Driving down from SF Bay area

[motherhoodandmickey]

I have a couple of questions for veterans of the Bay Area to Disneyland drive.

1. What route do you recommend? We're coming from San Jose, so will be taking the 5 down, but are unsure which route to use once we get closer to LA. Suggestions?

2. Do you have any rest/food stops you recommend en route? We may grab an early lunch on the way, but will probably just bring car snacks. Need leg stretching locations, though

3. We plan on leaving our house around 5-5.30 am, to get a head start on Bay Area commuters, and are hoping to get to the LA area late morning/midday, when traffic there should be lighter than commute hours. Does this sound reasonable, or am I being overly positive about traffic conditions/length of drive? This really only applies to the drive down (on a Wednesday), since we drive back home on a Sunday (after breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen).

 

[I'm mikey]

we drive from northern california (redding), we stay on I5 all the way down and exit I5 at harbor blvd.

we normally stop in Kettleman city for gas/food and again at the rest stop on the grapevine.

what hotel are you staying at?

 

[DharmaLou]

Granted I lived in Contra Costa County, but we would head over to the 5 and take that all the way down thru LA to Harbor.

 

[OhanaNani1975]

I have a couple of questions for veterans of the Bay Area to Disneyland drive.

1. What route do you recommend? We're coming from San Jose, so will be taking the 5 down, but are unsure which route to use once we get closer to LA. Suggestions?
I recommend staying on the 5. Use google maps to get directions so that just incase you stop off somewhere you can get back on track. If you have an iPhone use your maps feature.

2. Do you have any rest/food stops you recommend en route? We may grab an early lunch on the way, but will probably just bring car snacks. Need leg stretching locations, though
I totally am all for snacks in the car totally cheaper and also makes clean up easier. The must for me is corn nuts lol. Also all along the 5 there are rest stops as well as gas stations so stopping off for leg stretches won't be a problem.

3. We plan on leaving our house around 5-5.30 am, to get a head start on Bay Area commuters, and are hoping to get to the LA area late morning/midday, when traffic there should be lighter than commute hours. Does this sound reasonable, or am I being overly positive about traffic conditions/length of drive? This really only applies to the drive down (on a Wednesday), since we drive back home on a Sunday (after breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen).

I am totally with you on leaving early to avoid Bay Area traffic we plan on doing the same as well as hope to be in less congestion once in SoCal.

We will be utilizing the 5 for our trip this weekend we will catch the 5 from Livermore/Tracy area. It's pretty much 5 all the way. Maybe we will see you guys at the park.

 

[BayAreaMom]

We normally leave San Mateo area at 6am. This timing works great for us. We usually arrive around noon-1pm. There is still traffic on the 5 near Norwalk/Buena Park and near downtown. But its okay (considering its not as bad as true rush hour!)

 

[Minuet888]

we drive from northern california (redding), we stay on I5 all the way down and exit I5 at harbor blvd.

we normally stop in Kettleman city for gas/food and again at the rest stop on the grapevine.

what hotel are you staying at?

I was going to say this almost word for word

 

[disneydenisel]

I'm not a veteran driver to Anaheim, but we live in San Jose and I drove with my two kids last summer. We didn't leave until just before 8 am, so obviously we hit a boatload of traffic when we got to Castaic/Magic Mountain. We cut over to 210 and ended up going 605 to 1-5...it was a disaster and red sigalerts were everywhere. Did I tell you it was a Friday?! I was on the phone calling friends to get alternate route ideas, but everything was red. We got to DLR by 4:15 or so. Last year, they had some construction on I-5 at Buttonwillow, too, so that slowed us down there.

Check the traffic as you are getting closer to Anaheim and map out alternate routes, if possible, before you leave. Leaving as early as possible is key. I think I'd leave at 1:00 am if I could, but then I'd miss out on sleep so this year we are flying .

Sounds like you are leaving on a Wednesday (good), and early (super good). I'm sure you will be fine unless there is a major accident or construction that messes up traffic. Have a great trip!

