Driving to Anaheim from NorCAL...and back again. About This Page:

[DANAinSACTOWN]

Hi Everyone,

Just thought I would share a tip on driving from Northern, CA to Anaheim. We live in the Sacramento area and are Premium Pass holders and therefore try to visit the park as often as possible. I have made the drive down I-5 numerous times and we always get stuck in a major slowdown of traffic through the LA area. Just south of LA things open up again, but we typically spend an hour in stop and slow traffic (lost time in the park!). On our last trip, we tried a different tack. Instead of departing early in the day, we hit the road the night before, departing at around 8PM. I was pleasantly surprised to hit absolutely NO traffic slow-downs and we made the trip in less time, with less stops (because the kids conked out and stayed conked out). The return trip was the same. I made it home in about 5.5 hours. Also, I drive a Honda Civic Hybrid and can just barely make the trip (one way) on one tank of gas! There are other advantages: 1) Leaving the night before ensures you will be able to hit the park earlier the next day (true, you lose some sleep, but hey! You're on vacation, right?). 2) You maximize your fun on the last day. During the off-season, DL closes at 8 and C-Adventure at 6.

Hope this helps in your Disney planning.

[duck addict]

Hi DanainSactown. I live 90 miles north of you in Paradise.

I save time and hassle during 'busy' times by taking the 405 and 'circling' by LAX to the Garden Grove FWY then exit at Harbor Blvd and drive the approx 2 miles n to DL. I've done it during morning rush hour 'with the traffic' and made good time except by LAX where it slowed to about 25, but not stop and go.

[ilveeyore]

I have done much the same coming from New Mexico. It is about an 11.5 - 12 hour drive, and we don't stop for anything! If we leave the night before (7 or 8 pm) and drive through the night, we can be there by 7 or 8 in the morning. We also miss a lot of the LA traffic as we are coming in. Then, when we leave, we will wait until about 9, thereby missing the traffic.

[newlovefordlr]

When we went last we got a later start than we hoped for and hit the LA area at 3:30-which not knowing better I wouldn't think there would be much traffic-it took us just shy of 2 hours to get from magic mountain to the disneyland exit-so what is that 40 miles? It was so frustrating only because we didn't anticipate it Come November I am thinking we'll leave at a better time.

[Two4Disney]

Driving down I-5 at night is an excellent idea. When we used to live in the San Francisco area, we started driving down 101 instead of I-5. It was a bit longer (not by much) but much more scenic and because you do drive through towns, it was more interesting. Just another idea.

[Mouserjan0222]

Soo what's the "cut off" time to hit LA to avoid traffic? I am going solo end of June. 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

[FanofFlorida]

Originally Posted by Mouserjan0222

Soo what's the "cut off" time to hit LA to avoid traffic? I am going solo end of June. 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

I'd like to know too! We are planning a drive down from Oregon, and usually arrive in the middle of the night, but I thought this time, we would be rolling in around 8pm- is that too early to avoid HEAVY traffic?

Thanks-

[duck addict]

Heavy traffic is from roughly 6 am to 9 pm if you stay on I-5 through downtown. That is why I take the 405 (San Diego Fwy) 22 Garden Grove Fwy as a bypass.

The maze in Downtown LA can get backed up at any time so I avoid it.