So Cal Driving Advice needed

[wdwfan22]

Hi all! I am headed back to Disneyland Apr 29 - May 3. This is my first time ever to go to any Disney park more than once in a year. I bought an Annual Pass when I was there in November for 9 days with my son. I am sooooo excited to be going back!!

Here is my question, we are driving in from Colorado. I am planning to leave about 1am on Friday Apr 29 and driving straight through. This, unfortunatley will put us in the LA/Anaheim area around rush hour. Google maps has us getting off I-15 on 60 west then 57 south. For all of you experienced SoCal drivers, is this a good route during rush hour. I know picking the right or wrong route during that time of day could add significant time to my trip.

Thanks so much for your help!!!

 

[Raindown]

I'm not too familiar with those freeways. Your best bet is to preview sigalert.com or even google for traffic conditions. Take a look on a random Friday before your trip to see how the traffic is.

 

[Disney Dreams]

What an exciting trip! So fun for you!

If you HAVE to hit the area around rush hour, the 57 is going to be just as good as any other choice. The key is what you do NEXT. Do NOT, do not, do not get on the 91. Just to be clear... you do NOT want the 91. It is a mess during rush hour most often and you will potentially be pulling right on to a parking lot. I don't know where exactly you are going first (DLR, your hotel, on-site, off-site, etc...), but you can cut across on some quick surface streets from the 57 if needed. Just stay away from that 91.

Here's hoping you miss traffic.

- Dreams

 

[HydroGuy]

What an exciting trip! So fun for you!

If you HAVE to hit the area around rush hour, the 57 is going to be just as good as any other choice. The key is what you do NEXT. Do NOT, do not, do not get on the 91. Just to be clear... you do NOT want the 91. It is a mess during rush hour most often and you will potentially be pulling right on to a parking lot. I don't know where exactly you are going first (DLR, your hotel, on-site, off-site, etc...), but you can cut across on some quick surface streets from the 57 if needed. Just stay away from that 91.

Here's hoping you miss traffic.

- Dreams

Dreams, just checkin' but do you really think the 91 will be that bad going into OC in the afternoon? If it was a morning commute I hear ya. But with most of the traffic flowing from OC up to Riverside this might not be too bad. I myself would be highly inclined to take the 15 to the 91 and be done with it. But before doing that even I would check with my step-father in Riverside who is up to speed on the traffic subtleties.

OP, I would be highly inclined to leave later than 1AM! We drive it every year and usually leave at 5AM ourselves. Regardless, I am always nervous driving the mountains in the dark and prefer a later start to do the drive with some light across 70. Plus the drive is so scenic thur the Rocky Mountains it is a shame to do it in the dark. Even for someone like me who has done it 10-15 times.

Not sure where you are leaving from in beautiful Colorado but good luck!

 

[wdwfan22]

I'm not too familiar with those freeways. Your best bet is to preview sigalert.com or even google for traffic conditions. Take a look on a random Friday before your trip to see how the traffic is.

Thanks. I will try this out ahead of time on some Friday afternoons to see what I can see. I didn't really know/think about looking at another city's rush hour. Love technology

 

[wdwfan22]

What an exciting trip! So fun for you!

If you HAVE to hit the area around rush hour, the 57 is going to be just as good as any other choice. The key is what you do NEXT. Do NOT, do not, do not get on the 91. Just to be clear... you do NOT want the 91. It is a mess during rush hour most often and you will potentially be pulling right on to a parking lot. I don't know where exactly you are going first (DLR, your hotel, on-site, off-site, etc...), but you can cut across on some quick surface streets from the 57 if needed. Just stay away from that 91.

Here's hoping you miss traffic.

- Dreams

Thanks! I am sooo excited. After a lifetime of once a year or more Disney trips, I can't believe I have an annual pass! I'm hoping to go once more around September for Halloween, but haven't figured out yet how to spring that one on my husband!! He isn't anywhere near as obsessed with Disney as I am! I can get him there every couple years, but that is it.

I will take your advice about the 91. Google maps says take 57 to Ball road. We will be going to HoJos first to check in and drop off our car.