 

[usschmidt]

We just did that very drive last week. We do 5 all the way. My kids are still a little on the young side, so we stop twice. We've actually stopped at every.single.Chevron.and.McDonalds on I-5 haha. KC is a good stop. I also like the North side of Tejon Pass. There's a Panda Express, Starbucks, In-N-Out (I think.) We've also left at every possible time and 5-6am was our best and fastest trip! Have fun!!!!!

ETA: There's still construction at Buttonwillow but it's only Northbound. We drove it on Sat afternoon and it maybe slowed us down 10 whole mins.

 

[I'm mikey]

I was going to say this almost word for word

Really?
Are you in the redding area?

 

[PinkBudgie]

We drive down from the North Bay and work our way over through Oakland to 5 and stay on that all the way to DLR. It takes 8 hours and we leave around 6am. We stop at Buttonwillow for gas. Rest areas are tricky because sometimes the ones we count on our closed. Last summer the one at Tejon- right around the grapevine area, was closed. That is our last stop before we arrive and we always eat a picnic lunch there. We had to just keep going and eat lunch in our hotel room. Don't know if it open yet or not.

I wonder if there is website to let you know about rest area closures. That would sure be handy because I hate those kinds of "surprises".

On the way back up we get gas by Pea Soup Andersons and usually pick up a little snack there and use the restrooms. Or we may grab something at one of fastfood places nearby.

 

[minniecarousel]

When our kids were little, we'd leave at 3 AM, stop at the Buttonwillow rest area for our bring-along breakfast. ah - those were the days!

Now we leave between 5-6 AM. Best to start early, check in, go into the Parks then get a text with our room number. We're usually ready for that nap at 3 or 4!

 

[Started By A Mouse]

Like everyone else is saying. Take 580 to I5 South. There really isnt any other way you could go. You could take I1 down the coast...but that would take much longer... only benefit is scenery... but let's be honest you are going to Disneyland... There's enough scenery there. Also, it is a pretty quick drive. I would say just drive through and skip the stops. You can do it on one tank of gas. Just get there

 

[mommamonster]

We drive down from the North Bay and work our way over through Oakland to 5 and stay on that all the way to DLR. It takes 8 hours and we leave around 6am. We stop at Buttonwillow for gas. Rest areas are tricky because sometimes the ones we count on our closed. Last summer the one at Tejon- right around the grapevine area, was closed. That is our last stop before we arrive and we always eat a picnic lunch there. We had to just keep going and eat lunch in our hotel room. Don't know if it open yet or not.

I wonder if there is website to let you know about rest area closures. That would sure be handy because I hate those kinds of "surprises".

On the way back up we get gas by Pea Soup Andersons and usually pick up a little snack there and use the restrooms. Or we may grab something at one of fastfood places nearby.

http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/maint/ra/Statewide.htm
I usually check out cal trans' website before long drives. Looks like the Tejon rest stop is closed until Fall.

 

[Babybears]

When we drive down (from Pac NW) we always stop off in Concord area for the night to stay with family. In the morning, we always head out from there no later than 6:00 am. Once we get to I-5 we take that all the way. The kids usually go back to sleep for an few hours and we stop when they wake up and start asking about breakfast. We have stopped for breakfast a few times at a place called the Apricot Tree (can't remember exit/town) and got a nice breakfast. The exits are pretty spaced out, so once everyone was hungry, we didn't want to chance waiting another hour for a decent place to stop for food. We also usually stop in the area right before you start up the Grapevine (and yes they do have an in & out there!!). We do a bathroom break, grab some starbucks and keep going. We end up pulling in to our hotel early afternoon, 1:00 - 1:30ish. Plenty of time to check in, put on some sunscreen and hit the parks with plenty of day left!!

I agree with other posters that the drive is pretty bland, scenery-wise. The good news is the up until you reach the Grapevine, the road is mostly flat and straight and you can cruise. We always run into some slowing the last hour between Magic Mountain and Disneyland, but honestly, nothing I would consider a detour for. And mid-day like when we go thru is probably about as good as it gets.

 

[GoofyDadude]

We work our way from the North bay, to Oakland and take 580 out toward Tracy. Hit highway 5 there west of Tracy and its that all the way down to Harbor.

We usually leave after work and depending on number of stops and traffic, usually make it between 1am and 3am. We are night owls anyway for the most part, sleep till 10am or so, and hit the parks later that afternoon.

