When does traffic start to build up in LA?

[Leofoenget]

Soo what's the "cut off" time to hit LA to avoid traffic? I am going solo end of June via I-5. I think I will hit Magic Mountain/Santa Clarita area about 2ish maybe? Is that too late? Here in San Jose you can drive around until about 5 without too much misery.

any info
jan

 

[DoomBugger]

If you are coming down the 5 and go past Magic at around 2PM you will be fine, granted there is no construction or accidents along the way. As long as you get past downtown by about 3PM all will be well. Any later, especially after 4PM you will most likely encounter traffic.

 

[Leofoenget]

If you are coming down the 5 and go past Magic at around 2PM you will be fine, granted there is no construction or accidents along the way. As long as you get past downtown by about 3PM all will be well. Any later, especially after 4PM you will most likely encounter traffic.

Whew thanks. If I leave san jose at 8am, I think I can make it.

 

[audrabolster]

any later than 3 and you'll be sitting in traffic.

 

[stopher1]

Technically the better question should be "when is there not traffic in LA?" cuz then the answer would be much, much different...never!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

There's a cut off? LOL I think it's just luck if you don't hit traffic. There are ALWAYS accidents everywhere, and people who drive just crazy! On our way to Universal Studios at 10 am on Thursday it took us 45 minutes to go 2 miles (there was of course an accident). We left at 8:30 am, and didn't get there until around 10:30 am. It only should have taken around 40 minutes. I'd just plan to hit traffic no matter what.

 

[SueTGGR]

Whew thanks. If I leave san jose at 8am, I think I can make it.

We are leaving Wednesday from Gilroy & made the trip many times in about 6-7 hours depending on how many times the 8 yr old needs to make potty stops! If you are solo, it has been done in 5 hours. I agree with the rest, get to Magic Mtn. by 2-3 and it shouldn't be too bad. Just don't get onto the 405, stay on 5! Just remember to breathe & laugh that you are headed to Disneyland & the rest of them are probably not!
Enjoy,
Sue

 

[Leofoenget]

We are leaving Wednesday from Gilroy & made the trip many times in about 6-7 hours depending on how many times the 8 yr old needs to make potty stops! If you are solo, it has been done in 5 hours. I agree with the rest, get to Magic Mtn. by 2-3 and it shouldn't be too bad. Just don't get onto the 405, stay on 5! Just remember to breathe & laugh that you are headed to Disneyland & the rest of them are probably not!
Enjoy,
Sue

My goal is to leave Santa Clara no later than 8am. Should hit Gilroy by 8:45, over the 152 by 9:30 then a straight shot to LA. The best laid plans right??

 

[honeymom]

We came down from Los Gatos to Santa Monica last Wednesday. We hit the Grapevine (about 30 minutes north of Magic Mountain) at 1:50p. We did not hit any traffic until the Santa Monica Blvd. exit on the 405 (probably around 3p). You seem to be running a little earlier than we were, so you may be okay depending on where you are going.

 

[cmwade77]

My Recommendation is if it is at all possible, leave the night before. between 5 & 6 PM, get a cheap hotel room on Priceline for that night (most times of the year you should be able to name your own price for a 2 star hotel for about $30) and you will have a great time the next day and won't have hit traffic at all.

If you hit Magic Mountain at 2:00, it will take approximately 2-2.5 hours to get to Anaheim from there, where has it really shouldn't take more than about 1 hour.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you are solo, it has been done in 5 hours.

You are a goddess.

We left from Aptos at 7am, stopped for just a couple potty breaks (only one involved any playing) and a stop at Andersen's, and we got to Paradise Pier after 7pm.

Now we did go down the "other" highway, but ALL of our friends and family (including my dad who used to drive for Greyhound and knows the highways and byways of CA!) said that they would be the same....

You say 5 hours, we got 12. AUGH.

 

[honeymom]

You are a goddess.

We left from Aptos at 7am, stopped for just a couple potty breaks (only one involved any playing) and a stop at Andersen's, and we got to Paradise Pier after 7pm.

Now we did go down the "other" highway, but ALL of our friends and family (including my dad who used to drive for Greyhound and knows the highways and byways of CA!) said that they would be the same....

You say 5 hours, we got 12. AUGH.

Bumbershoot - Did you do the 101?

We used to live in LA and drive to Bay Area a lot (hubbie's family there). We still the trip now, but start in Arizona. All highways are not the same. From San Jose to Anaheim (avoiding rush hours), I would expect about 6 to 6 1/2 hours on the I5, 8 to 8 1/2 hours on the 101, 10 to 10 1/2 hours on Hwy 1.

We do really quick stops now and avoid fast food with playspaces like the plague. We also really plan out trip carefully to leave after rush hour (or well before) and to get to LA area before or after rush hour. If we can't avoid LA rush hour, we stay on the road somewhere.

 

[snowglobes]

the 101 and 5 southbound seem to be clogged even during off peak hours (mid-day) so i think the very best times would be very, very early morning

 

[tripodjw]

the 101 and 5 southbound seem to be clogged even during off peak hours (mid-day) so i think the very best times would be very, very early morning

How about northbound?

How long does DLR to LAX take on a Monday afternoon - say leaving DLR around 1pm.

Thanks

 

[minniecarousel]

We always aim to leave by 6 AM, but it ends up being 7 before we get out of the house. When our kids were little, and we made this drive, we'd leave at 5 am, stop at Buttonwillow's rest stop for breakfast from home and we were in the Disneyland parking lot by noon. ('course, there was one time that DH got a speeding ticket!)

 

[Leofoenget]

We always aim to leave by 6 AM, but it ends up being 7 before we get out of the house. When our kids were little, and we made this drive, we'd leave at 5 am, stop at Buttonwillow's rest stop for breakfast from home and we were in the Disneyland parking lot by noon. ('course, there was one time that DH got a speeding ticket!)

Where do you start from? San Jose, Gilroy?

just wondering

 

[Leofoenget]

My Recommendation is if it is at all possible, leave the night before. between 5 & 6 PM, get a cheap hotel room on Priceline for that night (most times of the year you should be able to name your own price for a 2 star hotel for about $30) and you will have a great time the next day and won't have hit traffic at all.

If you hit Magic Mountain at 2:00, it will take approximately 2-2.5 hours to get to Anaheim from there, where has it really shouldn't take more than about 1 hour.

I've decided to take your advise and stay in Buttonwillow, which is about half way for me. If I hit the road by 9 or 10 should make it into LA by 1pm. That makes so much more sense to me than a marathon drive solo, plus it's dirt cheap motel 6 isn';t a big deal.