NorCal to Disney Route

[aliza]

I'm leaving next Friday mid morning from San Francisco. I've driven before and faced the never ending traffic from Valencia all the way into Anaheim.

Is there a better route? I was looking at googlemaps but I don't know if it's worth leaving the 5.

Any tips, tricks or advice?

-Aliza

 

[samkj]

Is there anyway to leave earlier, so you can arrive in Anaheim before 3pm? (preferably before 2!!) Or else leave midafternoon to arrive after 7:30-8pm? We drive from Sacramento and leave at 6am and don't have any problems. We've also left at 3pm and arrived after Friday night traffic, again with no problems.

Good luck! I hope someone has a better alswer for you!

 

[aliza]

We are leaving at 10ish in the morning because my BFF has to go to class that morning. And we really want some park time that evening.

Disneyland is worth a little bit of traffic, but I would rather be there sooner.

-Aliza

Is there anyway to leave earlier, so you can arrive in Anaheim before 3pm? (preferably before 2!!) Or else leave midafternoon to arrive after 7:30-8pm? We drive from Sacramento and leave at 6am and don't have any problems. We've also left at 3pm and arrived after Friday night traffic, again with no problems.

Good luck! I hope someone has a better alswer for you!

 

[Mugglemama]

we've taken the 101 down to anaheim from your area many times...you just catch the 126 in ventura, and then the 5 from there. it's a much nicer drive, IMO. it seems safer to me, too. i've probably been nearly killed on the road more times on the 5 than anywhere else....lots of people dangerously weaving in and out of traffic, and poor road conditions in places (the last time we drove it there were sections where you couldn't even see the line that divides the lanes...). i think taking the 101 might add an hour to your drive, but again, it's a nicer driver.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

You pretty much have to go the 5! Have the car all gassed up, car packed, snacks...try not to drink too much that morning and GO!!!

If you are on the road at 10...ON the road driving by 10:15 you should be there by 4-5ish! Should not be toooo bad yet! Try hard not to stop much at all...just CRUISE!!

 

[PinkBudgie]

We are north of SF and have to go through Oakland, but we head on over to 5 and stay there. Taking 5 all the way down is the best way to go. Be sure to use the rest stop at Tejon ( I think that is the one) before the grapevine because it is the last one before getting into city traffic. However, on the way back up I believe that one is closed on the other side but there is a travel center. Also we always get gas around Buttonwillow going down. There is a sign for a place called Taste of India and that exit has a few gas stations and a travel center. On the way back we like to stop at Pea Soup Andersons.

 

[aliza]

Love, Love, Love Pea Soup Anderson's. It's part of the Disneyland Experience to me and I always miss it when I fly.

-Aliza

We are north of SF and have to go through Oakland, but we head on over to 5 and stay there. Taking 5 all the way down is the best way to go. Be sure to use the rest stop at Tejon ( I think that is the one) before the grapevine because it is the last one before getting into city traffic. However, on the way back up I believe that one is closed on the other side but there is a travel center. Also we always get gas around Buttonwillow going down. There is a sign for a place called Taste of India and that exit has a few gas stations and a travel center. On the way back we like to stop at Pea Soup Andersons.

 

[Leofoenget]

I'm leaving next Friday mid morning from San Francisco. I've driven before and faced the never ending traffic from Valencia all the way into Anaheim.

Is there a better route? I was looking at googlemaps but I don't know if it's worth leaving the 5.

Any tips, tricks or advice?

-Aliza

Could you leave the night before and stay half way? I live in San Jose and often I drive as far as Buttonwillow, stay over, and drive into Anaheim about noon. By doing this, I avoid all the commute traffic

 

[Mugglemama]

Could you leave the night before and stay half way? I live in San Jose and often I drive as far as Buttonwillow, stay over, and drive into Anaheim about noon. By doing this, I avoid all the commute traffic

that's a good suggestion...i used to commute from ojai to el segundo every day, and if you hit valencia before 6, you're good to go. (granted, i only took the 5 to the 405, not all the way to anaheim, but i can say that section was always fast moving for me).

 

[Leofoenget]

that's a good suggestion...i used to commute from ojai to el segundo every day, and if you hit valencia before 6, you're good to go. (granted, i only took the 5 to the 405, not all the way to anaheim, but i can say that section was always fast moving for me).

I usually crash about 11pm at the motel 6. From there it's really only about 2.5 hours into Anaheim. Pending the grapevine being closed or something, it's pretty fast

 

[bumbershoot]

Whatever you do, make a plan and stick to it.

We were heading out of Aptos and going to Anaheim. We were planning on taking 5 (I cannot say "the 5"...that is something that wasn't being done when I lived in San Jose and was learning to drive, and I just can't do it!), but for whatever reason I turned off to 101.

And somehow, that, with 2 restroom stops and one stop at the Buellton Andersen's caused our drive to take THIRTEEN hours. I have NO idea how! There was some slowing down past Santa Barbara (hardly minded, gorgeous!) and just before Anaheim, but not 13 hours worth.

We left at 7am. We were *exhausted* when we pulled into PPH. Especially b/c my dad, a former bus driver (when Greyhound was union and good) and avid driver told us repeatedly that 5 and 101 would take about the same amount of time, around 7 hours. AUGHHHHHHH.

 

[Mugglemama]

We were heading out of Aptos and going to Anaheim. We were planning on taking 5 (I cannot say "the 5"...that is something that wasn't being done when I lived in San Jose and was learning to drive, and I just can't do it!), but for whatever reason I turned off to 101.

