Driving from LA to Anaheim

[DexLabDeeDee]

My DH and I will be flying into LA on April 4th (Easter) at 7:00pm and driving to our hotel in Anaheim. I've heard a couple people say on this board that it's a nightmare driving to Anaheim from LA. What makes it a nightmare? Are there any tips that people can give us so that we don't end up lost and confused?

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't find it to be a nightmare. Only problem we had was MY fault, when I timed it all wrong. It's pretty straight shot, and if you have enough in the car to use the HOV lanes, go for it. I, however, am a total chicken in so cal, so I stick to the far right lane and just go the basic speed limit.

If you have a good navigator (I do not) it's even better! Only problem for you is that you're getting in so relatively late. But I think you'll be through any rush hour time (land at 7, get bags, get rental car...puts you at 8ish), so things will be easier.

Just give yourself HUGE amounts of time to get back to the airport, especially if you're going during a rush hour time.

 

[Raindown]

A Sunday at 7pm, should be fine. Only concerns are weekdays during rush hour.

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

Thanks! We'll be returning to LA on the following Sunday around midday. Will we have to worry about traffic then? I wouldn't think so being a Sunday but I guess I don't know if there would be people returning to LA from a weekend out and about.

 

[Raindown]

Thanks! We'll be returning to LA on the following Sunday around midday. Will we have to worry about traffic then? I wouldn't think so being a Sunday but I guess I don't know if there would be people returning to LA from a weekend out and about.

Unless you talking Hollywood 101 area, which can get a little busy (for who knows what reason) you should be fine. Sunday is a light day in general. If you talking DLR to LAX, I don't think you going to have any issues that wouldn't have in any other major city/airport.

Enjoy!

 

[rangebob]

When I went we arrived at around 10 am on on Monday and had no problems. It was a straight shot and I think it took around an hour or slightly over. I was told by several make sure you do the same speed as everybody else since they will run up on your bumper and try to push you along.

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

Thanks Raindown and rangebob! I was wondering if speed would be an issue. I've done the Autobahn so LA can't be much worse! I didn't realize that it would take an hour, though. I thought it would be more like a half hour/45 minutes. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

Oops. I see that the airport is a little more west of LA. It says 37 miles. I guess we'll see. Maybe we'll eat at the airport instead of waiting to get to Anaheim...

 

[Leofoenget]

My DH and I will be flying into LA on April 4th (Easter) at 7:00pm and driving to our hotel in Anaheim. I've heard a couple people say on this board that it's a nightmare driving to Anaheim from LA. What makes it a nightmare? Are there any tips that people can give us so that we don't end up lost and confused?

On Sunday Morning on a holiday it probably wont' be bad at all. Actually, probably couldn't pick a better time to travel than Easter Sunday Morning. Pending disasters you can probably make it from LAX to Anaheim in about an hour. On non sunday mornings,what makes it horrible? LA TRAFFIC!!

 

[LavenderPeach]

Yes, traffic should be fine........unless it's not. You just never know and it seems like any little thing can slow down the traffic. There's been a couple of times we've thought we would be driving at a great time to avoid traffic only to find ourselves stopped on the freeway because of road construction or closures. But I would assume there wouldn't be people working on the roads on a holiday.

 

[Luv4Disney]

What hours are considered rush hour? We are going in April and plan on making 2 day trips to LA from Anaheim. Just want to know what time we should leave the area by so we don't get stuck! Thanks!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Traffic is always busy in the Los Angeles/Orange County area. Rush hour is in the morning (6:30am - 9'ish) and afternoon (3:30pm - 7:30pm) due to all the crazy work schedules. I live relatively close to LAX, and when I go to DL in the afternoons it can take almost an hour, when it takes 25 minutes - a half hour during normal speed traffic.

Here's a map & directions to getting to the Disneyland Resort area from LAX.

http://www.maryjomellado.com/lax_to_dlr.htm

 

[Luv4Disney]

Thank you very much!!

 

[tripletlyblessed]

Occasionally it gets busy on Sunday evenings and it might around LAX because it is Easter if people are heading out of LA. I live near Beverly Hills and it takes me 45-50 minutes during the week when I leave around 9:30 AM. I did it once in 38 minutes but that was around 1 PM and everything was wide open.

 

[Huff]

Weekdays from 6am-9am or 3pm-7pm Los Angeles highways can be considered a parking lot! I'm talking about the entire metro area, not just Los Angeles city itself. The 405 near LAX is one of the worst.

Evenings and weekends traffic mostly runs smooth. However, Los Angeles is one of those unpredictable cities where traffic backups can occur anywhere at any time.

One of the worst times was driving from Sea World north on I-5 at 2am on a Sunday. Traffic was moving about 20-25mph the entire way to Anaheim.

For your times/days I don't think you'll have any problems. Traffic should be moving just fine.

 

[franandaj]

Oops. I see that the airport is a little more west of LA. It says 37 miles. I guess we'll see. Maybe we'll eat at the airport instead of waiting to get to Anaheim...

For a true Southern California experience drive straight to the corner of Sepulveda & 92nd (just a couple blocks from the Airport) and get yourself a Double Double Animal Style at In-n-Out Burger!

Yes, traffic should be fine........unless it's not.

This is so true, traffic here can be totally random. during the rush hours previously mentioned you can count on driving between stopped and 35mph almost your entire route. Sundays are the best days for traffic, especially in the morning, everyone is still asleep from partying Saturday nights!

You shouldn't have much trouble driving on a Sunday evening, the only traffic you might hit is all the people coming home from wherever they went for the weekend.

The 405 near LAX is one of the worst.

The locals call it the 4 or 5 hour freeway for a reason.

 

[jlmarr]

The 405 near LAX is one of the worst.

Definitely - so take the 91 freeway per MaryJo's instructions above.

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

Thanks everyone! Nothing beats advice from locals, they know their stuff. Also, a special thanks to MaryJo! These are the instructions I realized that I really needed - what lane to be in when. Especially since we'll be arriving in the evening after a very long day. I don't travel well and my brain suffers. I can totally see myself driving away from Anaheim by mistake.

Thanks all!