Originally Posted By tndsmommy What is the quickest way to travel from northern CA? We will be leaving about 1:00 am and want to avoid morning traffic in the LA area. Is there an alternate route that will help avoid this?
Originally Posted By mater4 I-5 is probably the quickest. As for LA traffic on a weekday anytime between 7am - 10am would be a nightmare. After that not as bad. Then after 2 or 3pm it will be packed freeways again. I am sure that someone from LA can be more specific though.
Originally Posted By Ursula A lot of people like to take the 210 to either the 55 or 57 freeways to avoid our famous traffic. (I'm not familiar with that route, so Google Map is your friend.) Try to avoid the 405. The 5 is hit and miss. Somedays it takes me 45 mintues to get to and from DL (I'm North up the 5) and sometimes it takes 2 hours.
Originally Posted By dlkozy If you are up by Sacramento-you are going to be in the midst of morning traffic. I Would either leave earlier or later.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins I have tried 5 & 210/55 (and 405) at various times and days from the Bay Area and have only had awful traffic once on the 210, as opposed to much worse awful traffic traffic almost all the time on 5. It's a little longer so it's hard to make the decision to take 210 but especially at the time you'll be getting there, I think it has to be better to take 210/55.
Originally Posted By wendebird I live 2-1/2 hours north of Sacramento & have driven numerous times. If you leave at 1 AM, depending on where you're starting at, you're going to hit the grapvine at the worst time ever. We've found leaving around 4:30-5:30AM or noon-1 or after 5 PM were the best times for our 575 mile drive.
Originally Posted By wendebird Oh & the quickest was is to just stay on I-5. We've tried other ways & while it keeps you moving a bit more, you don't get to your destination any quicker.
Originally Posted By oc_dean 210 to 57 and off at Ball Road is a VERY GOOD option. There are portions of the Santa Ana 5 freeway where it narrows down to 3 lanes in each direction .. and you'll know it when your traffic comes to a screatch'n halt .. and it becomes a CRAWL in those sections. Another thing ... Caltrans is working on widening the 5 freeway between Artesia Blvd to the 91 Freeway. That's about a 2 mile stretch. So, that can also be a slow spot. The 210 Freeway is 4 lanes in each direction WITH a carpool lane .. as is the Orange 57 freeway. The more lanes .... the easier the flow will be. This route ~could~ theoretically take longer .. but what's more important? Getting to DL in a big hurry? Or saving your nerves with the region's traffic?
Originally Posted By Dalia3001 This thread is very helpful to me too! I will be driving from San Jose and April, and all the times I've made the trip I've taken 5 all the way for simplicity's sake. I try to get us up and out by 7am at the latest, and that generally gets us to the LA area around noon, or earlier if we get out of the house earlier. I've sat in traffic on the 5 wondering if we should have taken another route. I think we will look at the 210, 57 off at Ball Rd option for our next trip.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains If you are getting into LA around noon you should be good traffic wise - I have found the back ups start around 2pm... but as alternative is always good.
Originally Posted By oc_dean You never know though. It's getting to a point that "rush hour" is getting to be an "all day" thing now. Just remember my statement about freeways that are wider with more lanes. The more lanes .. the better the flow will be. Just the East LA interchange alone(one of the largest freeway interchanges in the world) .. is reason to avoid .. and do the 210/57/Ball Rd. plan.
Originally Posted By oc_dean Here's another thing ........ Would you rather take a ride on the 210 and pass by the majestic San Gabriel Mtn. range .. and cut through pristine communities like Arcadia, PASADENA, and other "hilly" communities .. or would you rather cut through the slums of East LA?
Originally Posted By Amynleroy we leave pittsburg/oakley depending on who's house we leave from around 2-3 am, go 5 all the way, stop and eat at Dennys right before the grapevine and usually have some traffic, but never too bad!
