Southern CA Driving Question

[RebeccaLovesDisney]

Hoping some LA-area residents can help me with a traffic/driving issue. We've never been to LA and are a bit overwhelmed at the traffic reports we're reading.

We'll be in California in early August and are planning on driving from Pismo Beach to Anaheim on a Tuesday, leaving Pismo in the morning. The mapping websites (Mapquest, Google) say it will take around 4 hours and suggest taking Hwy 101 to downtown LA area and then Hwy 5 to Anaheim.

Does 4 hours sound like a reasonable amount of time if we're traveling in LA late morning to early afternoon? Is the Hwy 101/Hwy 5 route really the best one to take or are there better routes to avoid traffic?

ANY advice you can give will be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Pucka1378]

That sounds about right to me depeding on what the 5 is doing. I think the 101 is a good route to the 5 that is the easiest.

I usually try to spend the least amount of time on the 5 as possible

101 is a nice drive!

 

[Magix]

Yep, that's the route I'd take. If you hit traffic, it likely won't be until you get into the valley areas of LA on the 101, then more likely on the 5, but that's only the last bit of your drive. Don't worry too much about it. Even if you hit traffic, all it means is that you'll be stop and go for a while. You'll get there.

 

[honeymom]

Try to leave as early as possible. I think you will be best off if you hit the 5 before 2pm.

 

[Hound 109]

Hoping some LA-area residents can help me with a traffic/driving issue. We've never been to LA and are a bit overwhelmed at the traffic reports we're reading.

We'll be in California in early August and are planning on driving from Pismo Beach to Anaheim on a Tuesday, leaving Pismo in the morning. The mapping websites (Mapquest, Google) say it will take around 4 hours and suggest taking Hwy 101 to downtown LA area and then Hwy 5 to Anaheim.

Does 4 hours sound like a reasonable amount of time if we're traveling in LA late morning to early afternoon? Is the Hwy 101/Hwy 5 route really the best one to take or are there better routes to avoid traffic?

ANY advice you can give will be greatly appreciated!!

An extra 1/2 hour of driving, but I would hop off the 101 in Oxnard & take the PCH thru Malibu & Santa Monica......because you can.

Have some fresh fish sandwiches in Malibu, look for Gidget & Moondoggie on Zuma & Malibu beaches, eyeball Santa Monica beaches & the famous Pier (or stop if you have time).

The PCH dead ends into the Interstate 10 (where it drops into the pacific) take the I 10 (heading east) into Downtown & then hang a right (south) on the I 5. Get to Anaheim before 3pm though.


...or you can take the more direct route mentioned above.

Have fun planning a visit to Walt's Park.

 

[RebeccaLovesDisney]

An extra 1/2 hour of driving, but I would hop off the 101 in Oxnard & take the PCH thru Malibu & Santa Monica......because you can.

Have some fresh fish sandwiches in Malibu, look for Gidget & Moondoggie on Zuma & Malibu beaches, eyeball Santa Monica beaches & the famous Pier (or stop if you have time).

Thanks everyone! We actually are planning on heading back up and seeing Santa Monica, Hollywood, maybe Malibu later that same week on Friday and Saturday. I know we'll be backtracking and it would be more efficient driving to stop there before DL. But.... we're only spending 2 days at DL and want to hit it mid-week hoping for smaller crowds.

 

[Hound 109]

Thanks everyone! We actually are planning on heading back up and seeing Santa Monica, Hollywood, maybe Malibu later that same week on Friday and Saturday. I know we'll be backtracking and it would be more efficient driving to stop there before DL. But.... we're only spending 2 days at DL and want to hit it mid-week hoping for smaller crowds.

(psst....an extra day at DLR & one less day for LA touring.....especially if you can knock out Malibu & Santa Monica on your way).

you'll need 2 1/2 - 3 days at DLR & you get MM with a 3 day pass.