday. I know our local airport here in Austin tells people 2 hours when it really only takes 1, but LAX can get very busy.

When you take the 105 back to LAX there will be 4 exits for LAX, you need the second one. Follow the signs, it will take you through a tunnel and then into the airport and you will see a lane for car rental returns that leeds you right to the rental lots to turn the car back in. Then they will have a van drop you off at the right terminal.

 

[lillady718]

Some very much appreciated advice/guidance- thank you both !

 

[Bill Lumbergh]

I went to Los Angeles a few months ago. Driving was fairly easy, to my surprise. If someone is tailgating you, move to the next lane. The city has a lot of speeders. The highway patrol pulled over a lot of them. On one drive from LAX to Anaheim, I saw about 4 cars pulled over by the police! Watch the signs on where you're going. Unlike many Interstates, the exits aren't numbered in LA. Know what street you're exiting. Signs will tell you how many miles you are away from your street exit.

I don't want to scare anyone, but LA has had freeway shootings over the past few years. Generally, a car pulls beside you and starts shooting. It's a concern, but not something to be overly afraid over. There were about a half a dozen shootings over the year, so you have a better chance of winning the Lottery than being a shooting victim. However, you do need to be cautious when driving, as you would in any major city.

Avoid driving during rush hour if you can. Traffic at any other time is pretty good.

 

[lillady718]

You know Bill, that time of thing was kind of in my mind as well......
That is weird about the exits not being numbered? glad you pointed that out

I will take your directions down Haley THANKS! And good to point out that extra hour for the car rental return!

 

[taeja71]

...I don't want to scare anyone, but LA has had freeway shootings over the past few years. Generally, a car pulls beside you and starts shooting. It's a concern, but not something to be overly afraid over. There were about a half a dozen shootings over the year, so you have a better chance of winning the Lottery than being a shooting victim. However, you do need to be cautious when driving, as you would in any major city...

I do have to add that the L.A.P.D. (Los Angeles Police Department) and surrounding counties have increased the police patrols on the highways due to the highway shootings. So, there's some sense of extra security while driving.

 

[Magix]

That is weird about the exits not being numbered? glad you pointed that out

Ha ha! I think it's weird when they ARE numbered. Guess it all depends on what you're used to, huh?

Don't worry about the freeway shootings. We went through this once before many years ago. It's just a handful of stupid people who start copycatting each other. Just drive your car and don't worry about it. Nothing you can do, anyway. You'll be fine.