The Iron Skillet there just before the Grapevine is usually a "must do". Its a truck stop with awesome food, especiallt the breakfast menu. Plus they have a store there to stock up on snacks to get us to DL.

Will be doing this late June, but will have 2yo granddaughter with us, so we may have to make a few more stops.

Have fun, be safe

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I'm not a veteran driver to Anaheim, but we live in San Jose and I drove with my two kids last summer. We didn't leave until just before 8 am, so obviously we hit a boatload of traffic when we got to Castaic/Magic Mountain. We cut over to 210 and ended up going 605 to 1-5...it was a disaster and red sigalerts were everywhere. Did I tell you it was a Friday?! I was on the phone calling friends to get alternate route ideas, but everything was red. We got to DLR by 4:15 or so. Last year, they had some construction on I-5 at Buttonwillow, too, so that slowed us down there.

WOW!!! your biggest mistake was taking the 605...you didnt need to do that at all...I think most Northern and central CA people take the 5 all the way down because its one fwy and they dont want to veer off..however, I stopped doing that 5 years ago because I almost always run into traffic unless its very early in the am or late like after 11pm...and it adds extra time to get to anaheim...the way I take it is very easy and it shaves off a bit of time plus unless its a holiday, I rarely run into traffic and if I do its not for long...I take the 5 to the 210E and take that for about 35 min. till I get to the 57S (san dimas exit)...that fwy takes you all the way in to anaheim and bypasses the 5 traffic altogether...I usually take the ball rd exit and turn right then down to Harbor and make a left and your good to go...and both fwys have carpool lane so I never have issues...

 

[disneydenisel]

WOW!!! your biggest mistake was taking the 605...you didnt need to do that at all...I think most Northern and central CA people take the 5 all the way down because its one fwy and they dont want to veer off..however, I stopped doing that 5 years ago because I almost always run into traffic unless its very early in the am or late like after 11pm...and it adds extra time to get to anaheim...the way I take it is very easy and it shaves off a bit of time plus unless its a holiday, I rarely run into traffic and if I do its not for long...I take the 5 to the 210E and take that for about 35 min. till I get to the 57S (san dimas exit)...that fwy takes you all the way in to anaheim and bypasses the 5 traffic altogether...I usually take the ball rd exit and turn right then down to Harbor and make a left and your good to go...and both fwys have carpool lane so I never have issues...

Agree! It was a bad route choice. Fridays, after 2:00 pm, it was all bad .

The good news, we are flying this year. I'll attempt the drive next time, but my promise after that horrendous drive was to fly in 2012 . I'll check back here for updates on how the drive went for the OP. I think it's key to wake up early and get out of town, but that is pretty impossible around my house, so I can't count on a 5:00 am departure.

 

[MrsMears]

My husband and I are making this same drive, but from Sacramento. Taking 5 all the way down to Anaheim, exiting at Disney Way. We're right from husband's work at 4:30PM on Thursday and plan to be in the park bright and early Friday morning. Enjoy your visit!!!

 

[usnuzuloose]

I live in Sacramento and take I5 all the way. Usually make a few pit stops but we leave around 4 to skip traffic through some of our towns, and yet early enough to get through LA before the traffic.

 

[MrsMears]

WOW!!! your biggest mistake was taking the 605...you didnt need to do that at all...I think most Northern and central CA people take the 5 all the way down because its one fwy and they dont want to veer off..however, I stopped doing that 5 years ago because I almost always run into traffic unless its very early in the am or late like after 11pm...and it adds extra time to get to anaheim...the way I take it is very easy and it shaves off a bit of time plus unless its a holiday, I rarely run into traffic and if I do its not for long...I take the 5 to the 210E and take that for about 35 min. till I get to the 57S (san dimas exit)...that fwy takes you all the way in to anaheim and bypasses the 5 traffic altogether...I usually take the ball rd exit and turn right then down to Harbor and make a left and your good to go...and both fwys have carpool lane so I never have issues...

I ran this route through google maps to see if I might change my route. This adds 15 miles to the trip which would probably buy you time during regular hours where one might experience traffic. I am going to be hitting LA at around 10:30PM so hopefully I will have missed most traffic!