Driving to DL from Phoenix

[Abharmagic]

Anyone done this? How bad is traffic as I approach DL? You always hear about terrible Southern CA traffic. It says it’s a 5 hr 45 min drive- should I build in an extra hour for traffic? More? Coming in on Sunday July 1- hopefully arriving at DL around 12:30.

 

[VandVsmama]

Arriving on a Sunday, you'll be fine. July 4th falls in the middle of the week this year, so I doubt you'll have a bunch of stop and go in southern California because anybody who is taking off through 7/4 would be leaving their homes in So Cal on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

Add in maybe an extra 30 min based on how frequently & how long you need for bathroom and/or food stops along the way. When we go the I-10 route (instead of I-8 because we used to live in southern Arizona and would often stop in San Diego to visit relatives first), we usually end up going:

- I-10 west
- CA-60 West
- then get on 91 West
- then go on Hwy 57 south toward Santa Ana
- take the Orangewood Ave exit if you're headed to the Toy Story lot.

 

[keywis25]

I always drive through Phx to DL and I only seem to hit what I would consider normal amounts of traffic regardless of day or time. From where I am at google maps quotes me about 7 hours and I always make it in that time frame.

 

[Spyral]

Arriving on a Sunday, you'll be fine. July 4th falls in the middle of the week this year, so I doubt you'll have a bunch of stop and go in southern California because anybody who is taking off through 7/4 would be leaving their homes in So Cal on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

Add in maybe an extra 30 min based on how frequently & how long you need for bathroom and/or food stops along the way. When we go the I-10 route (instead of I-8 because we used to live in southern Arizona and would often stop in San Diego to visit relatives first), we usually end up going:

- I-10 west
- CA-60 West
- then get on 91 West
- then go on Hwy 57 south toward Santa Ana
- take the Orangewood Ave exit if you're headed to the Toy Story lot.

This is pretty much how we go as well. We find Google maps to be pretty accurate with the timing (especially as you get closer to the date) as it does take into account expected traffic if you put in the time of day traveling - you can set your departure or arrival date/time.

 

[bethwc101]

Anyone done this? How bad is traffic as I approach DL? You always hear about terrible Southern CA traffic. It says it’s a 5 hr 45 min drive- should I build in an extra hour for traffic? More? Coming in on Sunday July 1- hopefully arriving at DL around 12:30.

We are in queen creek and usually leave between 3-5 am. The drive is amazing, until Riverside. Then it slows down. Usually a lot. Give yourself an hour buffer and update your google maps as you are driving. If we do the drive when we just get out of Phoenix and it says 6 hours left, by the time we hit riverside, we will update and it usually tacks on an additional 30-45 min,

 

[Boku41]

I agree. Usually 30-45 minutes extra depending on traffic. I would think on Sunday you wouldn't have to add that much time. Coming from Chandler-Gilbert area, most times we make it in 6 hrs, but we usually try to time it where we arrive around 11:00am-ish or later around 8-9pm.

 

[Christina-B-Na]

As others have said, I would add about 30 mins or so to your expected drive time. We come from Mesa and its usually about 6 to 6.5 hours for us on average. We love to use the Waze traffic app in Cali as its constantly updated with accidents, traffic jams, police activity...etc. It's helpful to know whats coming up ahead.

 

[VandVsmama]

I 2nd the Waze suggestion. We've used it in Southern California and it's pretty accurate.

 

[DizneyMommy]

Anyone done this? How bad is traffic as I approach DL? You always hear about terrible Southern CA traffic. It says it’s a 5 hr 45 min drive- should I build in an extra hour for traffic? More? Coming in on Sunday July 1- hopefully arriving at DL around 12:30.

I lived near DL my entire life until moving near Phoenix this year. We make this drive almost monthly! If you leave around 6am you’ll be fine, accounting for bathroom breaks and at least one meal/snack/has stop. On a Sunday morning traffic between here and Anaheim is really non-existent save for any accidents that pop up. The river/Vegas crowd doesn’t start clogging the 91 until after around 1. Being that it is the 1st and the 4th is a Wednesday, I wouldn’t expect any holiday traffic.

I would watch your Google Maps and determine the fastest route, but often cutting over to the 57 ends up faster than the 91 all the way to the 55/22. If we are going straight to DL we take he 57, if we are going home to see family first we take the 55/22.

There is a Starbucks in Blythe that we usually make our first stop, and then In’N’Out in Cabazon is usually our early lunch, but there is also another Starbucks and a gas station there if you just need bathrooms and gas. It is a super quick on and off the freeway.

 

[VandVsmama]

We used to live in Tucson and moved to Phoenix just a month ago. I'm thrilled that we are about an hour and a half closer to Disneyland now!

 

[azdisneylover]

We used to live in Tucson and moved to Phoenix just a month ago. I'm thrilled that we are about an hour and a half closer to Disneyland now!

Woohoo!! Used to live in the South Mountain area and now in Avondale. Love we are closer to Disneyland. Every minute counts when were are GOING there!

