The best way through LA?

[Kawidude]

I live in NorCal (San Jose-area) and I'm taking the family down to San Diego in a couple of weeks. Does anyone have advice for the best route that might help me avoid a little traffic? I did this about a decade ago and spent a few hours sitting in gridlock traffic with a screaming baby in the back seat. Not fun. The last time I drove down to SD I think someone recommended taking the 405, thinking that would bypass some of LA and still take me down where I needed to be. Does that sound about right? Thanks in advance for any help! :cool:

 

[rmc_olderthandirt]

what time of day would you hit the LA area?

If you hit LA after 7:00 PM I would just stay on I-5

If you are going to hit it between 6:00 AM and 7:00 PM on a weekday I would bypass the downtown LA area by taking the I-210 east to the 57 south back to I-5

Rod

 

[Kawidude]

I'm guessing we'll be coming into the LA area between noon and 2pm. We'll be driving down on a Wednesday and driving back up the following Monday.

 

[kdx200chick]

take the 5 to the 210 to the 10. Then, where the 10 merges with the 15 head south... take the 15 into San Diego. it's a little more mileage wise but it saves in time...

 

[ignition retard]

I used to have to drive that route alot. Just time it so you arrive in LA area around 2am, then it dosent matter what route you take. Its a bit of an inconvenience but not compared to the traffic. I used to take 101 to 405 to 5 or just 101 to 5 I think.

 

[thumbs]

For the time of day you will be passing through I would stay on the 5 all the way to San Diego. I have made the drive from Burlingame to SD so many times I cant even count them.

5 to the 405 back to the 5 works as well as long as you get to LA area by 2pm like the guy above said.

 

[2strok4fun]

Thumbs knows the drive, Ill second his recommendation to stay 5 if mid day. It takes a lot of traffic to warrant adding 50 or 80 miles to the drive. One little tip to get around the bad 5 interchange near downtown is to exit the 5 and take 10 east to 710 south and back to the 5 or if the 5 had mucho traffic stay on the 710 to the 91 east and then back to the 5.

 

[XRpredator]

I'm thinking you'd do best if you went east to Montana, then south to New Mexico, then over to San Diego.

 

[dirt bike dave]

Ditto for staying on I-5 for the time of day you will be passing through. That's what we do when we travel from Bakersfield to San Diego or Anaheim. With a few excpetions due to accidents, I have had good luck on I-5 during off peak hours.

 

[Kawidude]

Thanks everyone! I'll try to get an early start and then just stay on 5 the whole way. I'll keep your other options on-hand just in case I need them. Thanks for the help!

 

[Kawidude]

I'm thinking you'd do best if you went east to Montana, then south to New Mexico, then over to San Diego.

Don't worry Pred, I'll send you a picture from the vacation. ;) You haven't even seen Mrs. Dude's new haircut yet. It's short and she looks very cute/hot. :nener:

 

[XRpredator]

Don't worry Pred, I'll send you a picture from the vacation. ;) You haven't even seen Mrs. Dude's new haircut yet. It's short and she looks very cute/hot. :nener:

This thread just became useless without pics!

I'm going to hell for this, and don't tell Mrs. Pred