 

[wdwfan22]

Dreams, just checkin' but do you really think the 91 will be that bad going into OC in the afternoon? If it was a morning commute I hear ya. But with most of the traffic flowing from OC up to Riverside this might not be too bad. I myself would be highly inclined to take the 15 to the 91 and be done with it. But before doing that even I would check with my step-father in Riverside who is up to speed on the traffic subtleties.

OP, I would be highly inclined to leave later than 1AM! We drive it every year and usually leave at 5AM ourselves. Regardless, I am always nervous driving the mountains in the dark and prefer a later start to do the drive with some light across 70. Plus the drive is so scenic thur the Rocky Mountains it is a shame to do it in the dark. Even for someone like me who has done it 10-15 times.

Not sure where you are leaving from in beautiful Colorado but good luck!

We will be leaving from beautiful Arvada (a north-west suburb of Denver in case you arent' familiar) I am not super thrilled about driving mountains in the dark either, but it usually works out well for us. My husband has to work Thursday, so we couldn't leave until late Thursday, and we are not drive late into the night people. Once it hits midnight, I can't keep my eyes open. But I can go to bed super early and wake up early. My husband sleeps the first 4 or 5 hours, then takes over and I nap during the day (if I can, but I try). I hope to be there early enought to spend a couple hours in the park Friday, so every hour I get up earlier, is one more hour in the park We live very close to I70, and love the mountains, so we take that drive quite often in the summer to go camping or just on little road trips around the state, so I don't mind missing the beautiful sights to get to Disney earlier!

Where in Colorado do you leave from, and how long does it take you? mapquest says 15 hrs and google maps says 16 hrs for my trip. I hope to make it sooner! We are taking a cooler in the car for lunch.

 

[Leash]

wdwfan22,
I'm very sorry but can I hijack your thread for just a minute? Seeing as how you live near Denver I wondered if I could ask some driving advice from you? I will be driving to Westminster over Labor Day weekend from Las Vegas and I am getting kinda nervous about driving over those big Rockie Mountains (I've only really done the little ones on the way to Anaheim before) any advice you can give me about the drive and is it likely to be snowing at that time of year in the mountains, I don't really know how to drive in snow/
Thanks for any help and sorry to go so off topic but you seem like the perfect person to ask.

 

[wdwfan22]

wdwfan22,
I'm very sorry but can I hijack your thread for just a minute? Seeing as how you live near Denver I wondered if I could ask some driving advice from you? I will be driving to Westminster over Labor Day weekend from Las Vegas and I am getting kinda nervous about driving over those big Rockie Mountains (I've only really done the little ones on the way to Anaheim before) any advice you can give me about the drive and is it likely to be snowing at that time of year in the mountains, I don't really know how to drive in snow/
Thanks for any help and sorry to go so off topic but you seem like the perfect person to ask.

You should be fine with no snow over Labor Day weekend. Not that it is impossible, it has been know to snow in the mountains in the middle of summer, but that is very rare, and higher up than I-70, which you will be driving on.

It really is not bad driving in the mountains. Just use common courtesy and dont drive in the left lane unless you are passing someone and you will be fine. I-70 is a very big highway with 2-3 lanes all through the mountains. Only drive as fast as you are comfortable, and like I said, stay in the slow lane unless passing.

Also, keep an eye ahead of you, and if you are driving up a hill in the slow lane, (also going down the mountain on steep grades) the semis will be going VERY slow in the right lane, be sure to get over in time so you don't end up right behind them going 20. People do this, then they have to merge into the fast lane to pass the semi, and they are going 20 which really disrupts the flow of traffic in the fast lane.

But I don't mean to make it sound scary, just use common sense, and just drive as fast as you are comfortable and you will be fine. As Hydro Guy said, it really is a beautiful drive, and you don't want to do it in the dark if you don't have to if you are not comfortable driving in the mountains. I have lived here my whole life, so it is second nature to me!!

Enjoy!!

 

[Huff]

The two choices are the 60 or 91 to 57 south. Others can chime in here but I would think afternoon rush hour on the 91 would be bad only in the east bound direction and not west bound that you are traveling.

We will be entering the area around 2 or 3pm so we face the same decision, the 91 or the 60 to 57 south.

