Sacramento to DLR

[ifer924]

My family lives in Idaho but we'll be visiting family in Sacramento before heading to DLR. We have a rental car that must be returned by 11:30 am at the latest, at DTD, we're staying at GCV. If we're late we're charged an additional day (over $100 yes I tried several coupon codes etc) who's done this drive? I'm not trusting mapquest...how much time should we plan?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My family lives in Idaho but we'll be visiting family in Sacramento before heading to DLR. We have a rental car that must be returned by 11:30 am at the latest, at DTD, we're staying at GCV. If we're late we're charged an additional day (over $100 yes I tried several coupon codes etc) who's done this drive? I'm not trusting mapquest...how much time should we plan?

I'm figuring you want to know when you need to leave Sacramento, and drop off your stuff at GCV before heading to the rental place?

I'd allow at least 8 hours (with no stops). Depending on what day of the week - traffic could take 2 hours from the north side of LA to Disneyland area. That time of the morning on the LA freeways, it can be a mess.

Although most websites say it should take 6 1/2 hours, I never found that that to be true.

 

[xjay]

It took my BF and I around 6 hours to get from Sacramento to LA. But that was because we left around 10pm

 

[Malcon10t]

It normally takes us 5.5-6 hours during the evening commute and we are an hour south of Sacramento. I'd leave Sacramento no later than 4am just to be sure you are there by 1115a.

 

[ifer924]

Thank you but that sucks. Was hoping it wasn't that far off. It will be a Tuesday does that make it better or worse? We were planning to leave at 4:30 AM and no stops but maybe the restroom. We're staying s. Sac near elk grove.

 

[ParkHopper1]

You can do 6 hours door to door with no stops and ideal conditions. If you are on a specific arrival time would leave 7 hours for a pit stop any potential traffic. I agree with the 8 hours if you have to check in and return the car.

Personally I would leave later the night before and get a cheap off site hotel...not necessarily even right at DL... sleep in a bit then return the car and start you day at DL fresh rather than getting in with no sleep from driving early in the AM.

You could find a Holiday Inn Express or something in the $100 range within 15 miles...heck...try Priceline and bid a low amount for a three star or better since you do not need a specific location.

 

[ifer924]

Totally agree on night before just don't want in-laws to think we're cutting their portion short

 

[adSimba]

What a Small World (pun intended) I used to live in Sacramento, but now I live in Idaho too, IO would say 8 hours to Anaheim during the day, and 7 at night

 

[spellhex]

I've done the Sacramento to Disneyland drive a few times always stopping at the Grapevine for refueling/food for 30 minutes or so. It takes me around 6 hours, but I also am usually on the bumblewhat nowhere portions of I-5 during rush hour. If I mistime my departure, LA traffic can add 2-3 hours onto the drive if there's an accident or construction.

You probably want at least an hour for check-in/dropping off the car, so you want to be at GCH at 10am, which means you'll be hitting LA right at rush hour. Subtract the ~7 hours from that, and a 3am departure time seems right.

I've done the overnight drives and going hard at the parks right after that, but it kills you for the rest of the trip. I'd do what others are saying and leave the night before and get a hotel room offsite. Leave at 6pm, missing all rush hour traffic, and check into an offsite hotel at midnight. Doesn't even have to be near Disneyland - you can stay an hour away from the parks and still get a nice 7 hours of sleep.

 

[Gisele]

Thank you but that sucks. Was hoping it wasn't that far off. It will be a Tuesday does that make it better or worse? We were planning to leave at 4:30 AM and no stops but maybe the restroom. We're staying s. Sac near elk grove.

Honestly, I recommend toiety and snack breaks. Otherwise, the long trip will become unpleasant. I know, because I always take said stops, and do just fine, otherwise not so much would definitely be the case. lol

 

[gottalovepluto]

I'm pretty sure there's an unwritten rule that "what can wrong will go wrong" applies extra when you're on a time crunch. This is a long haul, it just is. Give yourself extra time for peace of mind. If night driving is your thing totally consider it, but if it isn't please be careful trying to do an all-night drive.

 

[lorijohnhill]

I live in South Sac on the border of Elk Grove. I have done this drive A LOT! The drive, for me, has always ended up longer than mapquest says (unless we are traveling in the middle of the night). Traffic can mess you up every time! You want to avoid Stockton rush as well as LA rush. I have found that taking 99 to 120 over to 5 seems to cut out a bit of that mess. That has become our "go-to" route. Anyway, you can't avoid at least one stop for gas, possibly two, depending on the gas mileage the rental gets. You also have to figure in bathroom breaks if you are traveling with young children. I would figure 8 - 9 hours if traveling during the daytime and not in holiday traffic to be safe. (Holidays add a whole other can of worms to I5 traffic) If you leave late the night before and stay partway you can make it in less time.

