Driving to San Diego - scared!

[maxie]

Some what worried about this drive (Anaheim - SD). Not use to big U.S. interstates and such. How is this drive? Is it going to be confusing getting out of Anaheim?

 

[lap3]

It shouldn't be too bad at all. Just hop on the 5 Freeway heading south and about an 1.5 hours you'll be in San Diego. The "El Toro Y" (this is where the 405 and 5 freeways meet) can be hectic but other than that it's ok. My suggestion to anyone driving for the first time in Southern California is to drive in the early morning or evening to avoid traffic.

 

[iceskatejen]

Yes, going south on the 5 from the DL area is actually a rather pleasant and easy drive (other than the aforementioned 5/405 interchange). Going north into LA is another story.

 

[aero99]

We just got back from a wonderful visit to Disneyland, Hollywood & San Diego. Our hotel was in Anaheim so we had to make that drive. 5 down wasn't a problem but we saw SO much traffic coming north that we decided to try a different way. So on the way down, we saw the ocean on 5 and on the way back we saw mountains via route 15. It was really lovely.

Good Luck!
Melissa

 

[LindaR]

I will add to this.........the drive down is about 1.5 hours. We visited Sea World and drove back to Anaheim at the end of the day. It took us over 4 hours to get back. Bumper to bumper traffic. My mom and my daughter (then 4yo) had to go to the bathroom but I refused to get off the interstate and told them they'd have to wait! The "fastest" we drove was 25 mph. I would be prepared for heavy b to b traffic!

 

[M's_girl]

I live in San Diego and I'd just like to add that I think Orange County has done a great job trying to "deal" with the traffic. While you are in Orange County and heading south, there will be MOV lanes. We use these a lot and they normally (but not always) save time.

The suggestion for driving at "off" hours is also well taken. Weekends will normally be far better than weekdays (but not Sunday night).

 

[iceskatejen]

I live off of I-15 and it can be the quicker route. I'm roughly half way between SD and Anaheim, the long way as I put it. It takes an hour and 15 minutes or so to get to DL or to the Sea World area of SD. So driving from SD to Anaheim would take roughly 2 and a half hours from the 15, but there's usually less traffic and it's still a pretty drive. If you're coming from SD heading to Anaheim you want to wait until late morning (after 9 am) to head this direction, though because the 91 freeway can be the world's longest parking lot (and the 15 in south Corona isn't a picnic either). If you are going to take this route from the DL area to SD, don't wait until afternoon (between 2 and 7 pm) because it's the same problem.

 

[waltskids]

We drove from Anaheim to San Diego a couple of summers ago and it wasn't bad at all. There was traffic going to San Diego, but CA drivers are VERY patient (compared to Washington D.C.- New York area) and waiting in traffic was not as stressful as we had thought it would be. It was a beautiful drive and we're actually planning on doing it again next summer.

 

[SomeSayImGoofy]

The 5 is one of the NICEST, WIDEST and cleanest freeways in SoCal! Six lanes each direction in many places. As long as you don't go during the height of rush hour

Check out the CalTrans www site http://www.dot.ca.gov/ and click on the "RealTime Freeway..." link. It should help you. If you have a laptop or PDA with internet access, you might do well to log in before you make the drive. You could also call the CHP info line for up-to-date traffic conditions...(800-427-7623).

Have fun!

Kevin