Ronald Reagan library from DL?

[focusondisney]

We're coming to DL in September for 8 nights. We were thinking about taking 1 of the Greyline tours to Long Beach one day. But I just saw a segment on the Ellen show at the Ronald Reagan presidential library. I really think we'd enjoy that quite a bit more. Looking for input from locals: how easy do you think it would be to get there for a day? I guess we'd rent a car for the day, unless anyone has another suggestion. We're not used to LA type traffic. We'll book a private town car for our airport transfers. Would that be an option for this day trip? Or is that too far/costly for a town car service? Thanks for any input!

 

[undertheradar]

Perhaps you could combine the Reagan with a visit to Pasadena or Burbank. Besides the Reagan, there is not much to do in Simi Valley. Depending upon traffic, drive time could be anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours each way. Just depends upon SoCal traffic.

 

[SMD]

Perhaps you could combine the Reagan with a visit to Pasadena or Burbank. Besides the Reagan, there is not much to do in Simi Valley. Depending upon traffic, drive time could be anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours each way. Just depends upon SoCal traffic.

I'd love to know what route you'd take to travel 70+ miles in 45 minutes. It's more like just under 2 hours in minimal traffic.

 

[scrapshappen]

Not a local, but we went to the Reagan Library on our trip this past April. My husband and I loved it because it was reliving our childhood (and we are both history buffs and I was a poli sci major). Our kids didn't like it as much as we did but they didn't hate it either. They did like the Air Force One exhibit and the Classic Cars that are on exhibit there right now. It probably took us 3 hours to do everything, but we stood in line for AF One for about 30 minutes.

As far as how far it is away, it is nearly 75 miles (closer than San Diego which is 90 miles the other way) so I can't imagine it taking less than 90 minutes to get there even without traffic which would be a pixie-dust-type experience in the LA area. It took us about 2 hours to get from the library to Anaheim on a Saturday evening.

 

[Luckymommatoo]

Yes, I agree that I'd plan for two hours in transit, unless you're driving after 8 p.m., then you may be able to shave 15 minutes off. If you're leaving from Anaheim on a weekday morning, I wouldn't be surprised if it took quite a bit more than two hours.

The RR library is lovely. Beautiful setting and nice exhibits. My kids are 9 and 11, and they are usually pretty good about tolerating it, but definitely wouldn't pick it as a first choice.

 

[sheetz]

I know it's not the same but maybe you could do the Nixon Library instead? It's a heck of a lot closer.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Reagan Library is about a 70-90 minute drive with normal traffic (not during rush hour). Definitely rent a car. The traffic is bad, but it would be too costly to take a taxi. The Reagan Library only takes a few hours to explore. The rest of the area is pretty boring. I know this because I live in the same town and have lived there most of my life. So, if you're good driving up in traffic just to see Air Force One, Reagan's grave, a small piece of the Berlin wall, and whatever they've got going on in the museum area currently, I say go for it. But if you want to do something else while in the same area, there's really not a lot there aside from a mall that's mostly empty and Strathern, which is a small historical park.

 

[focusondisney]

Thanks for all the answers! It's only my DH & I, so no worries about bored kids. We don't mind driving a few hours each way, as long as it's not a confusing route. We would really want to see Air Force 1 & the Oval Office mock up, so not interested in the Nixon library at all. I'm thinking to go on Saturday or Sunday for better traffic & to avoid the weekend crowds at DL. Is that a good plan? Maybe leave at about 8:30 - 9 am, getting there 10:30- 11. Few hours to browse & have lunch; head back around 3.

 

[mr.bungle]

I know a good dive bar in simi. Actually, across the road from the library is a laser tag place. It's fun. Expect an hour to hour and a half from Disney to simi via the 118. I love four miles from the library.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

That sounds like a good plan. It's an easy route. Just take the 5 to the 118. Exit Madera Rd. and make a right. Head straight down until you make a right on Presidential Dr. Easy.

 

[mr.bungle]

That sounds like a good plan. It's an easy route. Just take the 5 to the 118 to the 23. Exit Olson Road, make a left. Eventually you'll see signs for another left for the library, which sits on top of a hill. Only hard part is the traffic.

I would say exit Madera and take that to Olsen (turns into Olsen). Plus, if you need fuel you can stop at the Costco there to fill up. But I would hop on the freeway at Olsen to head back. Maybe I'm just weird?

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I would say exit Madera and take that to Olsen (turns into Olsen). Plus, if you need fuel you can stop at the Costco there to fill up. But I would hop on the freeway at Olsen to head back. Maybe I'm just weird?

I actually edited right before you posted.

 

[mr.bungle]

I've lived in the area for all but three years of my life and only been to the library once, the year it opened. Should really go back.

 

[focusondisney]

I've lived in the area for all but three years of my life and only been to the library once, the year it opened. Should really go back.

LOL! We live abut 30 minutes fro Niagara Falls & never go. Funny how we often overlook things in our own areas isn't it?

 

[focusondisney]

That sounds like a good plan. It's an easy route. Just take the 5 to the 118. Exit Madera Rd. and make a right. Head straight down until you make a right on Presidential Dr. Easy.

I would say exit Madera and take that to Olsen (turns into Olsen). Plus, if you need fuel you can stop at the Costco there to fill up. But I would hop on the freeway at Olsen to head back. Maybe I'm just weird?

Thanks again for your help!

 

[scrapshappen]

If you are looking for food suggestions in the are, we ate at a yummy local bbq place very close to the Library there that was recommended by a local friend called Reds. The bread was amazing.

 

[mr.bungle]

If you are looking for food suggestions in the are, we ate at a yummy local bbq place very close to the Library there that was recommended by a local friend called Reds. The bread was amazing.

Reds is pretty good. Unfortunately it is in the middle of Simi and the library is on the far west end. The rolls are delicious. Slightly closer and similar would be Wood Ranch BBQ in Moorpark. The owner of Reds used to be partners with the founder of Wood Ranch and they had a disagreement and split. But the rolls are pretty much the same. FYI you will be within 2-3 miles of an in n out burger.

Reds:

Wood Ranch:

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Man, those rolls are making me hungry! I may have to take a trip to Reds just for the rolls tomorrow.

 

[PatMcDuck]

We visited the RR library from DL one day.

On the way back, we stopped in Burbank to visit the Disney Studios (I have access). You could possibly combine it with a stop in Hollywood, perhaps to see the Disney soda shop/el Capitan theatre, Hollywood.

The RR library was REALLY interesting and beautiful. It far exceeded my expectations. We went when there was a Disney D23 exhibit there, which was good, but the rest of the museum was better.

 

[cmash95]

we were there in january and visited both the nixon and RR libraries. I found both facinating and each had very interesting exhibits, They were both honest and very open in their historical depictions of two very different era's. the nixon library currently is in a state of flux because the archives have now taken things over so many of the exhibits are changing. It does have an exact replica of the east room in the white house where his daughter trisha was married and has the helicopter that brought him to the airport on display. It also has his childhood home as well and is only about 10 minutes or so from DL.