Anaheim to Santa Monica - Traffic

[Pacolovestacos]

Question: If I'm on the expressway by 5am, do I avoid the traffic on this route? Need to decide if I'm better off making the drive late one night after Disneyland (paying up to stay it the Venice/Santa Monica area), or if I can get away with just staying the night in Anaheim and waking up early the next morning.

 

[bcla]

Google Maps estimates 45 minutes to an hour at 5 AM.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Dis...4911912!2d34.0194543!2m2!7e2!8j1494392400!3e0

Adjust the time to about 8:20 AM and it estimates 1 hour 15 min to 2 hours 25 min.

I wouldn't be shocked if an accident made traffic really bad even that early in the morning. Southern California traffic is universally bad unless it's early morning.

 

[VandVsmama]

Question: If I'm on the expressway by 5am, do I avoid the traffic on this route? Need to decide if I'm better off making the drive late one night after Disneyland (paying up to stay it the Venice/Santa Monica area), or if I can get away with just staying the night in Anaheim and waking up early the next morning.

Well, which freeway are you talking about? There are a few routes from Anaheim to Santa Monica. So Cal rush hour starts sometimes before 6:00 am and doesn't end until about 9:00 am. On the Disneyland Disunplugged podcasts, they've recommended to use the Waze app on your phone. You plug in your destination and the time that you want to arrive and it will tell you what time to leave. It will also reroute you if traffic along a particular freeway is really bad.

What time do you need to be in Santa Monica the following morning?

 

[Pacolovestacos]

I don't have a time in mind for the morning arrival. Basically, I want to get there early enough so that I'm not stuck in traffic and can find parking close to the pier.

 

[bcla]

I don't have a time in mind for the morning arrival. Basically, I want to get there early enough so that I'm not stuck in traffic and can find parking close to the pier.

So time may not be as much an issue as maintaining your sanity in Southern California traffic?

 

[SMD]

Where in SM? If something happens to close even part PCH it can be awful any time of day. But if you don't have to be somewhere impacted by that by a certain time you could just hope for the best and either deal with the traffic or stop and try to wait it out if for some reason something like that happens.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

So time may not be as much an issue as maintaining your sanity in Southern California traffic?

Well said

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Where in SM? If something happens to close even part PCH it can be awful any time of day. But if you don't have to be somewhere impacted by that by a certain time you could just hope for the best and either deal with the traffic or stop and try to wait it out if for some reason something like that happens.

I'd like to get parking by the Pier. But based on my research, it seems I can reserve a spot at a nearby hotel like The Shore.

 

[SMD]

The lots closest to the beach have more limited hours than some of the others to discourage overnight parking. I'd probably sleep the extra hour, even if it means slightly more traffic, to avoid arriving before the lots open and having to drive around on limited sleep.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

Think I may stick with the original plan and head to SM after Disneyland late night. Then I can just sleep in. Hotels are a little pricier in that area compared to Anaheim but maybe worth it.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I think you would be fine leaving at 5 AM - you should get to Santa Monica before rush hour. I would suggest to not park at the pier or at a hotel, but in one of the garages on 2nd street. They all have big numbers on them, and the rates are very good (I think it's $1.20/hour after the first hour - you'll be paying $20+ parking at the pier or a hotel). The 6 garage is bright red and conveniently located near the pier and Third Street Promenade.

 

[SMD]

I think you would be fine leaving at 5 AM - you should get to Santa Monica before rush hour. I would suggest to not park at the pier or at a hotel, but in one of the garages on 2nd street. They all have big numbers on them, and the rates are very good (I think it's $1.20/hour after the first hour - you'll be paying $20+ parking at the pier or a hotel). The 6 garage is bright red and conveniently located near the pier and Third Street Promenade.

It's 90 min free, then $1 for an hour, then $1.50 every 30 up to $14 daily max. The daily max at most beach lots have a lower max, but they're staffed, so they have to be open to park. At least most of the city structures are automated, so might have longer hours. And in summer, covered parking might be worth it.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Think I may stick with the original plan and head to SM after Disneyland late night. Then I can just sleep in. Hotels are a little pricier in that area compared to Anaheim but maybe worth it.

I like this option because shops don't open until 10am, and even if you have breakfast in Santa Monica, that would be a lot of time waiting around (even counting for walking along the beach, etc.).