BajaNomad

Avoiding L.A. Traffic

Diver - 12-10-2005 at 06:57 AM

I've been looking for a new route to avoid the LA traffic. I'll be coming south on I 5 then connecting with I 10 into Phoenix.

I thought I'd try I 5 to Santa Clarita then northwest on Hwy 14 to Palmdale then 138 into San Bernadino and connecting with I 10 east to Arizona. Anyone know if this route keeps you away from the rat race traffic ? Any better ideas ?

surfer jim - 12-10-2005 at 08:12 AM

The detour is not a good idea....depending on time of day Hwy 14 is gridlock.... and 138 is two lane through mountains....will not be any better....I-5 can be OK....time it to pass through between 10 am to 2 pm or after 8 pm until 4 am.....weekdays...Thursday and Friday and Sunday late afternoon are the worst......Sunday early morning is the best.....

bajalou - 12-10-2005 at 08:48 AM

I would take 58 east from Bakersfield to Kramer Jct then south on 395. It merges with I15 at Cajon pass. South to 215, then east on 30 to I10. Not 4 lane all the way but have always moved well over this route.

:saint:

vandenberg - 12-10-2005 at 08:54 AM

For years now, I've been going through Tecate and then to 94, followed by 15 north. Since I was going to Sacramento, I took 395 to four corners and then the freeway into Bakersfield. A little longer ,but a lot easier on your sanity. In your case, just stay on 15 till you get to 10. Believe me, this is the only way to go.

Skeet/Loreto - 12-10-2005 at 09:02 AM

The Route through Kramer Jct. is a little longer but usually less traffic.

for many years We went South on 5 to Pasadena 210, then over to 60 to 15 and Down to 805 and the Border. I woud try both and check it out.

L.A. Traffic

bahiamia - 12-10-2005 at 09:07 AM

Try and time your trip so you come through L.A. like around 1:00 or 2:00, or even 3:00 in the morning. The times I've been on the 5 at that hour, traffic was nothing to speak of.

During the day, though, any of the freeways can be hell, even the detours, and they'll take you far out of the way just prolonging the whole deal.

Early Saturday mornings are good too, for Southland freeways. Every body likes to sleep in, so like 5:00 - 7:00 am on a Saturday is also a real good time.

vandenberg - 12-10-2005 at 09:09 AM

Sorry, didn't realise you were coming from up north. To avoid the LA traffic you have to get to 99 Bakersfield first. Best bet is 58 at Buttonwillow. It becomes a freeway again in Bakersfield. Stay on 58 till Cramer's Junction and then take 395 south to 15. Interstate 15 all the way to the San Isidro border crossing. Or 15 to 94 to the Tecate crossing, my preference. Hope this helps!!

Ken Bondy - 12-10-2005 at 09:24 AM

You might try I-5 to I-210 east to I-15 south.

++Ken++

No Escape Diver !

MrBillM - 12-10-2005 at 10:06 AM

There is no escaping traffic in So Cal anymore, but I have taken the route you describe many times over the last 35 years living in Indio and Yucca Valley. Of course, once I moved to Yucca Valley I stayed in the high desert on 247. Like everywhere else, your described route has gotten more congested, but it's still the one I would take to reach I10 to Arizona from Northern Cal.

TMW - 12-10-2005 at 11:17 AM

Bajalou has the best route. The 58 to Kramer jct from Mojove is mostly 2 lanes but the traffic moves like a 4 lane.

From I5 to Bakersfield take the Rt 43 exit and get on Panama Lane, it's the east bound route at the jct. Or take the next exit at Rt 119 and go east (this is Panama Rd.) Either will take you to Rt 99 and north to Rt 58 with a minimum of traffic and lights/stop signs.

Taking Rt 58 from I5 brings you down Rosedale hwy and thats a traffic jam almost all hours of the day. Most of the new construction is out there and no new main roads. You'd hit about 15 traffic lights and none are sync'd.

TMW - 12-10-2005 at 11:25 AM

Also if you come thru the Bakersfield area in the evening or early morning be very careful of the fog. It can be very dense. Don't go barreling thru it. A couple of years ago we had 30 or so car pile up on 58 toward Tehachapi. The TV crew taped a woman running late for work and she passed around the road block and hit a fire truck that was crossways on the hwy. she was doing about 30mph. Bam, dead stop. The sound was caught on tape. The air bag was a real life saver.

