Driving to Disneyland

[tlovesdis]

Just looking at a map and Lodi is located North of Stockton. Are you reccomending I take Hwy 99? Our current route takes us straight down the I-5, but if 99 will get us there faster, Im on board!!!

Ooops sorry, yes it is before Stockton, I was thinking of the other way! No, don't take 99! I5 for sure. Lodi is closer to 99, but at the Highway 12 where you would take off to get to Lodi there is a nice rest area with a hotel (I wish I could think of the name).

 

[jessicaerv]

Why not stop in Sacramento? Very safe, decent hotels, and only a 6.5 hour drive to Anaheim (depending on your speed).

 

[Shimmer]

I'm an Oregonian!

If you want to go further in Oregon, any city along I-5 will be fine and safe to stop in. Going south from Portland: Wilsonville, Woodburn, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Roseburg, Medford, Ashland.

It is about 5.5-6.5 hours from one end of Oregon to the other. It's pretty much a straight shot down I-5. There will be a series of mountain passes in Southern Oregon that would be better driven through in the daylight.

Have fun!

 

[Littleprincess2010]

Wow!! You guys have so much information!! Ok, based on what some of you have mentioned I think we might change our plan to the following:

Option 5 - 2 nights
3pm Leave Victoria BC Ferries 3pm Ferry (Or 1pm if we can get out of work early)
11pm Arrive in Salem, OR 7 hours 40 min.
7am Leave Salem, OR
9pm Arrive in Los Banos, CA 10 hr 23 min
7am Leave Los Banos, CA
1pm Arrive in Anaheim, CA 5 hrs Up to 6 hr 40 min in Traffic

What do you guys think of that one? Is Los Banos a decent town? I added in time for breaks which is why the times dont match up

Also, what you do think is the best way through Seattle at dinner time, aka the unholy hour of the rush Would you stay on the I-5? Or move over to the 405?

Since you aren't planning to see anything in Portland, take the bypass (205) around Portland instead of taking the I5 bridge across the Columbia River into downtown.

Look for a hotel maybe in Salem, if you can get that far. Or else for one along 205 near the Portland Airport if that is as far as you can go that night.

This is a great idea!! I will add it into our trip details


TOTALLY DIDNT REALIZE THAT LOS BANOS IS WAAAAAAAY OFF THE I-5. IM THINKING I WILL CHANGE IT ONCE AGAIN TO SANTA NELLA

 

[tlovesdis]

Los Banos is not off the 5, not close at all!

I say go with Santa Nella!

 

[Littleprincess2010]

Los Banos is not off the 5, not close at all!

I say go with Santa Nella!

Damn Google and its mapping services!! It looked much closer than it is.

Ive looked into Santa Nella Village and really like the looks of the Holiday Inn.

I'll talk with my hubby tonight, but you ladies may have solved my problem!!

One more question though, about Salem. Trip Advisor lists the main Hotel area as being "really seedy", as per one of the reviewers on there. So we were looking at some of the Hotels in northern Salem. Does anyone have any input on where in Salem is safe vs. not so safe?

 

[pdxJolene]

One more question though, about Salem. Trip Advisor lists the main Hotel area as being "really seedy", as per one of the reviewers on there. So we were looking at some of the Hotels in northern Salem. Does anyone have any input on where in Salem is safe vs. not so safe?

I would never consider Salem un-safe, and its not like your planning on being out and walking around. Its a perfectly safe place to grab dinner and a hotel for the night. Northern Salem is a good bet, or any of the smaller towns just before it (Newberg, Woodburn, Kaizer) If your REALLY concerned, I would stay in Woodburn, there is an outlet mall right off I-5 and a hotel right there too, I believe its a Mariott or something similar.

 

[PrincessIM]

We are travelling almost the same route except we are not coming from Victoria (we are heading to SF afterward too!). We are leaving Richmond, BC on a Friday night and travelling to Portland. Then the following morning we will travel from Portland to Sacramento and our final day will be Sacramento to Anaheim. We were originally going to do it over two days but like you we wanted to get in earlier to Anaheim on the Sunday and also a little less driving each day. I had started a thread on where to stay in both Sacramento and Portland and received many helpful recommendations on where to stay but I'm not sure how to link to my thread. I'm at work now, but will try to post later with some suggestions. I'm not sure when you will be travelling but keep in mind that there can be long border waits especially during the summer months.

 

[PrincessIM]

Here's the link I mentioned earlier. Hope it works!


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2425203

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

I live in Stockton, and its not very safe. Most of all the hotels are crap- yucky, scuzy... there is a new one located downtown stockton right on the waterfront, it might be ok. The Hampton Inn & Suites off Arch road and 99 is good. Other then that I would keep going on I-5- there are about 4 hotels right off Lathrop which are nice. Lathrop is right between Stockton and Manteca... also Tracy might be an option. otherwise Santa Nella. Do your hotel research on trip advisor, that helps. Do not stay on Wilson Way in Stockton or charter Way/Martin Luther King Blvd. Good Luck and Have fun!

 

[sasywtch]

I wouldn't recommend stopping over in Stockton. Just go a bit further to Lodi.

I second, the not stopping in Stockton. I know that there are alot of nice places to live in Stockton but I wouldn't spend the night in a hotel there. If you like option 3, stop in either Natomas (Sacramento) or Elk Grove. It's 6 hours down I5 to Los Angeles. There are also some motels along I5 past Stockton but since I live in Sacramento, I don't pay attention.

