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partyoffive
02-27-2007, 09:24 AM
We are leaving for Disneyland in two days - we will be visiting friends in Bakersfield before we head down to DLR and have never gone this way - we were wondering if it is better to travel all the way in on the I-5 or to take it to the 210 and go in on the 91 via I-15 - have heard lots of horror stories about the traffic on the 5 and want to be sure before we take it through LA - also - we will be travelling on a Saturday evening about 5 p.m. - Thanks for your help!

yohomama212
02-27-2007, 09:46 AM
We've never taken that route. When we come down from that area, we take the 405, then you can hop on the 22 from there. That late at night, the 22 shouldn't be too bad.

Liz :cool:

Sheila
02-27-2007, 09:52 AM
No, you don't want to go southbound on the 405 on an early Saturday evening. It's total gridlock then.

If you are not hitting the L.A. area until 5:00 p.m. then the southbound 5 will not be as bad as if you arrived earlier in the afternoon. It's slow moving but not horrible. I think other detours will not really gain you any appreciable time savings.

However, if the traffic reports are bad for the 5 then, I would suggest taking the 5 South to the 210 East to the 605 South and go back onto the 5 from there.

I think the 210/15/91 detour will add too much time/mileage to your drive to be worth it.

biolabetty
02-27-2007, 11:30 AM
I totally agree with Sheila, since I am always coming from Santa Clarita where all your choices begin. I've gone to DL on a Saturday on the 5 and it has taken me as long as 3 hours, so the alternatives she listed is how I would go too. Never, never, never would I take the 405, that road is always crazy around the pass. The traffic can still be interesting at 5 on a Saturday, but I would take the 5 unless I had heard on the radio about some type of accident ahead. If you really don't like traffic, the 210 is a great way to go, usually pretty light. But be aware that the 210 stops in Pasadena and becomes the 134, go east, and from there you can connect to the 605 and then the 5 again.

hefferdude
02-27-2007, 12:05 PM
We've traveled east on the 210 from the 118 ( Ventura Simi ) and then taken 57 south to Ball Rd. or Katella. A bit longer but nice scenery. The 5 from south of Stadium Way can be a real drag until it opens up to 16,000 lanes across a few miles before DLR.

adriennek
02-27-2007, 12:19 PM
I concur with Sheila and Hefferdude - take the 605 back to the 5 or take the 210 to the 57. The 210-15-91 is waaaay out of your way - and Saturday evening traffic on the westbound 91 is hit or miss itself - you could still get stuck.

Adrienne

PanFan
02-27-2007, 03:26 PM
I drive from Santa Clarita at least 3 times a week (Saturday always being one of them) and I don't find the 5 that bad. Maybe I'm just used to it, plus I hate backtracking (which you do some of when taking the 210 to the 605). The 5 is definitely the most direct and though it can get slow, it doesn't usually take me over 1 1/2 hours from home. More often it's closer to 1 hour. The longest it has ever taken me is almost 2 hours and that was coming home the evening of the last day of a holiday weekend. I have found that any time saved by taking the 210 to the 605 traffic-wise is taken up by the longer distance you have to go. And 605 traffic isn't always that great, either (though it's not usually that bad on weekends).

One trick I sometimes do is take then 10 east to the 710 south then back to the 5. I only do this if the sign in downtown (just before the 10) tells me it's going to be longer than 15 minutes to the 710. I've cut off as much as 20 minutes doing this little trick!

partyoffive
02-27-2007, 04:43 PM
Thanks so much for all your help everyone - we will see how the traffic looks on our way and listen to the radio and then make a choice. I appreciate the feedback! Can't wait to report my trip soon!!

Rufus T Firefly
02-27-2007, 06:57 PM
I avoid the 91 like the Plague. I usually have good luck with the 210/57. Take full advantage of the car pool lanes.

Rufus T Firefly
02-27-2007, 07:03 PM
I totally agree with Sheila, since I am always coming from Santa Clarita where all your choices begin. I've gone to DL on a Saturday on the 5 and it has taken me as long as 3 hours, so the alternatives she listed is how I would go too. Never, never, never would I take the 405, that road is always crazy around the pass. The traffic can still be interesting at 5 on a Saturday, but I would take the 5 unless I had heard on the radio about some type of accident ahead. If you really don't like traffic, the 210 is a great way to go, usually pretty light. But be aware that the 210 stops in Pasadena and becomes the 134, go east, and from there you can connect to the 605 and then the 5 again.

Actually, the 210 continues east through Pasadena to the 605, 57 and all the way to the 15.

bassett1976
02-27-2007, 07:15 PM
Time for my two cents...

Since I live in Pasadena we tend to take three separate routes to DLR from Pasadena depending on the times. I do agree with one thing, NEVER EVER TAKE THE 405!!!

1) 210 east, 605 south, 5 south: This only works on early mornings when the 5 freeway isn't bad
2) 210 east, 605 south, 91 east-make it into the carpool lane, 5 south via carpool lane: This takes you a few extra miles on the 605 but you do not have to slow down on the 5 freeway from the 605 to the 91 interchange.
3) 210 east, 57 south, exit Ball road-turn right: This is a great option if the 605 has issues.
4) We've tried surface streets (like down Rosemead Blvd) but this takes 1-2 hours to travel south to the 91 freeway and then you still have to go east on the freeway.

If all freeways are flowing nicely options #2 and #3 are pretty close in time, difference of 5-10 minutes. Listen to the traffic reports and choose wisely. The freeway work at the 57/60 is completed so that will not slow you as much as it used to.

poohray
03-02-2007, 01:05 AM
Going down ther ourselves on Easter. Holiday traffic! does that mean lighter or heavie traffic flow? We are from San francisco Bay Area dont know the radio station ofr traffic reports. sure would help. up here its 740am with updates every 10 min whats the best source in greater L A?

kranders
03-02-2007, 08:15 AM
up here its 740am with updates every 10 min whats the best source in greater L A?

During the week morning and afternoon traffic times try:
AM 1070 traffic on the 5's
AM 980 traffic on the 1's

capst
03-02-2007, 05:01 PM
During the week morning and afternoon traffic times try:
AM 1070 traffic on the 5's
AM 980 traffic on the 1's

Or if you have XM Radio, Channel 222 is constant LA Traffic and Weather.