Al G - 12-10-2005 at 12:27 PM

Bakerfield via 395 to Chula Vista= 287 miles
Bakerfield via LA to Chula Vista= 251 Miles
I'll do the extra 36 Mile with a smile, dreaming Baja:biggrin:
Sorry Diver a little off topic.
Al G

I am with Ken Bondy----------

Barry A. - 12-10-2005 at 01:28 PM

-------plan on hitting the LA area at either 9 to 11AM, or 2 to 3PM---------- take the I-5 south to the I-210, East on the 210 to the I-15, then south on the 15, to the I-10 East.

I have done the other ways, and tho scenic, I still think the way described above, within the time-frames laid out, will do the trick. Always works for me, (so far)-------??

I also go to San Diego thru LA on the I-5 within the timeframes above and have never had any particular problems, and few stop-and-go's. Been doing it for years.

Contagious Dyslexia

MrBillM - 12-10-2005 at 02:21 PM

The original question was how to best get from Northern California to PHOENIX, Arizona and there are all sorts of answers regarding the drive to the San Diego area or Tecate.

Regarding the infamous Bakersfield fog, a few years back I did some Network installation in Oakland and ended up on Hwy 99 through that area. The fog was so dense, you could only see a few car lengths ahead. Caution was indicated, BUT said caution might well get you killed, too, from cars and trucks roaring up behind you. Rather than pull off and wait for the fog to lift, I would wait for a Truck or car to come roaring by and then speed up to where I could just keep their taillights in view. Since I wasn't willing to go above 80, they kept pulling away from me. I'd then slow down until someone else came roaring up. A very tense drive.

Sharksbaja - 12-10-2005 at 07:09 PM

With the exception of going to Arizona on my way, I have tried all the possible routes.
I have found.......

THEY ALL SUCK! Travel at 1:00am-4:00am is my best advise.

thebajarunner - 12-10-2005 at 08:12 PM

Wow!!!!
Well, some good, some not so good, some not on point.
Here we go.... (I used to live in Tacoma, now in Central Cal- know all the routes...)
Yes, if there is a chance you will be in the LABasin anytime except late night, or mid-day, take the 58 over the high desert as described.
However..... switch over from I-5 to 99 at Stockton. The Cross-town freeway is the only close 5/99 connection below Sacramento!
Also, I never drive across SoCal without having KNX-AM 1070 on the dial and listening. Always!!!
That is the best advise that you will garner from all of the above.
It helps to have a basic understanding of SoCal freeways, if not then have someone keep the AAA Southern California map open and ready at all times.
We have really good luck with taking the 210 across the Northern end of the basin. You can duck down to the 10 on the 15, or even down to the 60 if KNX says the 10 is jammed. (The 10 and the 60 meet up at Banning)
Good luck, get 1070 locked on and playing!

I-5 to 210 to I-15 to I-10

John M - 12-10-2005 at 09:52 PM

The route Ken Bondy and Barry A described I think would be the best. The only disagreement is when Barry suggested hitting southern California between 2 and 3 p.m. - The 210 freeway eastbound through the Pasadena area can be a nightmare during those times. My suggestion would be to arrive near the I-5/210 interchange in the northern part of LA between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - at the very latest. Of course as others said if you manage to enter the greater L.A. area between 10:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. you'd have a good chance of sailing. John M.

Unless you're in love with Interstate 5...

vgabndo - 12-10-2005 at 10:54 PM

...and if the road was not icy, I'd hook a left on HW89 to Reno. The run down the back side of the Sierras is no problem, and you get to stop in Vegas. It's an easy hop on over to Phoenix. For me to get to the frontera, I have no choice but to deal with "Bakersdiego". We usually catnap in the camper at the Tule Elk Preserve, and I'm so anxious, the yo yo's are just getting out of the bars when I'm trying to put dizzy-land behind me!!:lol: I was in Phoenix late last month, be ready for smog and heavy traffic.:no:

The squarecircle - 12-10-2005 at 11:19 PM

:o:

surfer jim - 12-11-2005 at 12:08 AM

After reading all this advice......maybe you should....fly?:lol:

L.A. Traffic

MrBillM - 12-11-2005 at 10:31 AM

Although I haven't braved the Los Angeles Interchanges in a number of years, I think it can be assumed that the traffic has become Worse since I last ran (crawled) that Gaunlet and the one thought I have is that you need to do EVERYTHING possible to avoid it. All of these anecdotal tales of good hours vs bad, don't take into account what happens at any given time IF there are accidents. Their impact is multiplied exponentially in that nightmare of interchanges.

