Restrooms driving from Central Coast? (101 South and 5 South)

[roxy72]

Hi all,

This is a weird one, but my husband and I will drive to Disneyland in a few days. We live north of Santa Barbara along the Central Coast. Does anyone have restroom recommendations for our route, which will include taking the 101 Southbound and 5 South? I really don't know any exits after Camarillo, so if you know good exits from Camarillo to Anaheim, please let me know!

I'm a highly anxious traveler, but I get extra nervous with so many closures or new procedures due to Covid. Thank you in advance!

 

[StageTek]

How many do you need? Every 10 miles? Every 20? Less than that?

After Camarillo there's Wendy Dr. - Denny's, McDonalds and a couple of Gas Stations.
There are gas stations on the Westlake Blvd. exit.
There's a McDonalds on Kanan Rd. - you can see it from the freeway.

Once you get on the 5 there is a Denny's on the Triggs St exit.

Do you need any between there and Disney? About 20 miles?

 

[coaches24]

lots of places to stop on I-5 along the way that have bathrooms. You won’t go longer than an hour between places to stop (and probably not even that long).

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

During our lockdowns this was a real issue due to many businesses not allowing you inside to use the restroom. At this time you can stop almost anywhere and take your pick of restrooms. How clean they are is the luck of the draw as always. I just wash my hands really well and try not to touch anything on the way out!

 

[roxy72]

How many do you need? Every 10 miles? Every 20? Less than that?

After Camarillo there's Wendy Dr. - Denny's, McDonalds and a couple of Gas Stations.
There are gas stations on the Westlake Blvd. exit.
There's a McDonalds on Kanan Rd. - you can see it from the freeway.

Once you get on the 5 there is a Denny's on the Triggs St exit.

Do you need any between there and Disney? About 20 miles?

Thank you! Honestly, it's just a comfort to know that there are accessible and open places off of exits. It's super intimidating when I don't know what is where, if parking is available, how we'll get back to the highway (that is what Waze is for!) If you happen to know what's between getting on the 5 and Disney, I wouldn't object- more knowledge is better than none, but I don't want to hassle or bother anyone here.

 

[roxy72]

During our lockdowns this was a real issue due to many businesses not allowing you inside to use the restroom. At this time you can stop almost anywhere and take your pick of restrooms. How clean they are is the luck of the draw as always. I just wash my hands really well and try not to touch anything on the way out!

Thank you! Yes, some places nearby me STILL have their restrooms closed to customers such as Starbucks, Jack in the Box, etc. It was actually a problem at my wedding last week at the Santa Barbara Courthouse as my dad was sick and really had to go but everywhere was closed- the parking garage bathroom, library bathroom, and of course the Courthouse venue is still completely closed. They wouldn't even let me into the Courthouse just before our ceremony.

That's good more places are open nearby you right now, let's hope we have good luck during our drive!

 

[wideeyedwonder]

Our restroom stops going from SLO (Arroyo Grande, actually) to LA along the 101 were the rest stop at Golleta (north of SB), and the McDonalds at Casita Pass Road, just south of Carpinteria. Then anything south of Ventura is a gas station, mc Donald’s, or WalMart, as anything south of Ventura all the way almost to San Diego (Pendleton) is “city”/inhabited zone.

 

[StageTek]

If you happen to know what's between getting on the 5 and Disney, I wouldn't object- more knowledge is better than none, but I don't want to hassle or bother anyone here.

Okay...

There is another Denny's at the Slauson exit.
Another Denny's at the Imperial Hwy exit. On the corner of Pioneer.
There's a Chevron station just off the Knott exit on Artesia.
Just off Euclid exit is Anaheim Plaza. Plenty of parking and open restrooms about 5 miles from Disneyland.

That's one every five miles or so.

 

[ButterflyKisses77]

This ones an easy stop in Agoura Hills, and the entrance to get back on the freeway is right there too. Exit on Reyes Adobe Rd and turn left and there is a gas station straight ahead - they have one of the cleanest bathrooms you’ll ever see at a gas station anywhere lol
We always stop there for bathroom breaks and snacks

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I live south of Camarillo and drive the opposite way at least once a year. So...I recommend stopping at Buellton (Ave. of the Flags has several fast food stops and is easy on and off the freeway), the rest stop on the 101 south of Solvang, Ventura (exit for San Buenaventura State Beach has plenty of places to stop), Lynn Road in Thousand Oaks (the mall is right there with open bathrooms, food, and plenty of opportunities to stretch)...honestly after that my personal preference would be to just not get off the freeway because I hate L.A. roads and traffic, but if you must, Kanan Rd. in Agoura, Winnetka in Woodland Hills (there's an In N Out nearby), Balboa if you want to take a nice walk at the Sepulveda Basin...I would personally take the 134 to the 5 to avoid the worst part of driving in downtown L.A. If you go that way, you can stop safely just about anywhere until you hit Dodger Stadium/Griffith Park. After that, honestly just plan on not getting out of your car until you hit Anaheim. If you absolutely have to stop and don't have a choice at that point, the Citadel is fine to stop at safety-wise and you can definitely see it from the Freeway.

