LA Traffic Question

[figment_jii]

Hi - For all those that are familiar with LA traffic, I have a question. My family (three of us) will be driving down to Disneyland (via I5) on a Thursday. We're probably going to arrive in LA around 5 - 6 pm (rush hour - yikes!). I've been watching the traffic website and it looks pretty scary throughout LA. Our options look to be I5 (all the way) or the 210 (to either the 605 or 57). Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[Raindown]

The 5 can get pretty nasty through downtown. The 210 would be a few more miles, but I would keep it open as an alternative. The closer to DL you can rejoin the 5 at the better I think. Maybe even 605 to 91, but you might get hit with the 105 ending traffic. Will you have mobile web with you?

 

[figment_jii]

Unfortunately, no, I do not have mobile web.

I recall that there is an all news type radio station that gives traffic reports - but I don't remember the channel number or how often it does so - does anyone know it?

 

[Raindown]

Unfortunately, no, I do not have mobile web.

I recall that there is an all news type radio station that gives traffic reports - but I don't remember the channel number or how often it does so - does anyone know it?

KNX 1070 News Radio. Its like "on the 5s" for traffic. I have seen signs for a new 511 system but I have not used it myself.

EDIT: Just a not reception can be spotty in some areas, its AM too.

 

[sportbettor]

When we used to drive to LA we would usually take 210/57 if we hit LA during rush hour. 5 is such a mess during rush hour. Im guessing 210/605 wouldnt be too bad but you'd either have to get back on 5 or take surface streets off 605, pretty sure there's a Katella exit off SB 605. Its not that bad a drive. Ive driven from Dland to 605 on the surface streets a bunch of time.

 

[pixiewings71]

My suggestion is to have a Garmin.....our Garmin has rerouted us thru LA traffic so many times......

 

[the donut]

You can dial 511 on your cell phone for updated traffic on the go in LA. We've used it the last couple visits and both times we ended up detouring around the I5. Pretty simple to use.

Since you're with your family, I'd try to map out a route that has carpool lanes. That is not the I5, at least not until you get to the 91 I think. At rush hour, however, carpool lanes can still get jammed.

Good luck!

ETA: For any non Californians out there reading this that might use the 511 service, be sure and use a handsfree device or have someone else call. It's illegal for the driver to use a cellphone while driving otherwise. Sorry if I'm stating the obvious.

 

[blackjackdelta]

You can dial 511 on your cell phone for updated traffic on the go in LA. We've used it the last couple visits and both times we ended up detouring around the I5. Pretty simple to use.

Since you're with your family, I'd try to map out a route that has carpool lanes. That is not the I5, at least not until you get to the 91 I think. At rush hour, however, carpool lanes can still get jammed.

Good luck!

ETA: For any non Californians out there reading this that might use the 511 service, be sure and use a handsfree device or have someone else call. It's illegal for the driver to use a cellphone while driving otherwise. Sorry if I'm stating the obvious.

Actually you are not stating the obvious. Our state finally went to handsfree this June. I also noticed Ca changed their GPS law last year.

Jack

 

[lorie13]

We are annual passholders and drive the 5 to Disneyland all the time as we live up off the 5 by the 14. When traffic is bad it is best to take the 210 to the 605 as both of these freeways have car pool lanes where as the 5's car pool lane starts at the 5 / 14 but end before the 170 area and does not pick up until you are almost at Disney. Taking the 210 to the 605 is farther by distance, but may be quicker if there are accidents on the 5. If you have web access on your phone you can check sigalert.com for accidents and congestion.

Once you join back on the 5 just past the 91 (if construction is done, it could be just before the 91) is the car pool lane again. Take this and you can exit from the car pool directly to Disney.

 

[jtown]

There's a non-disney word for this situation and it applies no matter which route you take. Cracks me up when friends from outside the area ask the best way to avoid LA traffic. Don't ya think if there was some magic combination of roads we'd already be using it?

I assume you're talking about branching off the 5 at San Fernando. If so, doing the 210/605 route adds about 16 miles but dumps you back on the 5 on a stretch that's still pretty busy. 210/57 adds about 20 miles and keeps you off the 5 but you'll have to get really lucky with traffic to make up the time having added 20 miles to the trip. A somewhat more complicated route would be to take the 210 to the 2 (Glendale freeway), a short hop on the 5 to the 110, take that to the 105, head east to the 605, south to the Artesia freeway (I believe that's the 91) then south on the 5 to Disneyland. That adds about 15 miles to a straight shot down the 5.

When it's all said and done, I'd just stay on the 5. Especially if you're not familiar with the freeways down here. It may be slow but there will be traffic on every road that time of day and the chance of being able to make up the time needed to cover the extra distance is pretty slim.

 

[figment_jii]

There's a non-disney word for this situation and it applies no matter which route you take. Cracks me up when friends from outside the area ask the best way to avoid LA traffic. Don't ya think if there was some magic combination of roads we'd already be using it?

Yes, I know there is no magic combination, but there are often times better routes than others. Living in Northern California, for example, there are two routes up to SF from the South Bay, both can be busy, but one is often less busy. That's what I was trying to find out about in LA because I am not as familiar with traffic patterns.

Thank you to everyone for the information. I think we'll probably end up giving one of the non-I5 routes a try.

 

[gatorfreud]

We took 210 to 57 once coming in since 5 showed to be a mess on the traffic thing. It was very pleasant, and I'm not sure we saved any time but the drive was much prettier.

Kim

 

[bulldoggrl]

It all depends on if you would rather be driving for 90 miinutes, or sitting in traffic for 90 minutes. I don't think one is necessarily faster than the other, the 210 is pretty hairy at that time too, since that is the busier side of the 210 at that time. Really, the 5 is bad at the 60 interchange, but after that it may be slow, but isn't stop and go (barring accidents, of course). We always take the 5, and it usually turns out ok. Be patient, be careful, we're crazy drivers, and you'll get there just fine. OR, you could find a place to eat after you land in LAX, and wait it our a few hours, if you don't plan on going to the parks the first day anyway. The drive at 8 will be much better than the drive at 6.

 

[DBL101]

I think I would be more likely to take the 110 south and then take the 91 to the 5 or take the 405 to the 22, exit at Harbor and north to DL

 

[rowan1813]

I just wanted to second Raindown's suggestion about using KNX 1070. As someone who has been driving through LA constantly for the last 4 years (and my dad is a truck driver who goes through LA everyday) that is the best radio station you can get with the updates. They are very thorough about what they post and it always comes on at the "5's" (5, 15, 25, etc.) no matter what.

My suggestion to figment_jii, is to possibly get off the 5 when traffic starts getting heavy and maybe grab some dinner, if that fits in your schedule. If not, then (I know I am going to get shot for this but I have to say it) I would stay on the 5. LA freeways can be extremely tricky (especially during rush hour traffic) and trying to get from one freeway to another can be very tricky as on-ramps and off-ramps seem to pop up before you even realize you are supposed to be making a change. And there is no guarantee that another way is going to be better because accidents and Caltrans work can happen at anytime. When I started driving to San Diego, I could have taken different freeways but was way too scared that I would miss a freeway that I was supposed to take and end up in some random part of the city. At least with the 5, all you have to do is stay on it until you reach Disneyland Drive.

But this is just my opinion. Hope it helps.