Traffic Patterns Between Anaheim area and San Diego?

[bethy]

I am starting to flesh out the details of our May trip. Before I book airfare and make things final I'm trying to make sure I understand the traffic risks involved.

We are planning to fly into Long Beach Airport on a Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. and rent a car and drive straight to San Diego. We are going to spend 2 nights down there doing the Zoo and and Seaworld and then return to Anaheim on Friday late afternoon. Then we spend 4 nights at Disneyland before we fly home.

Anyway, we are choosing to do a roundtrip into LGB and deal with the long drive to San Diego because it will save us a ton of money in several different ways. I'm worried though that we'll be making the drive both ways during what could potentially be rush hour? What do the locals think? This timeframe helps meet the other contraints we have with regards to time and money but I'm just trying to make sure it will be worth it.

Originally we were going to fly straight to San Diego and then fly home out of SNA or LGB.

 

[Eeyore11081]

You might have to deal with LA traffic upon arrival but San Diego traffic should be gone by the time you get there.

Upon leaving San Diego, you can expect heavy traffic late on a Friday afternoon, especially if you will be leaving from the zoo or Sea World. There really isn't a way to avoid the traffic other than to leave before it or after it. If you leave before it, you'll still hit Orange County traffic at some point. Rush hour in San Diego can last from 3-7 p.m. Unless you have some commitments at DLR on Friday evening, I would delay my SD departure until 7pm, or maybe 6 at the earliest.

 

[bethy]

Thank you very, very much for your reply. That's kind of what I was afraid of but at least now we can plan accordingly. I will ponder our options. Thanks!

 

[arliepooh68]

We used to drive up on Fridays and spend the weekend up in Anaheim from San Dog. . I have given up that thought and drive up sat mornings now. . we have left here at 4, 5 and 6 and I will be honest with you. . there will be parts that are just TORTURE. . . right after irvine before you hit nomansland, aka the nothing to see part of the 5, I have seen it at a dead crawl and just south of oceanside through del mar i've seen it at a crawl. . but you are landing at 6, so i'm hoping it is all gone before you even get to your rental car!

now for driving back up here on friday, please see above. . I got off work at 230 one time, grabbed my kids and hit zippo traffic by leaving by 3 pm. . . when the gas prices were above 4 bucks fridays were not too bad. . . the slow spots are always north of the 52 through almost del mar, kind of clear then you hit carlsbad and we would hit it again, once we passed the 78 we hit nothing until just north of san clemente, it would clear up then we'd hit irvine and then it was a crawl. . so for friday have patience and hopefully you beat the traffic!

also, since you were in san dog during the week, whatever you do try not to get on the 5 by the park after 2 pm.. we have an onramp that is just nasty nasty nasty, goes from three to one lane,then to add more fun another lane comes up from the left. . . all it takes is getting stuck in it once and you do your best to avoid it at all costs!

also in may you will most likely hit school trips! most of the schools here all take turns going to the parks, 5th graders in san diego city schools all go for a week to the various parks in balboa. . .