Driving from Anaheim on Friday 7/20

[zippy doo dah]

Hello everyone -

I am from NJ and have absolutely no idea where I am going (North I think) . My DH's friends are getting married on the 21st and I am going to be driving to meet up with DH on the 20th after I check out of the hotel. My original plan was to open the park and spend a few hours taking photos and maybe a ride or 2 before I left on my way, but I was reading a previous thread about how bad the traffic was on a Friday and the 20th is a Friday , so you have my attention, which now brings up the question for native Californians...

I will be in Anaheim and have to travel to Visalia...

1. Am I traveling North or South? ( I think DH told me north)
2. About how long of a drive and will there be lots of traffic?
3. What would you do? Do you think I can stick with my original plan or should I leave earlier, and if so what time do you suggest?


Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[wendypooh22]

The drive is easy, but I would estimate that it would take you 3 to 3 1/2 hours during normal time traveling from Anaheim... (Other DISers in the area can verify). I travel the 5 every day and can tell you that traffic on Friday's seems to start at around noon. If you rode a couple of rides and could be on the road before then, you should be okay... Take the 5 north to the 99 (only one way to go) and that will take you straight into Visalia.

 

[scooter15]

A good friend of mine lives up in Visalia!

On google maps it says about 3 hours from LA but since you are coming from Anaheim, I honestly say 5 hours. From Anaheim to Valencia during friday traffic CAN take you 1.5 - 2 hours....not kdding. But once you hit the grapevine its smooth sailing from there. When you get down the grapevine, several miles north, the freeway will split to the 5 or 99. TAKE the 99 as it brings you towards Visalia and the Fresno area.

I-5 from Anaheim can be backed up starting at noon on fridays. It will be backed up all the way from Anaheim to Santa Clarita. The worst part is from Anaheim to Downtown LA.

 

[ScooterL]

My husband's family lives in Visalia...it takes us about 5 - 1/2 hours from San Diego with no traffic and only short stops, so it should be about 4 - 4-1/2 hours from Disneyland.

If you're leaving DL before 2:00 then I'd recommend that you go *around* LA rather than taking 5 through LA - from Disneyland, take Ball Road over to the 57 freeway, then take 57 to the 210 freeway, and then take I5 north. This route is a little tricky, though, and you have to watch the signs - after about 10-12 miles you have to take a right exit to stay on 57 (otherwise it becomes a different freeway - 60 I think), and once you get into Pasadena on 210, you have to again take a right exit to stay on 210. The 57 interchange is well-marked, but the 210 one isn't, and can really sneak up on you. When you see a sign that says 134 is a couple of miles away, that's when you have to start getting over into the right lanes because the exit is coming up shortly. Continuing to go straight puts you on 134, so you have to exit right to stay on 210. From 210 take I5 north - once you get past the 14 freeway interchange traffic should be a lot lighter, and you should have smooth sailing to Visalia. (As scooter15 said, take highway 99 after you get over the mountains to go to Visalia.)

I do NOT recommend the 57 route if you're leaving DL after about 3:00 - it gets horribly backed up, too, and won't save you any time. Unfortunately if you leave that late on a Friday traffic is going to be awful no matter what route you choose.

 

[Itinkso]

I will be in Anaheim and have to travel to Visalia...

1. Am I traveling North or South? ( I think DH told me north)
2. About how long of a drive and will there be lots of traffic?
3. What would you do? Do you think I can stick with my original plan or should I leave earlier, and if so what time do you suggest?


Thanks in advance for your help!

Hey! - I live in Visalia and yes, you will be traveling north from Anaheim. You can also get to the 57 by heading east on Katella. Follow ScooterL's directions and if you do by chance miss the 210 near Pasadena just stay on the 134 and you'll run back into the 5. When the 210 merges into the 5, traffic can get backed up and you'll need to merge your way over to the left lanes. I would say to try to leave before 2 - that is always our plan and if we plan to stay later than 2 we usually will leave around 7pm. Plan on at least 3 1/2 hours and remember to take the 99 when the 5 splits after you get off of the Grapevine. If you stay on the 5 you will definitely miss Visalia!