 

[JohnTodd]

Last two times I did it, October last year and March this year, I did it in 6 hours. Now, understand... that's two stops, and a liberal relationship with speed limits. In March, driving a 4-cylinder Camry, we left at 5am and arrived before noon. Two stops, one for gas, one for coffee. Sunday morning, no traffic at all. Understand... the stretch between Stockton and the Grapevine is a good four hours of NOTHING. 70mph speed limits are the norm, and pushing to 85-90 is almost expected. If you budget 7 hours, you should be there in plenty of time.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[sasywtch]

It took us 7 hours with 2 short stops and that was leaving from downtown Sacramento which isn't too far from S.Sac/EG area. This was not rush hour (going over Grapevine at 9pm). We actually were in the same boat, had to return the car on Katella and were late. They were kind though.
In the past we have left at 3am. DH slept from 10-3, drove for 2 hours while I slept and then I took over.
You could
1. leave in the evening after dinner, drive 4 hours 10pm and find a motel 6 or Super 8 and get up at 6 to drive 3 hours.
2. you are probably spending 100.00 anyway on a motel for number 1 so might as well stay the night at the relatives and return the car late and pay the 100.
3. Leave at 3am, one person sleeps for 2 extra hours and then drives while driver 1 sleeps another 2 hours.

 

[sasywtch]

Last two times I did it, October last year and March this year, I did it in 6 hours. Now, understand... that's two stops, and a liberal relationship with speed limits. In March, driving a 4-cylinder Camry, we left at 5am and arrived before noon. Two stops, one for gas, one for coffee. Sunday morning, no traffic at all. Understand... the stretch between Stockton and the Grapevine is a good four hours of NOTHING. 70mph speed limits are the norm, and pushing to 85-90 is almost expected. If you budget 7 hours, you should be there in plenty of time.

Your mileage may vary.

I would say this is normally true however, we had the worst time with truckers this last time in February. My daughter and I are the worst at road rage (within our own car to each other....they never knew how much we yelled at them) LOL
truckers who are suppose to do 55 in the right lane always have 1 who wants to do 60 so he pulls over to the left lane to pass the one who is legally doing 55 which slows all the cars who were doing 80 down to 60 for the 2 miles it takes him to pass the truck that is doing 55. I cannot wait for the day they make it 3 lanes all the way to L.A.

 

[Malcon10t]

Thank you but that sucks. Was hoping it wasn't that far off. It will be a Tuesday does that make it better or worse? We were planning to leave at 4:30 AM and no stops but maybe the restroom. We're staying s. Sac near elk grove.

If you leave at 430a, you should hit Bakersfield about 8am, the base of the grapevine about 830am, San Fernando about 930a, that leaves an hour and a half to complete the drive. If there is NO TRAFFIC (ie after 930pm to 5am), this portion can be done in 50 mins. You will need to stop for gas. Bakersfield area is the best for this.

I would agree with going late the night before, but that is adding on the $100 you are trying to avoid...

 

[coaches24]

Thank you but that sucks. Was hoping it wasn't that far off. It will be a Tuesday does that make it better or worse? We were planning to leave at 4:30 AM and no stops but maybe the restroom. We're staying s. Sac near elk grove.

I live in Elk Grove right near I-5 now, but I lived on the 99 side of South Sac last time I made this trip and I left at 3:30am and made it to a good neighbor hotel between 9:30-10 am and that includes a couple of quick bathroom stops for DD. And it was a weekday that I did this. So there was morning traffic in LA but we still made it. I think you could make it if you left at 4:30 am but it could be close depending on traffic. If you left at 3:30am then I am pretty confidant you could make it and likely have time to spare.

 

[Speechphi]

Last two times I did it, October last year and March this year, I did it in 6 hours. Now, understand... that's two stops, and a liberal relationship with speed limits. In March, driving a 4-cylinder Camry, we left at 5am and arrived before noon. Two stops, one for gas, one for coffee. Sunday morning, no traffic at all. Understand... the stretch between Stockton and the Grapevine is a good four hours of NOTHING. 70mph speed limits are the norm, and pushing to 85-90 is almost expected. If you budget 7 hours, you should be there in plenty of time.

Your mileage may vary.

From Roseville (NE of Sac)...we do it in 6 hours granted, we do a night drive so there's NO traffic (leave here at 12/1230am & arrive around 6/630). Daytime drives take longer. Traffics in Sac isn't too bad except in bits during "regular" commute hour. Mostly make sure you're in & out of LA before/after commute time or you can easily add an hour or more to your time. Case in point: last trip we were stopped behind an accident on the grapevine (literally the cops shut the road down 20 cars ahead of us). We watched our navigation adding more time to our ETA as we sat. Our trip took 7 hours! 40 mintue traffic penalty for a 20 minute stop.

 

[roflclaw]

I live ~30 mins south of Sac and the last time it took us a bit under 6 hours to get to our hotel. We were really lucky with absolutely zero traffic the entire time and we usually leave between 5 and 6 am.

But then there's been other times where it takes close to 8 hours when we hit traffic around the citadel.

 

[ifer924]

Thank you all everyone is so helpful. We live in the middle of nowhere, drive 3+ hrs to the airpirt or out of yown regularly so 6 hrs or night driving is no big deal... 8 though takes it to the next level. DH asked about 99 vs 5 but I wasn't sure, any specific input there?