Best route to avoid traffic around LAX
April 8, 2011 3:07 AM Subscribe
How do I avoid traffic around LAX while driving to Las Vegas on a Saturday evening?
I'm landing in LAX tomorrow afternoon and have to be in Las Vegas the same day. I'll rent a car and drive out but having always heard of the terrible traffic in Los Angeles I'm afraid of getting stuck for hours. It seems like there's a dense network of highways in that area. Eventually I have to end up on I-15, but which highways should I take to get there?
I'm landing in LAX tomorrow afternoon and have to be in Las Vegas the same day. I'll rent a car and drive out but having always heard of the terrible traffic in Los Angeles I'm afraid of getting stuck for hours. It seems like there's a dense network of highways in that area. Eventually I have to end up on I-15, but which highways should I take to get there?
Best answer: you're a little screwed. Flying into John Wayne International Airport (SNA) would have been much cleaner - even Burbank would save an hour (or 3).
yea 105 -> 605 -> 210 is how I would go.
good luck.
posted by victors at 5:27 AM on April 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
yea 105 -> 605 -> 210 is how I would go.
good luck.
posted by victors at 5:27 AM on April 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Saturday afternoon?
No sweat. It'll be a little heavy near the airport, but otherwise smooth sailing.
I second the 105-605-210-15 recommendation. That scoots you around the Westside and Downtown, which is where most of the trouble would be near the airport, and, on the other end, the sometimes nasty 10 and 60 interchanges off the 605.
posted by notyou at 7:33 AM on April 8, 2011
No sweat. It'll be a little heavy near the airport, but otherwise smooth sailing.
I second the 105-605-210-15 recommendation. That scoots you around the Westside and Downtown, which is where most of the trouble would be near the airport, and, on the other end, the sometimes nasty 10 and 60 interchanges off the 605.
posted by notyou at 7:33 AM on April 8, 2011
Response by poster: I'm landing at 3:30PM. I expect I'll be in the rental by 5PM, so that's when I'm starting.
I was supposed to fly to Vegas, but the connections were too expensive.
posted by hoca efendi at 7:34 AM on April 8, 2011
I was supposed to fly to Vegas, but the connections were too expensive.
posted by hoca efendi at 7:34 AM on April 8, 2011
Saturday late afternoon/early evening isn't as big a deal as you're thinking. Unless there's an accident (which def. could happen) this is not the most hellish time to be exiting LAX.
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:40 AM on April 8, 2011
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:40 AM on April 8, 2011
The SoCal area is getting a gusty storm from Alaska arriving Friday night through Saturday. Your commute timing is not good. Driving the 15 in gusty weather is hazardous, especially in a small car. Your commute may be very challenging. I would check the NOAA weather site and a Los Angeles online map for data.
posted by effluvia at 8:12 AM on April 8, 2011
posted by effluvia at 8:12 AM on April 8, 2011
The recommend route above is best. Avoid the 10.
The weekend drive to Vegas, especially on the 15, can be packed.
Be prepared for a long drive, even once past LA proper. Stop in Barstow or Baker to stretch your legs and eat/drink.
Enjoy NAB!
posted by Argyle at 8:27 AM on April 8, 2011
The weekend drive to Vegas, especially on the 15, can be packed.
Be prepared for a long drive, even once past LA proper. Stop in Barstow or Baker to stretch your legs and eat/drink.
Enjoy NAB!
posted by Argyle at 8:27 AM on April 8, 2011
Look on the bright side, at least you're not trying this on Friday afternoon. Weather could for sure be a factor this weekend. Take your time, use the 105>605>210 route recommended above, and try to enjoy the drive. There are some amazingly beautiful rock formations off the 15 at the 138. At least you'll be driving away from the sun set.
posted by jvilter at 9:24 AM on April 8, 2011
posted by jvilter at 9:24 AM on April 8, 2011
Saturday afternoon? You'll be fine (comparitively, I've left the westside at 7 on a friday to try to get to vegas). 105-605-210-15. Avoid the 10, thats pretty much always got traffic. Mad Greek in Baker's a good choice for food if you like mediterranean. Are you going to have to drive back on sunday? take the same route. If you're coming back on a weekday, during rush hours, take the 210 west, it'll turn into the 134, then the 101. Take the 405S to LAX. The 101 will be trafficy, as will the 405 South of wilshire, but nothing like the 605 and the 105 during rush hour.
posted by wayofthedodo at 9:46 AM on April 8, 2011
posted by wayofthedodo at 9:46 AM on April 8, 2011
Alternate route, just in case:
405 N to 5 N to 14 N to 138 (Pearblossom Hwy).
Follow signs for Littlerock/Victorville
Right on to Hwy 138.
