Driving to LAX from Anaheim - Best Route?

[Lizzzys]

I tried to do a search but came up with nothing so I'm sorry if this has been asked time and time again.

We have to fly out of LAX at 9:00 am on Labor Day and I will have a rental car. We plan to leave Anaheim by 6:00 am but I'm concerned that that might not be early enough? (It is a domestic flight we are boarding.)

What is the best way to get to LAX from Anaheim to avoid traffic etc. at that time in the morning?

 

[Lizzzys]

Obviously nobody has driven from Anaheim to LAX. Ever.

 

[bonedoc]

Labor day shouldn't be so bad, so the timing sounds right.

I'd get on the 5 north to 91 west.

Then I'd make sure that I check traffic to see which northbound freeway to cut over to 105 west. 605, 710, or 110, or 405.

The difference can be as much as 15 minutes on traffic days. Labor day you probably can just to 5 to 91 to 605 to 105 to LAX and not worry about timing.

 

[bonedoc]

Oops, the point is that there usually not much difference between the routes unless there is some wierd slowdown which I usually check for the day of.

 

[Lizzzys]

Oops, the point is that there usually not much difference between the routes unless there is some wierd slowdown which I usually check for the day of.

Thanks Bonedoc! I appreciate it!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Hi Lizzzys,

The best route to LAX from Disneyland is to take the 5 fwy north (use carpool lane if more than one), to 91 west (stay in carpool lane on the 5 to get to 91 west), then 605 north (stay in right lane), to the 105 west (get in carpool lane when you can). Take the 105 west to the exit for the airport and car rental places.

 

[TEK224]

Mary Jo - looking at your map, is the following route feasible:

Driving the PCH from Santa Monica to Harbor Boulevard and then taking Harbor up to DL? It looks like Harbor comes in right before Newport Beach.
My nephew will be with me and he's never been to Cali before. He wants to see the beaches. Since our plane arrives at 10:30AM, I thought we'd go to Santa Monica Pier for lunch before heading to DL. If I can take the route I described, we could sightsee during the drive to DL.

About how long do you think that drive would be?

Thanks!
Terri

 

[Tiradan]

According to this google map, it should take 1 hour and 45 mintues to drive 60 miles going from Santa Monica on the Pacific Coast Highway, then up Harbor Boulevard to Disneyland.

Click this to go directly to google maps

 

[cyclenut]

Mary Jo - looking at your map, is the following route feasible:

Driving the PCH from Santa Monica to Harbor Boulevard and then taking Harbor up to DL? It looks like Harbor comes in right before Newport Beach.
My nephew will be with me and he's never been to Cali before. He wants to see the beaches. Since our plane arrives at 10:30AM, I thought we'd go to Santa Monica Pier for lunch before heading to DL. If I can take the route I described, we could sightsee during the drive to DL.

About how long do you think that drive would be?

Thanks!
Terri

I would suggest that after you leave Santa Monica you just get on the 405 until you get to Seal Beach Blvd. then take that south to PCH where you will make a left. You will notice from the map from the PP that PCH does not stay along the coast. You won't see coastline for much of the route from Santa Monica (except at Redondo) and it will take you awhile to get there.

After you travel down PCH for awhile you will come to Harbor, but I would suggest staying on PCH until you get to MacArthur blvd. make a left (north) and stay on MacArthur until you pass the OC airport and take the 405 north to Harbor. It is out of the way and you will backtrack but you will see more of the coast that way and avoid some of the worst traffic areas. You can certainly take harbor north when you get to it if you wish.

 

[lk2500]

Depends on traffic on I-5.

Keeping in mind I'm not a native Californian and have only made the trip twice.

We just keep it simple and take I-5 to 605S to 105W.

You can also take I-5N to 91W and then cut up to 105W on whichever of the 3 freeways has the least traffic.

If you had a GPS with traffic your choice would be easier.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Depends on traffic on I-5.

Keeping in mind I'm not a native Californian and have only made the trip twice.

We just keep it simple and take I-5 to 605S to 105W.

You can also take I-5N to 91W and then cut up to 105W on whichever of the 3 freeways has the least traffic.

If you had a GPS with traffic your choice would be easier.

You have to take the 605 north to get from 91W to 105W.

I don't recomend I-5 to 605-South - 105-west because you are backtracking when you go that route.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

You have to take the 605 north to get from 91W to 105W.

I don't recomend I-5 to 605-South - 105-west because you are backtracking when you go that route.

same here...but theres an alternate route that might not be as much traffic ...its really only a difference of about a couple of miles if that much

take the 22W to the 405N to the 105W to the CA 1N Sepulveda Blvd..it will keep you off the 5 altogether and then the only traffic you may run into is the 405 (which you have to take anyways)...imo, the 91 is worse for traffic than the 405...Ive traveled many many times from Long Beach to LAX and many many times from DL to Long Beach and I love the 22 fwy...however, dont you have to be there by 7:30? Plus have a rental car you have to return???? just driving from DL to LAX will probably run you an hour and a half (if you take the way Im telling you, going on the 91 and the 5 will take you longer)...I have no idea how long it takes to drop off a rental and get you over to the terminal...so leaving at 6 may not be the best idea unless you plan on not checking luggage and running all the way to your flight....

 

[TEK224]

Thanks!

 

[Albort]

Local here...

Avoid the 5 between the 710<--> 91. Its always jammed no matter what day you pass.

Take what most are saying 105--> 605--> 91 --> 5.
or 105--> 110 --> 91 --> 5.

Going from PCH to Disney will take time. You will hit A LOT of red lights.
From Disney to Huntington Beach will take me around 30-40 mins without traffic.

 

[raftislander]

Another route - not scenic - but for others reading this thread it might be a good option. I have had luck with this route when other freeways are jammed. You can go south on Harbor Blvd and get on HWY 22 going west then take I405 North to LAX.

 

[Tiradan]

Another route - not scenic - but for others reading this thread it might be a good option. I have had luck with this route when other freeways are jammed. You can go south on Harbor Blvd and get on HWY 22 going west then take I405 North to LAX.

HWY 22 West to I405 North to LAX sounds like a great option. I'm going to try that on my next trip. Google says it will take 6 mintues longer than 5, 91, 605, 105, but at least I only have to find 2 major roadways instead of 4.