Driving in California

[cagirl4life]

What if that is the only option? We are battling with the same question as the OP. Do we tack on time to visit San Diego Zoo while we are in CA for a trip to DL? Transportation is the most significant hurdle. We would fly in to San Diego, rent a car, stay in San Diego for a couple days, do the zoo and then drive to Anaheim, return the car, stay at Disney and then fly out of John Wayne. With Southwest that costs us less than a round trip in and out of John Wayne, even including the rental car one way. But, our schedule has us making the trip from San Diego to Anaheim on either Sunday or Monday, Memorial Day. Are we going to seriously regret it? We are not used to heavy traffic, we live in a small town with no traffic, unless there is an accident. We do find driving in traffic in Atlanta (for instance) to be a bit harrowing. Is driving through LA going to be hopeless for us?

From living in SD most of my childhood you should be fine to drive up on Sunday of Memorial Weekend during the day. If you are really nervous you could always drop you rental off in SD and take the train (Amtrak) up and get another rental there. I learned to drive in AZ and rarely do freeway but I can drive LA. The biggest thing is you have to get confident. Sometimes you have to just go for it. The heavy traffic time doesn't bother me its when it's busy and everyone is going 75 mph that makes me nervous. Test in SD how quickly you car can get up to speed and learn its blind spots quickly is my biggest tip. On ramps on the older freeway (especially in LA) are really short. Also know that there is the occasional left hand exit in California be prepared! And watch out in carpool sometimes it changes to fast track only (I know the 91 does it. Avoid the 91 and the 405 with all cost. Don't drive the 5 early in the morning and late because the fog gets bad off the ocean, take the 15 instead then because the 5 will slow you down enough that it will be about the same time. And memorial weekend time is bad because May Grey and June Gloom is in full swing and your mornings are going to be really foggy and cloudy till it burns off (if it even does).