Left onto Hwy 18 (Victorville)
You'll eventually hit I15N.
Caution: The 138 & 18 are highways, not freeways, and the speed limit changes a couple times.
posted by luckynerd at 9:57 AM on April 8, 2011
405 N to 5 N to 14 N to 138 (Pearblossom Hwy).
Follow signs for Littlerock/Victorville
Right on to Hwy 138.
Left onto Hwy 18 (Victorville)
You'll eventually hit I15N.
Caution: The 138 & 18 are highways, not freeways, and the speed limit changes a couple times.
posted by luckynerd at 9:57 AM on April 8, 2011
On Saturday evening the 10 east and 60 east should be fine. In the evening on a weekday, don't even think about it. Route 210 east is farther north than 10, not far, but it tends to be less crowded (no matter what) and it's certainly a prettier drive.
The Pearblossom route that luckynerd recommends is a good one, but the transition from 14N to 138 isn't very well marked. They may have fixed that in the last couple of years, but I doubt it. I was going to recommend that one if you were coming in on a weekday. It takes you pretty far out of your way coming out of Los Angeles, but it's a favorite route for people going to Vegas from Ventura County. 138 is kind of a neat/unusual highway, or nerve wracking, depending on your perspective.
Just a thought - if you are renting a car anyway, why not fly from LAX to Vegas? It's a 5 hour drive to Vegas and a one hour flight. And Route 15 can be awful if there is an accident, since there aren't many optional routes. I have seen traffic at a complete standstill for thirty or forty miles - people were literally getting the barbecues out of their motorhomes and picnicking (we were going the other way).
One more thing, if you are driving back south on 15 on Sunday, plan on bumper to bumper traffic all the way.
I would seriously consider getting a flight to Vegas. They aren't terribly expensive.
posted by Xoebe at 5:29 PM on April 9, 2011
The Pearblossom route that luckynerd recommends is a good one, but the transition from 14N to 138 isn't very well marked. They may have fixed that in the last couple of years, but I doubt it. I was going to recommend that one if you were coming in on a weekday. It takes you pretty far out of your way coming out of Los Angeles, but it's a favorite route for people going to Vegas from Ventura County. 138 is kind of a neat/unusual highway, or nerve wracking, depending on your perspective.
Just a thought - if you are renting a car anyway, why not fly from LAX to Vegas? It's a 5 hour drive to Vegas and a one hour flight. And Route 15 can be awful if there is an accident, since there aren't many optional routes. I have seen traffic at a complete standstill for thirty or forty miles - people were literally getting the barbecues out of their motorhomes and picnicking (we were going the other way).
One more thing, if you are driving back south on 15 on Sunday, plan on bumper to bumper traffic all the way.
I would seriously consider getting a flight to Vegas. They aren't terribly expensive.
posted by Xoebe at 5:29 PM on April 9, 2011
Oh I just re-read the thread and saw where you were looking at flying to Vegas already.
Well, why don't you pop by the ticket counter and see about a last minute flight before you get your rental car? If there is space available, generally those seats go pretty cheap.
posted by Xoebe at 5:32 PM on April 9, 2011
Well, why don't you pop by the ticket counter and see about a last minute flight before you get your rental car? If there is space available, generally those seats go pretty cheap.
posted by Xoebe at 5:32 PM on April 9, 2011
Response by poster: Thank you everyone. I took 105-605-210 and it was fine. I'm relaxing with an Arrogant Bastard in LV right now.
posted by hoca efendi at 12:08 AM on April 10, 2011
posted by hoca efendi at 12:08 AM on April 10, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Aizkolari at 4:32 AM on April 8, 2011