Driving through LA - weekend vs weekday

[*RJ*]

Is there a huge difference in early afternoon LA traffic on a Sunday vs. a Tuesday? Or is it just always crazy?!

 

[bdiddy]

I've been doing some research and it sounds like between 9am and 3pm during the day are the best times and then really late at night or middle of the night. Lol....also heading in/out of town on Friday afternoons/evenings and same with Sunday are pretty bad. It kinda sounds like it's pretty much always "bad" but there are times where it's much much worse than "bad".

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

It's always horrid unless you're driving really early am (like 5am) or really late pm (after 9)

 

[felice]

LA traffic tends to be known for being notorious, as the locals based there (including actors) will and do tell us

 

[loloandstitch]

Weekends will always tend to be lighter and I would bet on that. But it depends on what direction/freeway you are driving.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Weekends will always tend to be lighter and I would bet on that. But it depends on what direction/freeway you are driving.

I respectfully beg to differ.... I have sat in hours upon hours of traffic between Ventura/Santa Barbara through LA and into Orange County many a time on Saturday afternoons!

 

[loloandstitch]

I respectfully beg to differ.... I have sat in hours upon hours of traffic between Ventura/Santa Barbara through LA and into Orange County many a time on Saturday afternoons!

I think it depends on the freeway. The major freeways (101,5,405) will be heavy in parts 7 days of the week. Although, last Saturday I drove from Santa Barbara to the Valley around 3pm and it only took 2 hours. So maybe not *always*, but I usually try to avoid going into the city on a weekday. Traffic varies more on the weekends, I think. If that makes sense.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Traffic varies more on the weekends, I think. If that makes sense.

I definitely agree with that statement! But I would hate for anyone to plan on lighter traffic through LA on the weekends because it's often a mess regardless of the day. I feel like there was a time when freeway traffic on the weekends was always lighter than weekday traffic but in my experience those days are over.

 

[loloandstitch]

I definitely agree with that statement! But I would hate for anyone to plan on lighter traffic through LA on the weekends because it's often a mess regardless of the day. I feel like there was a time when freeway traffic on the weekends was always lighter than weekday traffic but in my experience those days are over.

This is true. Just allow extra time regardless. If I have to go somewhere on the weekend, I try to be on the freeway before 11-12ish and I'm okay. If I leave after 12, best to use Waze.

 

[l4dyj8]

Depends on what direction.

Generally, rush hour weekday traffic is towards Hollywood or Downtown. Rush hour keeps changing. After 9 used to be good but it's still bad til 10:30am.
Afternoon traffic til 3:30 is usually good. Going away from Downtown or Hollywood.

BUT Friday's are the exception. Think of it as people leaving early from work to leave. Given that, the carpool lane feels useless on Friday nights and weekends. People have their friends/family with them

Agree with above that the 101 to San Diego or 405 (anywhere) seems heavy on the weekend.

Coming from LA/the valley or San Gabriel towards DL, seems heavy on weekends.

 

[Sergio S]

Don't even try going through DTLA freeways between 1-2 hours before a Dodger game and up to an hour after it starts...you'll be sitting around

 

[SteveMP]

Depends, "LA" is pretty huge, and a lot of freeways are MUCH worse than others. And some parts/interchanges are worse than others. Or do you mean downtown LA?

 

[Delilah1310]

What about the route to ONT - Ontario Airport? hwy 57 and part of of hwy 10.
Google maps consistently has shown it to be less than an hour, but do you think that is accurate?

i'm mostly trying to see how many park hours we can cram in before we have to get back to catch our 2:20 flight on a Saturday.

 

[MillauFr]

What about the route to ONT - Ontario Airport? hwy 57 and part of of hwy 10.
Google maps consistently has shown it to be less than an hour, but do you think that is accurate?

i'm mostly trying to see how many park hours we can cram in before we have to get back to catch our 2:20 flight on a Saturday.

The traffic is far lighter between Ontario and Disney on a Saturday. You should be going close to the speed limit for most of the drive.