How bad is CA traffic? We are worried!

[Torontogal]

Hey all,

We are visiting CA in Aug. and hope to rent a car so we can tour CA. I am hearing that traffic in CA is insane, but wanted to get an idea how much driving time we should expect. We don't want to cram too much in the day and get stressed from getting from point A to B - it is a vacation after all! We are interested in driving times for the following and would like to know from you Californians how much driving time we should expect --

(1) LAX to Hollywood (on a Saturday)
(2) LAX to Santa Monica or Venice (on a Saturday)
(3) LAX to Laguna, Huntington or Newport (Sunday)
(4) LAX to Anaheim (Monday morning)
(5) Anaheim to Burbank (Monday afternoon)

Thank you so much for your help. Any tips would be so greatly appreciated since this is a 1st visit for us and we are getting stressed!

 

[Jigsaw]

im not really sure. all the times i have gone to cali was either with my parents or by bus. I went from Tucson,AZ to LA/hollywood and the most traffic I had to put up with was on the freeway in cali (not sure the exact place) but it was like an hour or so delay. But once I actually got into the area it was fine. I'm not really sure about the places you listed except for Laguna which if i remember correctly its quite a ways from LAX.


LAX to hollywood-This one should be quick. A few years ago me and my friends had a hotel that was near LAX and we bussed to hollywood and that took a lot of time but if your driving it should be fast.

Not really sure but i hope that helped

 

[StageTek]

(1) LAX to Hollywood (on a Saturday)

Figure 30 to 45 minutes. Sometimes it's faster to take surface streets. Century Blvd to Hawthorn (North) then stay left to La Brea which will take you all the way to Hollywood.

(2) LAX to Santa Monica or Venice (on a Saturday)

Figure about 30 minutes. Take Sepulveda Blvd north - turn left on Lincoln Blvd. That will take you first to Venice Blvd and then a little further to Santa Monica Blvd

(3) LAX to Laguna, Huntington or Newport (Sunday)

Figure about 45 minutes. Sunday morning maybe longer - lots of people heading to the beach on Sundays. Take the 405 south. Exit Beach Blvd for Huntington Beach - take the 55 FWY south for Newport and Laguna

(4) LAX to Anaheim (Monday morning)

This will take a long time. Figure 90 minutes but plan on 2 hours. The 405 to the 22 to the 5 can be hellish.

(5) Anaheim to Burbank (Monday afternoon)

Really hard to perdict. Leaving Anaheim between 2PM and 3PM I've done it in 45 minutes and it's taken me 3 hours. It's the 5 FWY all the way. Leave after 4 and you can bet on 2 to 3 hours.

 

[polyfan]

Disneyland-Anaheim to LAX took us 45 mins. during July 4th week. Everyone said to allow 90mins. we were way early.

 

[Torontogal]

Thanks guys - you are amazing.

Stagetek - your response really helps - thank you!

 

[Valencia Joe]

Hollywood is one of those wierd locations that there is no direct, quick access if you are coming from the west, such as you are. If you were coming from the east, then it is a totally different story. The one good thing that you have in your advantage is that you will probably be going against traffic. Most people are travelling south on the 405 or going west to the beaches. If you want a nice drive, go the 404 north and get off at Sunset/UCLA. Go east on Sunset and you'll go through the mansions of Beverly Hills and end up on the famous Sunset Strip. Just stay on Sunset and you will get to Hollywood. At Highland, just make a left and you will see the Hollywood & Highland complex further up the road on your left (that is where the Oscars are held at (or at least at the Kokak Theater which is housed at that location)). That might be a fun and scenic way for you to go to Hollywood and not be stressed out about the traffic.

 

[woody73]

I'm in L.A. As a general rule, I use Mapquest and double the time estimate.

Woody

 

[Walbern]

I'm in both L.A. and Toronto often with work and coming from Toronto you should feel right at home driving on the L.A. freeways

Wayne

 

[quadaunt]

Disneyland-Anaheim to LAX took us 45 mins. during July 4th week. Everyone said to allow 90mins. we were way early.

What time of day were you traveling? Makes all the difference in the stretch between L.A. and San Diego.

 

[kapear]

I'm in L.A. As a general rule, I use Mapquest and double the time estimate.

Woody

I'm no longer in CA but grew up there and visit regularly. I think a double of mapquest's time is a great idea.