So for those that live there, which is worse in afternoons, 60 east bound or 91 east bound? We will be coming from Phoenix thus probably passing through the 91/215/60 interchange but the OP would not.

 

[mikeyas]

The 57 shouldn't be too bad as there is a carpool lane you should be able to take. 91 definitely doesn't have a carpool lane

 

[Leash]

You should be fine with no snow over Labor Day weekend. Not that it is impossible, it has been know to snow in the mountains in the middle of summer, but that is very rare, and higher up than I-70, which you will be driving on.

It really is not bad driving in the mountains. Just use common courtesy and dont drive in the left lane unless you are passing someone and you will be fine. I-70 is a very big highway with 2-3 lanes all through the mountains. Only drive as fast as you are comfortable, and like I said, stay in the slow lane unless passing.

Also, keep an eye ahead of you, and if you are driving up a hill in the slow lane, (also going down the mountain on steep grades) the semis will be going VERY slow in the right lane, be sure to get over in time so you don't end up right behind them going 20. People do this, then they have to merge into the fast lane to pass the semi, and they are going 20 which really disrupts the flow of traffic in the fast lane.

But I don't mean to make it sound scary, just use common sense, and just drive as fast as you are comfortable and you will be fine. As Hydro Guy said, it really is a beautiful drive, and you don't want to do it in the dark if you don't have to if you are not comfortable driving in the mountains. I have lived here my whole life, so it is second nature to me!!

Enjoy!!

Thanks so much! That made me feel a lot better about it, I was picturing a small 2 lane road next to some huge drop-off the mountain. We're leaving Vegas around 5 or 6 AM so it should still be light when we are in the mountains as Google Maps says a 12 hour drive so with stops I figure about 14 hours.
Thanks again and have a great time at Disneyland!

 

[HydroGuy]

We will be leaving from beautiful Arvada (a north-west suburb of Denver in case you arent' familiar) I am not super thrilled about driving mountains in the dark either, but it usually works out well for us. My husband has to work Thursday, so we couldn't leave until late Thursday, and we are not drive late into the night people. Once it hits midnight, I can't keep my eyes open. But I can go to bed super early and wake up early. My husband sleeps the first 4 or 5 hours, then takes over and I nap during the day (if I can, but I try). I hope to be there early enought to spend a couple hours in the park Friday, so every hour I get up earlier, is one more hour in the park We live very close to I70, and love the mountains, so we take that drive quite often in the summer to go camping or just on little road trips around the state, so I don't mind missing the beautiful sights to get to Disney earlier!

Where in Colorado do you leave from, and how long does it take you? mapquest says 15 hrs and google maps says 16 hrs for my trip. I hope to make it sooner! We are taking a cooler in the car for lunch.

We leave from Colorado Springs and go thru Denver so have an extra hour over you. We have never driven to DLR directly - we go other places in SoCal first and then hit DL later in the trip - and more often than not stop an hour short of DLR in Riverside. So an hour more upfront but an hour less at the end - about the same distance as you - and we usually make it door to door in about 17 hours if we miss traffic in Vegas. We do not stop for long meals - just a couple short ones. And we too bring a cooler and eat breakfast in the car on the road.

We drive I-70 a bit too but never get enough of Vail Pass and Glenwood Canyon. Plus my DW won't leave earlier than 5AM.

 

[kirsnikity]

Hi all! I am headed back to Disneyland Apr 29 - May 3. This is my first time ever to go to any Disney park more than once in a year. I bought an Annual Pass when I was there in November for 9 days with my son. I am sooooo excited to be going back!!

Here is my question, we are driving in from Colorado. I am planning to leave about 1am on Friday Apr 29 and driving straight through. This, unfortunatley will put us in the LA/Anaheim area around rush hour. Google maps has us getting off I-15 on 60 west then 57 south. For all of you experienced SoCal drivers, is this a good route during rush hour. I know picking the right or wrong route during that time of day could add significant time to my trip.

Thanks so much for your help!!!

This is the best and most direct route to take! I'm in the Mojave desert and often find myself driving this route in the afternoon. Once you are on the 60 try to get in the carpool lane several miles before you get to the 57 so that you can utilize the carpool ramp onto the 57 south. It's very useful since that interchange can get a bit congested in the late afternoon.

