Has anyone driven from San Francisco to Disneyland

[popeyeohoh]

I am thinking of driving from the Bay area to Disney according to map quest and rand mcnally it is about a 6 1/2 hour drive. about 400 miles. Do you think this time frame and mileage is close?

 

[got2gp]

That should be about right, barring accidents, rush hour, fires, road construction or closures... Your get the idea. Overall it is an easy drive, in fact big portions of it are borrrrring. I would say that the "normal" travel time can range from 6 to 9 hour, with 7 to 7 1/2 being most realistic.

It does make a diiference when you are planning to travel, not just time of day and day of week, but season also. Of course weekdays are murder going through LA and even worse at rush hour. In the winter snow and or ice, yes I said snow, can close the grapevine between Bakersfield and Santa Clarita. Watch the weather and listen to traffic reports and expect anything and you will be fine.

 

[damo]

What is the best way to make sure you don't miss anything? We are driving from San Fran to Santa Clarita and want to do Highway 1. Where should we cut across?

 

[Di$neyDad]

If you're going for speed, getting over to Hwy. 5 as soon as possible is probably your best bet. I live about 50 miles south of San Fran, and the drive is about 380 miles and takes 5.5 hours with no stops and no traffic issues. So 6.5 from SF sounds right. However, the "no traffic issues" has only happened once in several trips. So budget at least another 30 minutes for the typical LA slowdowns. Any other issues could add an hour or more to the trip. For example, Six Flags Magic Mountain is right off of the freeway and on popular days (e.g., this past 4th of July) the traffic through here can add quite a bit of time.

101 also goes all the way down and, although I'm not that familiar with it, I don't know why anyone would want to go that way. The little stretches I've been on south of San Jose have had some really bad delays.

If you're not in a rush, 1 is definitely worth the trip. Lots of nice "white knuckle" cliff driving with awesome views. It takes a lot more time but there's lots to see. Assuming you want to stop at San Simeon/Hearst Castle, your main choices to cut over are at Cambria (a few miles south of San Simeon) or just don't "cut over" and follow 1 until it merges with 101 at San Luis Obispo. Since you probably don't gain much by cutting over at Cambria, and you might want to stop at Morro Bay, you might at as well go with the latter.

As for the best way to make sure you don't miss anything, I guess budgeting lots of extra time for stops is the best advice (other than keep your eyes open ). Do some web searches on the Monterey area and Big Sur to get some ideas of what you might want to spend time doing.

 

[daannzzz]

I am in Sunnyvale and if I had the time I would always go 101. It is prettier with loads more places to stop and the places you can stop are more interesting. I almost always drive down that way. But coming home and if I am in a real hurry to get down there , I will go over to highway 5. It takes me 6.5 - 8.5 hours to go 101 and 5.5 - 6.5 to go Highway 5. The best way to arrive in the the north L.A. area and make your way through to Anaheim is to arrive at 9:00 P.M. or after and then the traffic isn't nearly as bad. I have started taking off from work at 3:00 and heading down and it is much easier than arriving during the day or early evening.

 

[mobetsy]

A lot of the choice is between speed and scenery. Barring all other factors, which in the end probably average out--construction delays Camarillo to Santa Barbara vs. assorted Grapevine delays, for example--5 is definitely faster and 101 (with as much of 1 as you choose to do) is definitely prettier. I've done both, and it comes down to what my goal is. With either route, bring drinks and snacks in the car in case of delays (won't even discuss what you need if the Grapevine is closed due to snow/ice!) and be prepared to take stops you might not have previously anticipated. More good spots for that on 101 than on 5.

 

[disneydenisel]

We drove from San Jose to Anaheim in March. AAA TripTik said it was about 5.5 hours which would have been accurate had we not stopped once (2 kids, have to stop) and hit traffic about 10 miles from Anaheim for at least 30 minutes. We arrived at our hotel 6.5 hours after leaving home. We left at 9:00 AM. We took 101 to 152 to I-5. I hear 101 is wonderful all the way, but we wanted to get there as quickly as possible to enjoy the parks!

We're thinking of driving down again this summer, and maybe trying San Diego too.

 

[challada]

We just did this drive a week and a half ago...

my parents live off Highway 1 near San Fran....we go over to I-5 to go down or it would be torture to do the one lane each way the whole way down. On I-5 w/bathroom/gas breaks and LA traffic it ALWAYS takes us about 8 hours. The drive is flat and boring on I-5, but it gets you there!