Holiday Inn Express in Natomas is very good and new with tons of eateries around and free breakfast. The downside is, if it's a weekday, I'd leave the hotel by 7:15am. I drive by there on the way to downtown and traffic is flowing wonderfully. 7:30, it's a little more slowing down, 25 mph for 3 miles.

If you want to make it to Elk Grove, 4:00pm-6pm that same road from Holiday Inn Express to Elk Grove is slooooowwww and worse than in the morning.

I'm sure others who know the hotels in Elk Grove or a few more miles later can let you know.

Ooops I see you decided to go further LOL oh well.

 

[cutedisneygirly]

I would not recommend stopping in Stockton. Stop 30 minutes earlier up I-5 in Elk Grove. The drive from Elk Grove to Anaheim is just over 6 hours plus stops. There are 2 hotels right off of Laguna Blvd near I-5: the Hampton Inn & Suites and Extended Stay America.
the Holiday Inn Express is off of Elk Grove Blvd. and I-5.
Elk Grove is 100x better than Stockton, believe me I know. I live in Elk Grove and DH works in Stockton. Do not stay in Stockton!!!!!
Good Luck.

 

[NorCalPrincess]

oops sorry, yes it is before Stockton, I was thinking of the other way! No, don't take 99! I5 for sure. Lodi is closer to 99, but at the Highway 12 where you would take off to get to Lodi there is a nice rest area with a hotel (I wish I could think of the name).

Isnt that area called Flag City? I know its not a real city but it seems to be safe and used by many travelers to stop while traveling I5. I also recommend that you do not stop in Stockton. I used to live there and am glad I don't now. It was once considered the murder capital of the the US (per capita) I think.

I saw that one of your first options was Williams Ca which is at the junction of I5 and Hwy 20. It is a small town and pretty safe. From there it is about 7 hours or so to Anaheim. We usually stop there for Breakfast and a potty break.

 

[reynmagsmom]

We always stop in Santa Nella it has a great Hoilday Inn Express which is very comfortable and pretty good cont. breaky... and the drive to Anaheim is pretty easy the only bad spot is going thru LA but other than that we can make it to DLR in about 41/2 hours give or take depending on traffic Santa Nella is about a 11 hour drive from Portland area so very doable...we leave Kelso Wa around 5 or 6ish am and usually hit SN around 6ish pm depending on the stops we made along the way!!!

 

[tlovesdis]

FLAG CITY!!! That is what I was thinking of!!! Thanks!

 

[mommato4]

We just did that drive. We drove from Vancouver to Disneyland, then to Vegas and back over Christmas. We loved it and plan to drive again this christmas minus Vegas.
We did it like this :
We left after school, got as far as Seattle, father in law lives there. We left from Seattle and got to Redding California. We stayed a Motel 6 and it was fine.
Then we drove to San Francisco, spent a few hours there and then left and stayed in a small place called Button Willow that night in a Super 8. We got to Disneyland after just about 2-3 hours driving the next day. Had we not have went to SF we wold have made it to Anaheim that night.
I personally am glad we didn't plan where to stop and stay we just went and found places along the way. It takes off the stress of rushing or not having time to stop and look at something.

 

[akotecha]

I work at the Hampton Inn & Suites hotel at 103 E. Louise Ave off of I-5 and Louise Ave in Lathrop, CA. This is and has been a perfect stop on the way to Los Angeles and up to Oregon, etc. There are alot of restaurants, a grocery store, gas, and even a Target nearby. We have free hot breakfast, free high speed internet, an indoor heated pool and whirlpool, and a snack shop on premise. We also have microwaves and fridges in all the rooms and the hotel is currently only 3 1/2 years old. Great place at great prices. Visit us online or call 209-982-5070. Let the agent know you heard about us on the Disney discussions board.

 

[8timesblessed]

We are driving down from the Seattle area in May and you asked about taking I-5 or 405?? I just wanted to say, just stay on I-5 through Seattle because you can utilize the carpool lane and yes it will be slow but 405 is usually alot worse. There are alot more lanes on I-5.

 

[disneywondergirl22]

i can't answer your major question, because since moving to the west coast, i've never driven anywhere outside of LA haha but i CAN tell you this:

any part of your travels in LA that you can avoid driving on the 5 until you get just a few miles away from Anaheim will SERIOUSLY cut time off of your drive.

i can tell you that as someone who drives there 5 days a week, if your directions tell you to take the 5... dont. until the very end.

traffic in this area can take you HOURS, so be sure to plan for significantly more time than your directions thing mentions, just for passing through the LA area.

here is MY suggestion if you are coming from the north. remembering, of course, that i don't know how or where you are starting.

405 South
110 N (but really, you don't get on the 110, you get off right away, stay in the far right lane)
91 East (don't get off on the earlier 91 e exit, wait for the 110, trust me)
to the 5 South

this alone will typically shave off over an hour of travel once you get near the LA area. depending on the time of day you arrive, it could even cut off 2 hours.

and when you head home, follow these directions as well. seriously, the 5 is a complete parking lot in both directions in and around LA and Anaheim. it's usually ok once you get to Anaheim, which is about where the 91 lets you off.

 

[disneywondergirl22]

i can provide more specific directions if you need, too. as someone who drives 37 miles EACH WAY to get to work from LA to Anaheim, I know all the side highways, and let me tell you, the 5 is ALWAYS the worst, 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week.