 

[VandVsmama]

Woohoo!! Used to live in the South Mountain area and now in Avondale. Love we are closer to Disneyland. Every minute counts when were are GOING there!

We just moved to Ahwatukee. We were practically almost neighbors!

From north Tucson, it would take us 7-7.5 hr to get to Disneyland. Now it'll take ~ 5.5 hours depending on what time we leave and how often we stop. I'm looking forward to the South Mountain 202 loop freeway extending around to Laveen so we can bypass all of Phoenix traffic on future trips (whenever they finish that freeway loop!).

 

[azdisneylover]

We just moved to Ahwatukee. We were practically almost neighbors!

From north Tucson, it would take us 7-7.5 hr to get to Disneyland. Now it'll take ~ 5.5 hours depending on what time we leave and how often we stop. I'm looking forward to the South Mountain 202 loop freeway extending around to Laveen so we can bypass all of Phoenix traffic on future trips (whenever they finish that freeway loop!).

Absolutely, that loop will cut down on some of the traffic on I10. I am surprised they really did start on it. They have talked for years about doing it, but never actually do anything. Glad they started. Wish Disneyland would extend the popcorn bucket discount thing for AP holders. Perhaps make a different bucket for each month and APs have the $1 refills, or every other month a new bucket with the $1 refills.

 

[DizneyMommy]

We just moved to Ahwatukee. We were practically almost neighbors!

From north Tucson, it would take us 7-7.5 hr to get to Disneyland. Now it'll take ~ 5.5 hours depending on what time we leave and how often we stop. I'm looking forward to the South Mountain 202 loop freeway extending around to Laveen so we can bypass all of Phoenix traffic on future trips (whenever they finish that freeway loop!).

Maaaaybe be the time they get around to finishing that, the Star Wars Land hysteria will have died down

 

[mich311e]

We live in Phoenix and make the drive a lot. I can usually do it in under 6 hours. I use Google Maps. I stop to use the restroom a few times.

We usually top off for gas in Ehrenberg at the Texaco at the Tom Well's Rd Exit as it's usually one of the cheapest stops for gas. The restrooms are decent. They have a Subway if you are hungry.

Our next stop is the Morongo travel stop on Seminole Dr. The gas here is also usually cheaper than when you get more towards Disneyland. Then I don't have to stop again until I'm on the way home.

If we need a quick meal on the way we stop at Del Taco just off the I10 in Thousand Palms. It's always clean, the food is good, and not very busy. There's an In an Out nearby but I don't eat meat.

We had APs for a year so I made the drive a lot!

 

[Abharmagic]

You guys are AWESOME!!!! Thank you so much for easing my concerns and making me feel better about a spur of the moment idea to add a quick trip to DL on our trip to Phoenix. We are driving in on the 1st and staying two nights and driving out on the 3rd back to Phoenix. My DH is reluctantly on board- my kids are wholeheartedly on board (as am I). The plan is for two half days and one full day. Staying at the DL Hotel. Accccck so excited! And, a little crazy.

 

[DizneyMommy]

You guys are AWESOME!!!! Thank you so much for easing my concerns and making me feel better about a spur of the moment idea to add a quick trip to DL on our trip to Phoenix. We are driving in on the 1st and staying two nights and driving out on the 3rd back to Phoenix. My DH is reluctantly on board- my kids are wholeheartedly on board (as am I). The plan is for two half days and one full day. Staying at the DL Hotel. Accccck so excited! And, a little crazy.

Plan on Traaffffiiiccccc coming home though. There will be a good portion of people getting out of town either toward Vegas or the river/desert for the 4th and the roads out (particularly the 91) could be a nightmare if you leave much past 2pm. Plus then you are going the same way as rush hour on the 91, it goes East in the afternoon. I could consider getting on the freeway by noon if it’s an option! Otherwise your 6 hours could very easily turn into 8 :-(

 

[Abharmagic]

Thanks ALL! We have now decided to fly out of SNA on 7/4. We will now have 2 full days and one half day at the parks and no drive back to Phoenix. YAY!!! Just a drive IN from Phoenix!!! No more worries about beating the traffic out of town, Our flight is very early on 7/4 so anticipating very little traffic on our drive to SNA that AM.

 

[azdisneylover]

You're visiting AZ, then popping in to Disneyland, right? Our grocery stores carry gift cards and park hoppers, so does our Target stores too. Frys (Krogers) has one and two day park hoppers as well as gift cards. This weekend, gift cards get 4x gas points.

 

[Abharmagic]

You're visiting AZ, then popping in to Disneyland, right? Our grocery stores carry gift cards and park hoppers, so does our Target stores too. Frys (Krogers) has one and two day park hoppers as well as gift cards. This weekend, gift cards get 4x gas points.

Yes! We booked a package through Costco travel. We get a small gift card and a “free” character breakfast. We have 3 day hoppers and are staying at DLH.