Need driving/traffic advice/assistance (from N CA)

[maberlyne]

Yay, it's our trip this weekend! We're so excited, but we gotta get there first, lol! This is the first time we'll be driving by ourselves, and we don't exactly want to get lost!

We plan on just taking 99S to I-5N all the way down. Are there any tricky maneuvers we need to be aware of? I seem to remember once we got into the LA area doing something. Just generally follow the Santa Ana signs? LA freeways are scary!!

2nd question - we plan on going to the park for part of the day Monday, then driving back home. What would be a good/bad time to leave, depending on traffic? We don't want to get caught up in hours of traffic on the way home, and if it would mean leaving the parks a little earlier, I guess we'd do that.

Thank you in advance for all your help! Mapquest just kinda freaks me out - we have about a 5 hour trip, and all it says it 99 to I 5 to Harbor, lol!!

Oh, one more question! Mapquest is recommending drive 99 for about 3 hours (we're coming from Central CA, Modesto area), then cut over to I-5. With family, we've always cut over in the Merced area where there's a turn off for 5. Any advice on that respect? I'm curious what the difference is (if any). We'll probably be leaving about 3:30, 4 AM Sat (yikes!) if that matters any.

Phew, I think that's all now!

 

[nurse.darcy]

I don't really think it matters time-wise whether you cut over in Merced or whether you take 99 till it merges near the grapevine. But that depends on when you think you might hit Fresno. Fresno can bet a bit dicey traffic-wise during morning rush hour on the I-5, the 99 seems to be a bit better through there. My best estimate is that I would stay on the 99 till the merge just before the grapevine. Its a boring road trip but definitely doable. After the grapevine you just stay on the 5 all the way. The freeway through Los Angeles (once you pass the San Fernando Valley) can get a little hairy. Just watch the roadsigns carefully. I used to live near Fresno and make this jaunt once a month. When leaving the park to go home, keep in mind that the 5 is always horrible traffic-wise but that from 3 to 7 it is the WORST. Once you are out of the San Fernando Valley you should be fine.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Yay, it's our trip this weekend! We're so excited, but we gotta get there first, lol! This is the first time we'll be driving by ourselves, and we don't exactly want to get lost!

We plan on just taking 99S to I-5N all the way down. Are there any tricky maneuvers we need to be aware of? I seem to remember once we got into the LA area doing something. Just generally follow the Santa Ana signs? LA freeways are scary!!

2nd question - we plan on going to the park for part of the day Monday, then driving back home. What would be a good/bad time to leave, depending on traffic? We don't want to get caught up in hours of traffic on the way home, and if it would mean leaving the parks a little earlier, I guess we'd do that.

Thank you in advance for all your help! Mapquest just kinda freaks me out - we have about a 5 hour trip, and all it says it 99 to I 5 to Harbor, lol!!

Oh, one more question! Mapquest is recommending drive 99 for about 3 hours (we're coming from Central CA, Modesto area), then cut over to I-5. With family, we've always cut over in the Merced area where there's a turn off for 5. Any advice on that respect? I'm curious what the difference is (if any). We'll probably be leaving about 3:30, 4 AM Sat (yikes!) if that matters any.

Phew, I think that's all now!

I live in Merced Mayberline and I do the trip all the time...you dont have any worries at all about traffic...if your leaving at 3:30 or 4AM???? no worries at all....yes, you are right about the tricky part...when you get to the 5 in LA you are dealing with Golden State Fwy...once you get into LA it turns into Santa Ana fwy...as long as whoever is driving keeps their attention on the road once on the GSF then you will be fine...because it doesn make you change lanes a few times to get to the santa ana fwy...Im usually good until about Commerce, then the traffic starts up but again, you shouldnt have a problem....however, one question....you live in Modesto? why do you come all the way through Merced...if you come down to turlock area...and get off on the Main St exit to patterson and go straight through Patterson, it takes you right to the 5..I always take that route to go to SF...I can give you exact directions to it if you'd like...just pm me

also in regards to leaving the park to get home...being as it is a weekday and a monday at that...your looking at serious backup traffic from about 3pm till about 7pm...those are not good times to leave..so you either need leave before 2:30 or after 7....doesnt really leave you alot of time at the park though

 

[luvmy3sons]

I'm from Modesto too! We just take 99 until it merges with 5. Traffic isn't bad. When we come home, we leave DL between twelve and one. There is always some kind of traffic in LA. Have a fun trip!

 

[Lisa345]

We come from Sacramento on I-5, so I am not familiar with the 99/5 thing, but the thing that always kills me is the terrible traffic you hit around Castaic!! From that point on it is bumper to bumper and takes about 3 hours to get to DL. We have yet to discover a way around that traffic. Maybe since you are leaving at the crack of dawn you will avoid that. I couldn't get up that early and drive for 8 hours.............

 

[wendypooh22]

We come from Sacramento on I-5, so I am not familiar with the 99/5 thing, but the thing that always kills me is the terrible traffic you hit around Castaic!! From that point on it is bumper to bumper and takes about 3 hours to get to DL. We have yet to discover a way around that traffic. Maybe since you are leaving at the crack of dawn you will avoid that. I couldn't get up that early and drive for 8 hours.............

Early morning traffic from Santa Clarita to the Valley/Downtown is HORRIBLE!!!!!!! I drive in it every morning and wish there was another way around, but nope, nothing, nada, zip!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

We come from Sacramento on I-5, so I am not familiar with the 99/5 thing, but the thing that always kills me is the terrible traffic you hit around Castaic!! From that point on it is bumper to bumper and takes about 3 hours to get to DL. We have yet to discover a way around that traffic. Maybe since you are leaving at the crack of dawn you will avoid that. I couldn't get up that early and drive for 8 hours.............

how weird is that...Ive gone all different times of the month and all different times of the day and the only time Ive ever experienced traffic in that area is when I went down the day before thanksgiving and christmas...man I guess the magic is with me

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

From Sacramento we always take I-5 all the way down. I would stay away from 99 only because it has a slower speed limit and the highway isn't as large (lanes wise). We always try to leave as early as possible when coming home, we still hit traffic in LA but I think there is always traffic in LA.

 

[maberlyne]

Wow, thank you so much for all the advice! DIS'ers are such nice people! How funny to find other Modesto area people!

I feel better about going there, now! Somehow my bf and I still manage to get lost, even when I'm pointing "That one! That one!"... and he'll miss it! LOL!! So I'll have to give him LOTS of warning!

Disneegrl - thanks for the advice about the alternate route through. Actually, we'll be leaving from my bf's in Livingston, but even when we leave from Modesto we just go down 99 to the 5. I dunno! I'll have to ask my bf about the Patterson way, he's more knowledgeable about Turlock than I am!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Wow, thank you so much for all the advice! DIS'ers are such nice people! How funny to find other Modesto area people!

I feel better about going there, now! Somehow my bf and I still manage to get lost, even when I'm pointing "That one! That one!"... and he'll miss it! LOL!! So I'll have to give him LOTS of warning!

Disneegrl - thanks for the advice about the alternate route through. Actually, we'll be leaving from my bf's in Livingston, but even when we leave from Modesto we just go down 99 to the 5. I dunno! I'll have to ask my bf about the Patterson way, he's more knowledgeable about Turlock than I am!

yeah patterson is a straight through shot down to the 5...you go down to sperry and make a right and it takes you right to the 5...even being in Livingston its closer for you to go through Patterson...at least you will be on the 5 alllllllllllll the way...

 

[ACDSNY]

I agree I-5 is usually faster for us. We've left DL at 8pm and had minimal traffic in LA and we're home in good time.