Driving Down I-5 questions

[tirby]

First we will be driving in on a sunday about 2:00 or so. What might the traffic be like? Also we will be Spending the night in Stockton CA then driving in on I-5. Are the freways well marked?
We are from a small town and I don't get to BIG citys much.
My husband will be driving, I'm navigator.I'M NERVOUS

Do the give you enough notice to switch lanes and is the Disney route well marked?


Also Leaving during the week on a Tuesday and want to beat the crazy rush hour any Ideas!!

 

[eduk8r26]

The freeways are well marked. Traffic on Sunday should be OK. Leaving, I'd leave early, or after 10 AM to beat the rush.

 

[tirby]

When you say early! Does that mean out of the hotel and getting on the freeway at 5 or what? I thought 5 would be ok but is it early enough? We will be heading north on I-5 back to stockton area.

 

[Stacerita]

I would leave early if possible. The later you drive thru LA on a sunday afternoon, the heavier the traffic will be.

The signs are marked and give you plenty of chance to prepare.

To avoid the rush hour traffic on Tuesday, I would leave either before 6am or after 10am. Traffic in that area can get pretty thick.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Tirby I live an hour from Stockton and you dont have any worries at all on the 5...it is well marked and easy to follow...one thing I do want to point out to you is that is when you get to LA the name of the 5 freeway is called Golden State Fwy and name changes to Santa Ana Fwy...both are still the 5 you really dont have to pay much attention to where your going until it starts being called the Golden state fwy... usually if you stay in the middle lane you dont have much to worry about...be prepared, once you change to Santa Ana fwy for slooooooooooooooooow traffic all the way to Anaheim...no matter what time of day or night I come down there I encounter that problem ...you will be fine...no worries...also, if you want to get in around 2 then you should leave no later than 9...we always stop in bakersfield to gas up and get drinks, use restroom etc...I use to stop there and eat when my daughter was younger but now we stop at Mcdonalds or something along the way if we are hungry...so as long as your not stopping for a longer period of time then 9 is good. have fun

 

[tirby]

Disneegrl4eva,
Thanks SO much. I actually live in Idaho and this has been a trip we have been looking forward to for a LONG time.
I lived in San Fernando Valley as a girl, right next to the Golden State freeway actually.
I never thought about the name changing. Thank you for the tip on staying in the middle lane. I SO CAN'T Wait!!!!! We do have 187 days left till we leave. Oh MY Goodness It's Only 6 Monthes And 1 Week !!!!! I sure appreciate all the help on this board. And as questions arise I know who to call...You All..
By the way I am getting there Sunday April 22nd and leaving THURSDAY the 26th
So we wanted to get there early enough on Sunday to have a Lungh at the Jazz Kitchen and explore Down Town Disney. That way the kids will feel like they got 4 days at disneyland instead of 3.

Again thanks SO MUCH

 

[tirby]

just a quick question? If we only stop for 20- 30 minutes is that ok?
And I think that IF the kids (and me) can sleep in that long because of the excitement it will be a miracle!!!!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

just a quick question? If we only stop for 20- 30 minutes is that ok?
And I think that IF the kids (and me) can sleep in that long because of the excitement it will be a miracle!!!!

yeah you should be ok Tirby...might need to add on a few minutes here and there...when my daughter was really little I would leave my house at like 6:30 in the morning and I would stop in Bakersfield and eat at IHOP for breakfast then we would still be there before noon...it really depends on the time of day you are going...I always go down on a saturday and come back on a friday and at one time did a sunday...still didnt have any issues...it will be fun I sooooooooooo know how hard it will be to sleep though

 

[CindyH]

To avoid the rush hour traffic on Tuesday, I would leave either before 6am or after 10am. Traffic in that area can get pretty thick.

I agree. We left around 6am on a Thursday morning - hit a little bit of traffic, but nothing nail-biting. (I'm an early bird, so it was fine for me to get up that early.) Have fun!

 

[tirby]

We are early birds too. Thanks a bunch I feel sssooo much better. Our trip home will involve the Jelly Belly Candy co. and redwoods then Oregon coast so I dont think getting up early will be to hard. Lots of fun to do