Huntington Beach

[ladyjayhawk]

What is the best way to get to Huntington Beach from DLR? We will be leaving for it around 3-4 pm on a weekday. We want to go to the pier area to eat dinner, walk around and let the kids play in the sand. For the hourly metered parking, do you need to bring a bunch of quarters? Any suggestions for where to eat? I have read a lot of positive comments about Ruby's. We also really like Mexican or seafood. Thanks for your help!

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Hop on the 5 south to the 55 south to the 405 north.

From the 405 north exit Beach Blvd south and drive (several miles) until you reach Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). You can't miss PCH. Well if you do, you'll end up in the water.*

Turn right on PCH and drive until you reach Main St. (Not very far).

Depending on when you leave, it should take you about 30 minutes to get there from DLR.

There is a parking structure off of Main St that you should park in. Metered parking is a ripoff and the restaurants validate for the structure. You can also valet park at Dukes/Chamyos which is at the end of Main St (you'd turn left instead of right...you'll see it). They also have day parking for $7 or $10 around the beach.

Be careful when driving on PCH, and Main St, the cops love to ticket speeders and those who fail to stop at the stop signs.

Rubys is good, as is Freds Mexican Cantina and Dukes.

*If you want to drive down PCH longer than a mile Exit Brookhurst South instead of Beach Blvd. and take that to PCH. Turn right on PCH. This will give you about 3-4 miles to drive on PCH.

 

[PryncessChrysty]

Hop on the 5 south to the 55 south to the 405 north.

From the 405 north exit Beach Blvd south and drive (several miles) until you reach Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). You can't miss PCH. Well if you do, you'll end up in the water.*

Turn right on PCH and drive until you reach Main St. (Not very far).

Depending on when you leave, it should take you about 30 minutes to get there from DLR.

There is a parking structure off of Main St that you should park in. Metered parking is a ripoff and the restaurants validate for the structure. You can also valet park at Dukes/Chamyos which is at the end of Main St (you'd turn left instead of right...you'll see it). They also have day parking for $7 or $10 around the beach.

Be careful when driving on PCH, and Main St, the cops love to ticket speeders and those who fail to stop at the stop signs.

Rubys is good, as is Freds Mexican Cantina and Dukes.

*If you want to drive down PCH longer than a mile Exit Brookhurst South instead of Beach Blvd. and take that to PCH. Turn right on PCH. This will give you about 3-4 miles to drive on PCH.

Another suggestion would be to exit Warner from the 405 (it tends to be less hectic than Beach Blvd) and just take Warner straight up to PCH. Once you get to PCH from Warner, turn left and you're at Huntington. If you go down PCH just a bit you'll be at the pier (Main St.). If you turn left on Main, the parking structure that was previously suggested will be on your right.

I hope I didn't make things unnecessarily confusing!! LOL

 

[Diva of Dragons]

LOL! To add more options that drop you closer to the beach.

From 405:
**Exit at Brookhurst (south). The beach is only 3 miles from this point.

***Turn right on PCH and drive until you see the pier.

Another great alternative that takes you straight to the pier....

***Exit 405 at Euclid (will become Ellis):

***Turn right off the ramp. Keep going until you hit Beach Blvd.

***At Beach, Ellis turns into Main St. Stay on it.
It will take you right to the pier.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Both of the above suggestions are great as well. And maybe you guys are more local to HB than I am, but the last time I took either of those routes (2 weeks ago) I was stuck in major construction traffic. They are tearing up the sewers again.

 

[ladyjayhawk]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!!

 

[almostGoofy]

Okay, I live in Huntington Beach. Most of the ways that everyone has told you are fine except the hour you willl be driving you will run into rush hour traffic. I suggest taking the streets.

There are a few ways via streets but probably the easiest to explain and remember is to take Ketella Blvd. west to Magnolia Ave. Go south on Magnolia (left turn) and take it all the way down to the beach. Once you hit Pacific Coast hwy. (that's where the beach is), turn right to get to the pier. The parking lot at pier plaza will take $1.00 and $5.00 bills as well as quarter, dimes and nickles. The drive will take you 35 - 40 mins. depending on the traffic but it may be faster and less frustrating than the freeway during rush hour. Every Friday afternoon (except during special events like a surfing contest), there is a farmer's market and craft fair at the pier plaza so you might want to think about going that day.

BTW, PrincessChristy mentioned exiting the 405 fwy. off Warner and taking that all the down to the beach. It's actually Magnolia; the exit may say "Warner/ Magnolia" but you exit onto Magnolia. You would have to turn right off of Magnolia to get to Warner but Warner won't get you to the beach; Magnolia will.

Also, WatchinCaptKangaroo is right; there is sewer construction on Ellis. Stay off of it. As a matter of fact, the Ellis/Bushard intersection is completely closed. You would need to take a detour around it to get to Magnolia or Beach Blvd.

 

[Janomi]

Being a local, I agree with almostGoofy. Since you are traveling during rush hour, it is best to go using local streets. Personally leaving DLR, I would either head south on either Brookhurst or Magnolia.

When you do get there, Ruby's is always a good choice for meals. I've also found Duke's and Fred's to be decent substitutes also.

Whatever choice you take or food you eat, hope you have a great time!

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Being a local to HB and the HB area as well as recently doing regular travel on the 55 and the 5, surface streets are not the way to go. The 5 North between the 5 and the 55 is not crazy, especially between 3 and 4. The 55 south isn't crazy. The worst of it will be the 405 north. But taking surface streets can take twice as long, easily, especialy if you hit every red light like I do. Or I may just be jaded because I hit every red light. All the time.

If you can leave between 2 and 3, no later than 3:30 you will save yourself a ton of time, no matter which way you take.

There is also a ton of destruction on Newland.