Need driving directions from AZ to DL

[schlepsnort]

Our family just relocated to the East Valley of Phoenix in September of 2010, woohoo for warm winters! Anyways, we are planning our first trip to Disneyland for our son's 9th birthday in June. We are leaving in the afternoon on June 11th and plan to drive.
I thought I had heard that Hoover Dam is under construction or that there's a new route that is faster?
Can anyone share with me a good route to get to DL? And about how long it took you to get from Phoenix to Anaheim?
I'll be driving and well lets just say, this momma has a lead foot.

Also any suggestions on discounted tickets? I'm still waiting to see what ticket deals come out now that the 3 day/$169 ticket deal is about to expire. We will need to get 2 adult tickets and 3 children's tickets.

I'm usually already done planning when we've done Disneyworld but feel way behind right now since Disneyland is new territory for us.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Purplegal]

Hello! We are in the West Valley in Goodyear AZ, and I think going through Hoover Dam is way out of the way...we always just take the I-10 all the way to CA...then its to I-5 or something like that. (mapquest is your friend! LOL)
For us it only takes about 5 hours since we are way west...actually once we drove home LATE at night straight thru and it only took 4 1/2! (But DH also has a lead foot)

 

[pose2pose]

Unless you're planning to go to Vegas, you don't go anywhere near the Hoover Dam. We live in East Mesa, and the trip to Anaheim is a breeze (6 hour drive with a non-lead foot, even with 4 kids in tow).

The easiest way to find driving directions is to use Expedia, Mapquest, Google Streets, etc. But basically you're gonna get on the 10 freeway and head West. You're on that for most of the drive. Once you get closer to LA/Riverside, you'll have to navigate a couple freeways (60? 57?) but it's a very straight-forward drive.

 

[schlepsnort]

Thanks! Don't know why I thought we'd be going by the Dam. I drove to Vegas 11 yrs ago and I think that's why it stuck in my head.

 

[PHXscuba]

The drive from the Phoenix area is boring but easy. Between family and Disney, we do it at least twice a year.

Tips:
1.Check which rest stops west of Phoenix are actually open. They seem to keep changing with funds/renovations.
2. Eat in Blythe or Quartzite.
3. If you need to add gasoline, get it before you get to CA or you will pay much more.
4. The stretch of I-10 between Blythe and Indio is the most boring part. We try to put in a DVD for the kids. One you get past Indio there's much more to look at -- windmills, dinosaurs, more mountains and cities.
5. With all the road construction, we usually hit more traffic leaving Phoenix than getting into the LA area. If you are traveling on a Saturday it won't be as bad.

Enjoy your trip. We'll be in CA over 4th of July if I get my act together!

PHXscuba

 

[disneyfaninaz]

As previously stated, make sure you check mapquest or google for exact directions. Here's the route that we've been taking for years.

Get to the I-10 going west. We stop in Quartzsite at the Micky D's for a pit stop and a quick snack (about 2 hours from home). Next we stop at the Costco in Palm Desert and get gas and lunch (about 2 hours from Quartzsite). In Banning, take CA 60 West to Riverside. In Riverside, look for CA 91 West and take the exit. After that you can cut over to I-5, but we stay on the 91 and get off at Harbor Blvd, turn left and drive through Anaheim towards Disneyland. As previously said, 6 hours door to door.

 

[Markie Mouse]

I live in Tempe, so I have to jump on the 60 west which merges into the I-10. You take the I-10(remember to stay on the I-10 around Beaumont/Moreno Valley) for 325 miles then merge onto the I-215 S(I think it says riverside or beach cities). That turns into the CA-91W. Take that for about 30 min till exit 31 merge onto the CA-57S(Santa Ana I think). Then it depends on which hotel you are staying at because you either get off on Ball or Katella and take that to Disneyland Way, Harbor, or where ever you are staying. I think mileage wise it's 4 miles longer than Disneyfaninaz's routes but taking the I-10 all the way instead of the 60 to Moreno, to me, is an easier drive because its all highway and the 60 is a lot of mountain curves and hill climbs or descents. Have fun, we are leaving in Sept. to get away from our summer heat for a little bit.

 

[christine*]

The drive from the Phoenix area is boring but easy. Between family and Disney, we do it at least twice a year.

