Huntington Beach to LeBrea Tar Pits & Griffith Observatory

[eyeheartgoofy]

We would like to visit the Le Brea Tar Pits and Griffith Observatory. We would be driving up from Huntington Beach on a Sunday in July.

How long, realistically, would a trip like this take? Mapquest says it would take about 1 hour and 10 minutes to get to Griffith Observatory from Huntington Beach and 22 minutes to get from Griffith Observatory to Le Brea Tar Pits. But, I'm wondering what traffic would really be like. There is a 1:00pm Dodgers game that day as well ... not sure if this would make a difference? We would plan to arrive at opening for either the tar pits (opens at 9:30am) or Griffith observatory (opens at 10:00am) ... not sure which order we should do them ...

Is there anything else we should see? I was thinking of lunch around there as well.

It will likely be the only time we get to LA ... never been before.

It will be me, DH, DD9 and DD7.

Thanks!

 

[PHXscuba]

I made it from HB to the Griffith Park area in 1.5 hours last July, in weekday late-morning traffic. So I think 1 hour, 10 minutes is very likely in Sunday morning non-traffic.

Can't help you with the order -- haven't been to the tar pits in about 20 years. I suppose I'd try to see if either had any special things like a planetarium show at a certain time and work around that. If you want to eat in the observatory they have a cafe, or picnic nearby in the park.

PHXscuba

 

[perlster]

observatory first - the parking lot is small and will be probably be filled at or just after opening - you don't want to have to park on a hillside road and hike up to it

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

Thanks for the info!