Huff- during rush hour, definitely 91 east is more congested than 60 east. I'm assuming you're referring to your return trip home?

 

[HydroGuy]

This is the best and most direct route to take! I'm in the Mojave desert and often find myself driving this route in the afternoon. Once you are on the 60 try to get in the carpool lane several miles before you get to the 57 so that you can utilize the carpool ramp onto the 57 south. It's very useful since that interchange can get a bit congested in the late afternoon.

To the person who was wondering which is worse during rush hour, definitely 91 east is more congested than 60 east.

I think the question was not during rush hour but during the non-rush afternoon. During rush hour 60 is better. But the OP is going to choose 60 or 91 in the afternoon. I just do not think there is an issue with 91 West anytime after 1PM and it is a little shorter and more direct to DLR.

 

[Huff]

The 57 shouldn't be too bad as there is a carpool lane you should be able to take. 91 definitely doesn't have a carpool lane

It's been about a year since our last trip but I seem to remember a carpool late on some sections of the 91. I believe east of where the express toll lanes begin. I am told that the toll lanes are available free of charge to those with 3 or more passengers except m-f 4pm-6pm.

 

[wdwfan22]

Thanks so much! That made me feel a lot better about it, I was picturing a small 2 lane road next to some huge drop-off the mountain. We're leaving Vegas around 5 or 6 AM so it should still be light when we are in the mountains as Google Maps says a 12 hour drive so with stops I figure about 14 hours.
Thanks again and have a great time at Disneyland!

I think 14 hours is a pretty good estimate for you. I have made the drive to Vegas in 11 a few times, but drive pretty fast through the mountains and don't make many stops except drive through and quick bathroom breaks.

There are a lots of places with drop offs and amazing views, but there is a guard rail and the highway is roomy. Nothing to be scared of, just impressed with the scenery!!

 

[wdwfan22]

We leave from Colorado Springs and go thru Denver so have an extra hour over you. We have never driven to DLR directly - we go other places in SoCal first and then hit DL later in the trip - and more often than not stop an hour short of DLR in Riverside. So an hour more upfront but an hour less at the end - about the same distance as you - and we usually make it door to door in about 17 hours if we miss traffic in Vegas. We do not stop for long meals - just a couple short ones. And we too bring a cooler and eat breakfast in the car on the road.

We drive I-70 a bit too but never get enough of Vail Pass and Glenwood Canyon. Plus my DW won't leave earlier than 5AM.

17 hrs huh? I hope to make it quicker than that. We will see. If we actually leave at 1, (I usually try for 1 and we make it out the door by 2) We are usually driving through Grand Junction when the sun is coming up.

Unfortunantly, we should hit the LA area about 4 - 6 o'clock, so prime time rush hour. The carpool lanes on 60 and 57 sound good.

 

[wdwfan22]

This is the best and most direct route to take! I'm in the Mojave desert and often find myself driving this route in the afternoon. Once you are on the 60 try to get in the carpool lane several miles before you get to the 57 so that you can utilize the carpool ramp onto the 57 south. It's very useful since that interchange can get a bit congested in the late afternoon.

Huff- during rush hour, definitely 91 east is more congested than 60 east. I'm assuming you're referring to your return trip home?

Thanks so much for this tip. We will try to get in the carpool lane on 60 as soon as we can.

 

[HydroGuy]

17 hrs huh? I hope to make it quicker than that. We will see. If we actually leave at 1, (I usually try for 1 and we make it out the door by 2) We are usually driving through Grand Junction when the sun is coming up.

Unfortunantly, we should hit the LA area about 4 - 6 o'clock, so prime time rush hour. The carpool lanes on 60 and 57 sound good.

The best we have ever done was in summer time - good roads and lotsa daylight - in 16 hours. And that was pushing hard on my poor, poor children and even poorer wife. And I am a crazy fast driver across Utah on I-70 but more cautious on I-15.

As kids have gotten older we still push but usually not so hard. The last few trips have been 17-17.5 hours door-to-door. About 1020 miles for us to my folks in Riverside.

How many miles is your mapping telling you?