And somehow, that, with 2 restroom stops and one stop at the Buellton Andersen's caused our drive to take THIRTEEN hours. I have NO idea how! .

that's awful. the distance between aptos and anaheim taking the 101 to the 5 past valencia (if that is the route you took) is 370 miles (according to mapquest). at 13 hours total drive time, that put you at approximately 28 miles per hour.

in april, we had to travel to my dad's funeral in ventura. my brother wanted to take us a different route and we were following him, so we ended up on Highway 1 (not the 101). and that took us something crazy like 12 hours. beautiful drive, through big sir and all, but still, much longer than we had anticipated (because we are used to the 101).

 

[Leofoenget]

Unless THE 5 (sorry couldn't help it) is snowed in, if you want speed drive I-5. I had to laugh, I'm in san jose and we never put the "THE" in front of freeways, but last June I was in LA with my BFF and put the THE in front of a freeway. She said "could you please stop doing that it's annoying" Why does LA do that?

My DH is from the mid west, and he always calls soda POP.

now that's a debate for another thread

 

[LavenderPeach]

If you are on the road at 10...ON the road driving by 10:15 you should be there by 4-5ish! Should not be toooo bad yet! Try hard not to stop much at all...just CRUISE!!

Actually, traffic could already be pretty bad by 4-5. I drive into orange county twice a week and traffic starts to get bad at 3 (or even 2!). That's a different freeway but I imagine the earlier traffic is everywhere and not just the freeway I take.

Whatever you do, make a plan and stick to it.

We were heading out of Aptos and going to Anaheim. We were planning on taking 5 (I cannot say "the 5"...that is something that wasn't being done when I lived in San Jose and was learning to drive, and I just can't do it!), but for whatever reason I turned off to 101.

And somehow, that, with 2 restroom stops and one stop at the Buellton Andersen's caused our drive to take THIRTEEN hours. I have NO idea how! There was some slowing down past Santa Barbara (hardly minded, gorgeous!) and just before Anaheim, but not 13 hours worth.

We left at 7am. We were *exhausted* when we pulled into PPH. Especially b/c my dad, a former bus driver (when Greyhound was union and good) and avid driver told us repeatedly that 5 and 101 would take about the same amount of time, around 7 hours. AUGHHHHHHH.

Yikes! That's terrible for your trip to be so much longer than you thought it would be. It usually takes us 8 hours on the 5 to go up north and 10 hours on the 101. I love taking the 101 but we almost always take the 5 because it goes so much faster.

Unless THE 5 (sorry couldn't help it) is snowed in, if you want speed drive I-5. I had to laugh, I'm in san jose and we never put the "THE" in front of freeways, but last June I was in LA with my BFF and put the THE in front of a freeway. She said "could you please stop doing that it's annoying" Why does LA do that?

My DH is from the mid west, and he always calls soda POP.

now that's a debate for another thread

I don't know why people in SoCal put THE in front of all the freeways either but I've lived here for about 13 years now and it's just the way the lingo is so that's what I do too.

My parents are from Washington and they say pop. I would always have to correct them when I was younger as this was quite embarrassing to a teenager.

 

[samkj]

We are leaving at 10ish in the morning because my BFF has to go to class that morning. And we really want some park time that evening.

Disneyland is worth a little bit of traffic, but I would rather be there sooner.

-Aliza

I agree, DL is worth some traffic! Here is another link with some ideas...


http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?t=136327&highlight=route

 

[aliza]

Thanks, helpful.

I agree, DL is worth some traffic! Here is another link with some ideas...

 

[blackjackdelta]

When we leave Redding on our 2nd leg of our drive, we get into Anaheim about 1430 if there are no delays on the Valencia on down to Anaheim drive. Just keep up with the flow.

Jack

 

[gethane]

This has been an incredibly helpful discussion since this will be our first drive down from NorCal too. We were afraid to do it with our 4 and 6 year old (3 and 5) last year but after a drive to Seattle and back in October and Nebraska and back at Xmas, I'm sure we can make an easy drive (comparably) to Disneyland. After reading, I'm committed to get on the freeway no later than 7 am.

As a transplant from Nebraska (18 months ago) I have been struggling to say soda and freeway instead of pop and interstate.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

I guess the point is you have no major options unless your BFF can get out of class! Come on leave little earlier the Prof will understand! !!!

I would vote 100% against going 101. I say go the 5! Oh and I DID say THE...born and raised in the bay, NEVER in SoCal, but I still add THE! Kinda like going on THE freeway! HA HA!

 

[LavenderPeach]

This has been an incredibly helpful discussion since this will be our first drive down from NorCal too. We were afraid to do it with our 4 and 6 year old (3 and 5) last year but after a drive to Seattle and back in October and Nebraska and back at Xmas, I'm sure we can make an easy drive (comparably) to Disneyland. After reading, I'm committed to get on the freeway no later than 7 am.
As a transplant from Nebraska (18 months ago) I have been struggling to say soda and freeway instead of pop and interstate.

Yes, we always try to leave as early as we can manage. Before DS was around we would leave at 4:30 or 5 but now it's more like 6am. Not only does this help avoid traffic but to me it makes the trip seem like it goes faster. Not sure why. Maybe because if I arrive early to my destination then i still have the whole rest of the day but if i get there late then i feel like i spent the whole day traveling.

Oh and good job transitioning to the new lingo!

I guess the point is you have no major options unless your BFF can get out of class! Come on leave little earlier the Prof will understand! !!!

I would vote 100% against going 101. I say go the 5! Oh and I DID say THE...born and raised in the bay, NEVER in SoCal, but I still add THE! Kinda like going on THE freeway! HA HA!

I grew up in Santa Rosa (north of SF) and since there is really only one freeway going through there (the 101), we just called it "the freeway". No need to specify what number. I remember being so confused by directions when we first moved down here. People would say something like "just take the 5N to the 710E to the 57N to the 91E to the 55N to the 110W". It was like a foreign language.