Tips:
1.Check which rest stops west of Phoenix are actually open. They seem to keep changing with funds/renovations.
2. Eat in Blythe or Quartzite.
3. If you need to add gasoline, get it before you get to CA or you will pay much more.
4. The stretch of I-10 between Blythe and Indio is the most boring part. We try to put in a DVD for the kids. One you get past Indio there's much more to look at -- windmills, dinosaurs, more mountains and cities.
5. With all the road construction, we usually hit more traffic leaving Phoenix than getting into the LA area. If you are traveling on a Saturday it won't be as bad.

Enjoy your trip. We'll be in CA over 4th of July if I get my act together!

PHXscuba

That is the most important step. The last stop in Arizona for gas is the Flying J in Ehernberg, AZ. Its a .40 cent increase if you do not get gas from there on. If you are driving from Phoenix you should be able to make it there with gas to spare. Fill up even if you are not empty, it will be worth it.

Usually we don't leave Disney for much when we go, so the next time you fill up should be around the time you are coming home. Usually stop in Cabazon on the way back, but I will have to try the Costco in Desert Springs my next trip.

And we are leaving in 5 days! Yay!

 

[LisainCalifornia]

www.mapquest.com

 

[Peri]

All your questions answered here already, but to confirm, and assuage fears - yes 6 hours DOOR TO DOOR to the resort from east Gilbert. We go two or three times a year.

I dont think the drive is boring. The drive to VEGAS (6 hours the "other" way) is boring! LOL.

I always stop at the same chevron station in Indio and then eat lunch somewhere near palm springs - still only 6 hours. So it is 6 hours with a stop. We drive 2 to 4 adults and two small kids.

You will love how close it is! And faster than flying with parking, security, being at airport early, not having car in Anaheim, etc.

 

[Midnightred]

Great thread! I'll have to write all of these tips down because we are driving from Alpine, TX where we live, to Bisbee, AZ where we will spend 2 nights. From there, we will be driving to Disneyland. I am super excited! Has anyone had issues when driving through the hot desert in the summer?

Cheyenne
DLR July 2011

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Great thread! I'll have to write all of these tips down because we are driving from Alpine, TX where we live, to Bisbee, AZ where we will spend 2 nights. From there, we will be driving to Disneyland. I am super excited! Has anyone had issues when driving through the hot desert in the summer?

Cheyenne
DLR July 2011

Depending on the age of your car, make sure you have at least a gallon of water with you for drinking if you get stranded or your radiator if it overheats. Otherwise, if you have A/C in your car, close the windows and enjoy the drive.

 

[VandVsmama]

Like everybody else said, definitely go to Mapquest or Google Maps.

to the person who mentioned travelling from Bisbee -
If you're coming from Bisbee, you have 2 options to get to Anaheim:

• Take I-10 to I-8 just south of Casa Grande. Continue on I-8 until you hit I-15 in San Diego area, then follow mapquest directions from there.
• Take I-10 all the way through Phoenix to CA.
• Take I-10 to I-8 and then use the "Phoenix Bypass" route in Gila Bend to connect up to I-10. This is sometimes handy if you're going to hit Phoenix traffic at rush hour.

I live in Marana, AZ, so we've used all 3 of these routes at various times to get to Southern CA.

BTW, the above suggestions to use I-8 only make sense if you're starting out from southern AZ. If you're in the Phoenix area, then the most logical choice is to take I-10 the whole way.

According to mapquest, from my house to Disneyland would take just under 7 hours via I-10 and 7 hours, 15 min by going the I-8 route.

 

[BlueBayou]

Get to the I-10 going west. We stop in Quartzsite at the Micky D's for a pit stop and a quick snack (about 2 hours from home). Next we stop at the Costco in Palm Desert and get gas and lunch (about 2 hours from Quartzsite). In Banning, take CA 60 West to Riverside. In Riverside, look for CA 91 West and take the exit. After that you can cut over to I-5, but we stay on the 91 and get off at Harbor Blvd, turn left and drive through Anaheim towards Disneyland. As previously said, 6 hours door to door.

This is the way we go too. But we NEVER seem to make it in 6 hours - unless we drive at night when the kids are asleep. But it has never taken more than 7.