Dreading the driving part!

[Vikiic]

I am so excited for our trip now as it's exactly 3 weeks today, but the bit I am anxious about is the journey from LAX to our hotel. I've read how busy this route is so I'm under no illusions about how long it could take. But could anyone recommend the most "straight forward"? It's giving me 2 options in Google maps; the I 105 and the I 405. We are staying at the Hyatt regency in Garden Grove.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Hi I don't drive but I have done the journey from LAX to Anaheim many times, both in my friends car and on a bus. Looking at the map, its the 105 that we have taken. It says 43 minutes but thats just a guide. As far as I remember I think we we allow 1 hour travel time. The route is fairly straightforward, just make sure you know which exits to take and to check for highway construction closures before you travel

 

[sunflare]

The 105 is normally lighter traffic, but they're both huge freeways so it's really 6 of one, half dozen of the other. Make a game day decision using the Waze app on your phone...it will give you the best travel option based on traffic at that time. I won't drive in LA again without it (and I grew up there).

 

[Vikiic]

Thanks! Our plane gets in at 315 I think, so guessing we will be in the car about 5pm?husband is driving and I'll be navigating! Oh the pressure...

 

[SMD]

Just know that even on a weekend, you'll be driving at a high traffic time of day. Check the whole route. It sounds like it's telling you to take the 405 to the 105 or surface streets to the 105. Just go straight to 105 east. Read the signs on the 105 carefully, you don't want to end up in a toll lane to the 110. Once you pass LAX the traffic difference between 405 south and 105 east are negligible.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks! Our plane gets in at 315 I think, so guessing we will be in the car about 5pm?husband is driving and I'll be navigating! Oh the pressure...

If he's the better navigator, switch jobs. Or once you're in the rental, bring up the routes at that time and make a choice together. Then stick to it. It's not hard, it's just busy.

 

[spellhex]

I'd recommend staying away from 405. There's a local joke that the freeway is called 405 because it takes 4 or 5 hours to get anywhere.

 

[Vikiic]

So is the 105 route better or the 91?

 

[tarheelalum]

The 91 is often a nightmare.

 

[Pollito916]

I like to use the smartphone app Waze. That way if there is an accident on one freeway, you can decide to take the other the day of instead of being stuck in traffic (hopefully).

 

[ludari]

I work across the street from LAX and live 12 miles away from Disneyland. That being said the most convienent way to get from LAX to your hotel IMHO is 105 (W) to 605 (S) to 91 (E) to 5 (S) and exit Harbor Blvd. I think you'll make decent time using the freeway carpools lanes (I assume you are not alone).

 

[McNs]

And remember if you have a smartphone or GPS, if you miss a turn it will redirect you the next fastest way. From memory each time we have gone it has been 105E to the 110S to the 91E all the way to the 5 (I can relax once I hit the 5). The only tricky bit is the interchanges, getting in the correct lane or side of the freeway, especially if using the carpool lanes.

 

[Vikiic]

And remember if you have a smartphone or GPS, if you miss a turn it will redirect you the next fastest way. From memory each time we have gone it has been 105E to the 110S to the 91E all the way to the 5 (I can relax once I hit the 5). The only tricky bit is the interchanges, getting in the correct lane or side of the freeway, especially if using the carpool lanes.

Can I use the carpool lanes? I read that I need some sort of transponder that I had to pay for??

 

[bumbershoot]

The carpool lanes are HOV lanes. If you have enough people in the car (the signs will tell you) then you can use them.

This is why choosing the navigator is the most important bit; the one that can figure out the signs the fastest, and clearly and quickly direct the driver to the right spot is the right choice for navigator. Of course, the driver must follow the navigator's directions.

 

[SMD]

So is the 105 route better or the 91?

This is why you need to read the whole route, the 105 alone will not get you to Anaheim. It ends at the 605 which is a good 15 miles from the resort. Check the options that Google maps is giving you and see which one you think will be easiest for you to follow.

I work across the street from LAX and live 12 miles away from Disneyland. That being said the most convienent way to get from LAX to your hotel IMHO is 105 (W) to 605 (S) to 91 (E) to 5 (S) and exit Harbor Blvd. I think you'll make decent time using the freeway carpools lanes (I assume you are not alone).

This is my preferred route. I will check and if the 605 is completely closed down I'll do the 110 instead. But in general I think the interchanges in this route are easiest for someone who's worried about driving.

 

[mrkyyyle]

This is why you need to read the whole route, the 105 alone will not get you to Anaheim. It ends at the 605 which is a good 15 miles from the resort. Check the options that Google maps is giving you and see which one you think will be easiest for you to follow.


This is my preferred route. I will check and if the 605 is completely closed down I'll do the 110 instead. But in general I think the interchanges in this route are easiest for someone who's worried about driving.

I live pretty much right next to DLR, and travel out of LAX quite frequently, and the 105 --> 605 S --> 91 E --> 5 S route is the best one 99% of the time. Coming in at that time of day is going to be bad news in terms of traffic unfortunately, I would expect about 1.5 hours to get from LAX to DLR regardless of carpool lane usage on the 105 (105 and 91 are both a mess at that time of day).

 

[ashley0139]

Seriously. Waze. There is no reason to debate route option now (of which there are many). There will be unpredictable construction, accidents, etc. When you get into the car, plug the address into Waze and do what it tells you.

 

[SMD]

Seriously. Waze. There is no reason to debate route option now (of which there are many). There will be unpredictable construction, accidents, etc. When you get into the car, plug the address into Waze and do what it tells you.

The thing about Waze is that it will have you make 4 turns and take you down streets that cross major streets with no signal to avoid half a block of traffic to save a minute or 2. Sometimes that half block is something like a signal. Definitely check a traffic app before you start driving, but also review the route so you know where you're going. (And in this case the OP seems to think that the 105 goes all the way to OC, which will just get her lost.) I'm not a fan of trying to navigate by Waze on freeways you're unfamiliar with. Often times a small delay is preferable to the alternative series of interchanges.

 

[ashley0139]

The thing about Waze is that it will have you make 4 turns and take you down streets that cross major streets with no signal to avoid half a block of traffic to save a minute or 2. Sometimes that half block is something like a signal. Definitely check a traffic app before you start driving, but also review the route so you know where you're going. (And in this case the OP seems to think that the 105 goes all the way to OC, which will just get her lost.) I'm not a fan of trying to navigate by Waze on freeways you're unfamiliar with. Often times a small delay is preferable to the alternative series of interchanges.

Right, but in general, if Waze is telling you to take the 105 instead of the 405 or whatever, there is a reason. There's no reason to decide now which highway you are going to take.

 

[jina]

I use google maps and re-check the route often. You won't know what the best route is until you are actually driving. No reason to stress about it now! And you will get to DL so no need to stress anyway. (and this is coming from someone who HATES traffic - but mentally I'm better able to handle it when I know I'll be at DL soon .