 

[mel2014]

My pandemic go to location for open restrooms is Target. They tend to be close to the freeway, clean, and they don't care if you're a customer or not. It looks like there are several along the route you're taking.

 

[wowsmom]

The Las Virgenes exit in Calabasas has a lot of options.

If you take the 134 to the 5, there's a Gelson's in Sherman Oaks off Van Nuys Blvd that has been helpful before.

 

[roxy72]

Thank you all so much, this is fantastic!! I really appreciate your time and effort responding here. We will be very well equipped for the drive to DL this week.

 

[roxy72]

Our restroom stops going from SLO (Arroyo Grande, actually) to LA along the 101 were the rest stop at Golleta (north of SB), and the McDonalds at Casita Pass Road, just south of Carpinteria. Then anything south of Ventura is a gas station, mc Donald’s, or WalMart, as anything south of Ventura all the way almost to San Diego (Pendleton) is “city”/inhabited zone.

Thank you! Yes, I'm familiar with that rest stop at Gaviota (I think you meant Gaviota, not Goleta), as well as the ones in Carpinteria. There's so much construction between Carp and Montecito nowadays, it's a mess driving through there. Anyways, thank you!

 

[roxy72]

Okay...

There is another Denny's at the Slauson exit.
Another Denny's at the Imperial Hwy exit. On the corner of Pioneer.
There's a Chevron station just off the Knott exit on Artesia.
Just off Euclid exit is Anaheim Plaza. Plenty of parking and open restrooms about 5 miles from Disneyland.

That's one every five miles or so.

Thank you so much for providing so much info- I truly appreciate it!

 

[roxy72]

This ones an easy stop in Agoura Hills, and the entrance to get back on the freeway is right there too. Exit on Reyes Adobe Rd and turn left and there is a gas station straight ahead - they have one of the cleanest bathrooms you’ll ever see at a gas station anywhere lol
We always stop there for bathroom breaks and snacks

The 76 station off Reyes Adobe Road? It gets lots of good Google reviews for being so clean. Awesome tip, thank you!

 

[roxy72]

I live south of Camarillo and drive the opposite way at least once a year. So...I recommend stopping at Buellton (Ave. of the Flags has several fast food stops and is easy on and off the freeway), the rest stop on the 101 south of Solvang, Ventura (exit for San Buenaventura State Beach has plenty of places to stop), Lynn Road in Thousand Oaks (the mall is right there with open bathrooms, food, and plenty of opportunities to stretch)...honestly after that my personal preference would be to just not get off the freeway because I hate L.A. roads and traffic, but if you must, Kanan Rd. in Agoura, Winnetka in Woodland Hills (there's an In N Out nearby), Balboa if you want to take a nice walk at the Sepulveda Basin...I would personally take the 134 to the 5 to avoid the worst part of driving in downtown L.A. If you go that way, you can stop safely just about anywhere until you hit Dodger Stadium/Griffith Park. After that, honestly just plan on not getting out of your car until you hit Anaheim. If you absolutely have to stop and don't have a choice at that point, the Citadel is fine to stop at safety-wise and you can definitely see it from the Freeway.

Thank you!! I imagine we'll just take the 101 to the 5 if that is what Waze recommends. My husband will be the one driving, heh.

I recall going to DL with my Dad back in 2009 or 2010 (my last visit was December 2010), and we stopped at some sketchy town. I think it was closer to downtown LA - maybe Downey or Commerce. It's great to have this list of cleaner/safer restrooms this time!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

LOL...Yeah, Commerce and Downey are kind of sketchy. I stopped at a Jack in the Box in that area once when I was pregnant on the way to DL and it felt like I was being buzzed in through prison security when I tried to open the door to the bathroom.

 

[wideeyedwonder]

I think you meant Gaviota, not Goleta

Yes, thanks!