A number of years back, I was working on a Network support contract in Newbury Park (Thousand Oaks). I would drive up there Sunday night and return home on Friday afternoon. Usually leaving there at 3 p.m., my drive home varied from 2.5 hours to 5.0 hours for the same distance. One collision brings things to a complete halt. God forbid if there is a fatality. In these days of rampant litigation, the CHP closes down the whole area for accident investigation. When I worked in Ontario, there was a Fatality accident and I10 Eastbound was closed for Seven hours.

[Edited on 12-11-2005 by MrBillM]

bajalou - 12-11-2005 at 10:33 AM

Go Greyhound - and leave the driving to us.

turtleandtoad - 12-11-2005 at 11:09 AM

Diver,
Are you trying to get to Phoenix? or to a border crossing in Arizonia? or or Califorinia, or what?

If you're trying to get to Phoenix or a border crossing in Arizonia, then the way to go is to avoid the L.A basin and San Diego completely. To do this, take I5 to CA-46 (Lost Hills exit). This is a very good two lane road with a mostly 55-65 speed limit that will take you over to 99. It's a pleasent drive through farmland (orchards mostly).

Then 99 (4 lane divided) to 58 in Bakersfield, which is four lanes until about Mojave where it becomes 2 lane again.

At Barstow you will join I40, 4 lane divided all the way into Arizonia (and beyond). At that point it depends on where you're going in Arizonia, but you've eliminated the SoCal crunch and just about any route is a breeze. You can take either CA 95/78 or AZ 95 south to I10 or I8, or AZ93 or I17 to Phoenix & I10. I wouldn't go too far on I40 in the winter or you might find yourself in snow. AZ 95 or 93 pretty much eliminates that possibility most winters.

If you take CA95 or AZ 95, you can stop at Quartzsite for the worlds biggest flea market, if you're traveling in the winter.

Bob H - 12-12-2005 at 09:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
I would take 58 east from Bakersfield to Kramer Jct then south on 395. It merges with I15 at Cajon pass. South to 215, then east on 30 to I10. Not 4 lane all the way but have always moved well over this route.

:saint:


This is the way I do it also and it works great!
Bob H

bugdude - 12-12-2005 at 05:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
I would take 58 east from Bakersfield to Kramer Jct then south on 395. It merges with I15 at Cajon pass. South to 215, then east on 30 to I10. Not 4 lane all the way but have always moved well over this route.

:saint:


As a long time resident of the "Inland Empire" I agree with this route as well. As above, take 58 east in Bakersfield to 395 at Kramer Jct., then 395 south will merge with the 215S at the summit of Cajon Pass, take this south, at the bottom of the grade stay to your left heading towards San Bernardino - not San Diego - (there are huge direction signs there) about 5 miles SE of the freeway split take the Redlands/Highland exit going to the east (Hwy30), after about 10 miles or so it will merge with I-10, stay to the left following the signs toward Indio. Its about an hour to Indio, then 1 1/2hrs to Blythe/CA-AZ border, then about 1 1/2 to Phoenix. Of course thats at cruising speed in my Toyota.

You may hit traffic at several locations depending upon the time of your travel. Central Bakersfield, and the 30 & I-10E junction can get bogged down in rush hour traffic about late afternoon - doesn't matter what day it is. Friday is the worst. Once you get past Redlands/Yucaipa on the I10E it pretty much opens up all the way to Phoenix. During the holiday season from about Thanksgiving to New Years, the traffic seems to be light during rush hour but the CHP (black and white units) and AZ State Troopers (blue and/or white units) are more prolific. Be wary of them on the I-10 in the Banning/Beaumont area, and the Blythe area in Calif., and the Quartzsite area in AZ. ;D



[Edited on 11/12/2005 by bugdude]

Diver - 12-12-2005 at 06:20 PM

Thanks for all your suggestions !!

I have printed and will try at least one of your suggestions. I think the 58 to Bakersfield to 395 to 215 and I-10 seems to be the consensus so we will try it on the way down. 5 days in Phoenix and then Tecate here we come !! ....then..... Bahia de LA, Mulege, La Ventana, Cabo Pulmo, Todos Santos and points unknown........