LA and driving query??

[spendleb]

Hi all, bit worried about driving in LA when we visit from the UK, are there any 'areas' that we must avoid at all costs? I have a habit of map reading and seeing what appears to be a shortcut but no idea if I would be entering a dodgy area? We really want to see the LA sights but this is a big concern for us! Also we are staying in Newport Beach, is it possible to drive down the coastal route (Highway 1?) to get into LA instead of the freeways, on a map it looks like it might be an interesting drive through all the coastal resorts?

Cheers,
Simon

 

[lap3]

Well, I'm sure other locals may agree or disagree but I would probably avoid South Central LA and East LA. Unless of course you want to see these areas? If you stick to the freeways, you'll be ok. BTW, driving up and down PCH(Pacific Coast Highway or Highway 1) is really nice! Nice scenery as well as some good places to dine or just to take in some sun. As far as I know, there's no bad stretches to avoid. Are there places you're interested in seeing while you're out here? Maybe we can give you some suggestions on the best way to get there...

 

[spendleb]

Hi, thanks for that, how do you know what is classed as South Central or East LA? Hope that's not a stupid question!

We really want to see Manns Theatre, Beverly Hills, the Hollywood sign, Griffin Observatory etc plus any other suggestions! We have a 3 year old so can't spend too much time on sight seeing but really want to do as much as we can!

 

[lap3]

South Central, in general, is an area bounded between the 110, 91, 105, and the 10 freeways. This includes areas like Watts, Crenshaw, Compton, Vernon... East LA is near the interchange of the 10, 60, and 5 freeways. With the areas you want to visit, you won't be anywhere near these places.

 

[missmulan]

usually you can tell that you're not in a very good neighborhood by the looks of the neighborhood itself....kind of rundown with grafitti, trash, cars parked outside that are non-operational (on bricks). of course crime happens everywhere, especially if someone else has the road rage. just use your common sense and street smarts.

 

[almostGoofy]

Also we are staying in Newport Beach, is it possible to drive down the coastal route (Highway 1?) to get into LA instead of the freeways, on a map it looks like it might be an interesting drive through all the coastal resorts?

Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1), aka PCH, is not all costal. PCH in Long Beach will take you in land a bit and through some not so great areas of Long Beach although not nearly as bad as South Central. My advice to you as an out-of-towner is to stick to the freeways. There are strecthes of the 405 fwy and the 10 fwy that you would be traveling through between Newport Beach and Los Angeles that are a bit dicey if you were to exit the highway. There are plenty of areas that are quite safe but you can't look on a map and find East L.A. or South Central written on it so how would you know where it's safe and where it's not? Both those areas cover large parts of the city and are general areas that locals are aware of but are not well defined areas on a map. Lap 3 gave you a good idea where these areas are but they actually extend beyond those freeways.

I know it's tempting to take a short cut when traffic is bad but better to be safe than sorry. Just avoid rush hour and use the car pool lanes when traffic gets congested.

 

[tiggerlady]

Hi myself & Dh have just booked to go to California with Virgin the trip starts off with Newport, have you per chance booked the same or are u doing it independantly?
I must admit I am worried about driving from LAX to Newport beach as Dh still gets lost in Orlando and we have been 8 times,hope we fare better in LA.

 

[scroot]

I lived in L.A. for three years and visit often. Once I drove the PCH from Dana Point to Huntington Beach and was shocked at how long it took to do that. It was fun but there are lots and lots of stop lights. In general PCH is good for sight seeing but not good for getting anywhere quick.

Also, I would second the notion of staying on the freeway to avoid trouble spots. The freeways are also the best way to get anywhere even when they are busy.

Next, I think the J. Paul Getty museum is a must see. Just of the 405 in L.A. A world class collection and very inexpensive ($7) to park and no admission charge.

Lastly, if you are not used to it, driving in So Cal is an adventure. My advice is plan your routes, be prepared for anything (long delays can happen when you least expect them sometimes for no apparent reason), look at it as part of the total California experience.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[JulienK]

Lived all of my 41 years in Long Beach. Driven all over LA for work and sight seeing. It is not as bad as you may think. As long as you don't intend to drive around in the middle of the night in areas not intended for sight seeing, you'll be fine. I've run into more trouble with rude behavior at the theme parks than with safety while traveling. All the sites you've mentioned are very close to freeway offramps and most have direction signs for you to follow. Parts of Anaheim can look run down, and you'll see plenty of graffiti in all areas, (sad but true). Hope I put some of your fears to rest. Enjoy your visit!

 

[spendleb]

Thanks Julien, must admit I was starting to get slightly concerned about our vacation and not wanting to go anywhere other than the parks and the coast!