 

[year2late]

I always do I-5.

Was we make it to I -5 (from 580) 6 hours with a couple 15 minute breaks sounds about right.

If you plan on getting to the LA area before 2 pm the drive through LA to Disney is not horrible.

 

[daannzzz]

Highway 101 is at least 4 lanes (two in each direction) all the way down. In some of the cities it goes up to 6-8 lanes.
Highway 1 is the coast route and is just a two lane road moast of the way.

 

[Xendancer]

We just got back today from Disney, and live in Santa Clara. We left the Hyatt on Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood, and started on 101 North, not realizing it only intersected with 5 down by Disney. We were able to cut over, and get on 405 to 5. We left at 8 AM and got back at 2:30 pm. We have two kiddos, so we like to stop for potty breaks, snacks and stretching.

The traffic in LA is horrible. Get used to people cutting you off, and randomly getting stuck in a slow crawl. It seems it is always rush hour.

 

[disneychrista]

I drive from 110 miles north of SF to Anahiem, in between 9 - 10 hours, on 5 (101 to 580 to 5).

We usually stop in Pleasonton (Starbucks right off Hopyard) and one time for gas and potty/snack, and one for lunch at the "Travel America" right before the Grapevine. I have never found a lack of places to stop on the 5.

 

[popeyeohoh]

Thanks so much for all the information. I will be driving with 2 children and 2 other adults. maybe we should leave during nap time to try and get a few hours of quiet time.

 

[IandGsmom]

We drove for the first time a couple weeks ago after camping from Yosemite area took I-5.
I liked that it was so direct and flat.
Is 101 flat also or is there lots of mountains? I dont mind that it takes longer if its prettier,more places to stop. I just worry about lots of curves and mountains with my elderly car. I would rather fly but kids and DH like driving. I doesnt matter as long as I end up at our favorite place.




Kids are finally tall enough for Indy!!

 

[CalGal]

I've taken 101 from Mountain View (40 min. south of SF) to Anaheim several times. It crosses rolling hills and passes along the coast periodically once you hit San Luis Obisbo. It's not hard on a car. If your car can make it over the grapevine on I5, it should be able to handle 101. The speed limit is 55 much of the way (rarely less). The drive is much prettier than I5, but it adds a couple of hours to the trip. Highway 1 gets very curvey and can add at least 2 more hours to the trip. Its quite lovely.

When I drive, I like to take 2 days going one way taking 101 and/or, on rare occasions, taking Hwy 1. I will often stop at a beach for a couple of hours (I like the one in Carpenteria; it's considered one of the safest beaches on the west coast) and perhaps visit or stay overnight in Solvang. With small kids, the zoo in Santa Barbara makes a nice break, or Hearst Castle with older kids. But I always take I5 the other way. It's much faster.

There are a handful of rest stops along I5. If you want a sit down meal, there aren't a lot of options. Harris Ranch is a popular stop around half way between SF and LA. It's worth a stop to visit the gift shop and take a potty break even if you prefer brown-bagging it. Another popular stop for travellers is Split Pea Andersons. (I never tire of the Pea Soup) There's one in Santa Nella, just north of Los Banos, just off I5. There's also one in Buellton, next to highway 101, 1/2 way between Santa Maria and Santa Barbara. Since both Andersons and Harris Ranch cater to the travelers, they are advertised along the route and hard to miss. Watch your gas if you are going down 5. There's almost nothing except Harris Ranch between Los Banos/Santa Nella and a place called Lost Hills. Get gassed up before Hwy 152 (Los Banos) if you are worried that you won't make it 125 miles to Lost Hills. There are many more towns and options along 101, although I avoid Santa Barbara. Very pricey gas.

Regardless of how you go, bring your patience once you near LA.
Have fun!

 

[daannzzz]

If you take I 5 from SF you will hit a few mountians going over to I 5 anf then the Grapevine.
If you take 101 you hit some rolling hills and then a short but steep upgrade and downgrade before San Luis Obispo and then a steep upgrade after Ventura which is as steep as the grapevine but not nearly as long.
The speed limit most od the way on I 5 is 70 with some 65 sections.
The speed limit on 101 is 65 with one 70 MPH section and a few 55 sections.