Disneyland to San Diego zoo tips

[DanM3]

Hi me and my wife are thinking of driving to San Diego zoo from Anaheim (we are staying at the best western stovalls in). We have decided to go for the day (a Wednesday in August) and are driving there (I should add we are from the uk). Am I right in thinking that it will take around 2 hours? What time should we plan to head there? And what time should we plan to leave the zoo to avoid some traffic? Or should we go on a Sunday instead for better traffic? Thanks

 

[cruisehopeful]

The zoo will have extended hours in August. You can avoid most traffic if you leave Anaheim after 9:00am. You are correct that it will take approx. 2 hours each way. If you leave the zoo after 6:00pm, you shouldn't have any traffic issues. You are better off going on Wednesday. Weekend traffic can be really bad at any time of the day or night.

 

[HydroGuy]

I would DEFINITELY avoid weekdays from OC/Anaheim to San Diego. But weekends can have traffic too. I suspect it will take you closer to 3 hours to get to the SD zoo. I will be doing the same drive this week but to northern San Diego to meet someone in Carlsbad and have done it many times including when I lived in San Diego.

I personally recommend you NOT do this. It is worth it to pack up your things and get a hotel in SD if you want to go to the zoo. Then drive down the night before at 9PM or after and drive back to OC at 9PM or after the next night. IMO the traffic fight is not worth it to go to the SD Zoo on a day trip. You will waste more time than you expect in traffic and will have less hours than you expect at the zoo. Plus you will be frustrated and not enjoy the zoo as much as you expect as a result.

 

[Amysita]

Have you considered using the grey line bus? They pick you up at your hotel, take you to the bus hub to board the bus to SD Zoo. On the way back, they drop you off at your hotel. I found this well worth the money not to have to worry about traffic, driving in an unfamiliar place, and having door to door service...it just made sense to me. The bus ride (once on the actual bus) was 1-1/2 - 2 hours. SD Zoo is AWESOME. Word to the wise, wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for some wicked hills to climb (especially to get to the polar bear exhibit).

 

[grnflash]

I second the PP's advice to go on Wednesday. We make a reverse trip regularly and you really don't need to be scared of weekday traffic. I'd also say there's no need for an overnight stay. A different opinion of course than another posters, but that would be a total waste imo. Again, we make this trip a lot (we live near the zoo) and it's not a big deal if you avoid the rush hours AND use the car pool lanes.

The zoo is fantastic, Sunday traffic not so much. I can't speak to Orange County traffic, but down here in San Diego the 5 (the freeway you will take to the zoo) is clogged on Sunday's - everyone's going to the beach. If you leave at 9 on Wednesday you'll skip the major morning commute traffic. You won't want to leave the zoo for the trip North till 7 or later to avoid the after work rush hour. If you do this, your trip should be 2 hours barring a major accident along the way.

Btw, the zoo is lovely at night. The extended hours are well worth it. While many of the animals will be asleep after dark, the park is beautiful and some of the major animals will still be on viewing (incl. the pandas.) There will still be shows going on and the parade is charming (nowhere near a Disney production but still fun.) Enjoy your trip!

 

[ten6mom]

Have you considered using the grey line bus? They pick you up at your hotel, take you to the bus hub to board the bus to SD Zoo. On the way back, they drop you off at your hotel. I found this well worth the money not to have to worry about traffic, driving in an unfamiliar place, and having door to door service...it just made sense to me. The bus ride (once on the actual bus) was 1-1/2 - 2 hours. SD Zoo is AWESOME. Word to the wise, wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for some wicked hills to climb (especially to get to the polar bear exhibit).

Thank you for this information! We are doing something similar (driving to Legoland from DL instead of to the zoo) and I dread the thought of the traffic. I will look into this further! It would be nice to relax with my little guy instead of drive.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I've driven to San Diego several times just for the day. When we've had relatives over we'd go down for the day, and for work I have driven for the day and back - yes it's four hours of driving for the day, but it is doable.

You might think about leaving around 6am. You'll still hit traffic, but will miss the worst of it, and plan to have breakfast in San Diego. Enjoy your day at the zoo, and have dinner before driving back. If you can use data here, try downloading WAZE on your phone. It is a good app for gauging travel time, and takes into account traffic on the road.

(I'm planning on going to the San Diego Zoo on a day trip, probably on a Friday, and am just going to deal with traffic. I live about 15 minutes from LAX Airport, so will have a farther drive than from the Disneyland Resort.)

 

[Bud Ice]

San Diego is very doable and awesome. Do mixit in if you can.

 

[Amysita]

Thank you for this information! We are doing something similar (driving to Legoland from DL instead of to the zoo) and I dread the thought of the traffic. I will look into this further! It would be nice to relax with my little guy instead of drive.

I don't know what age your little one is...but the buses have TV screens throughout the buses (hanging from above) & show a Disney movie on the trips to and fro. It really makes the trip quicker for the kids having something entertaining to watch.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I love the idea of hitting the road super early that morning! The zoo is amazing and there is so much to see that you can easily spend an entire summer day exploring. Don't waste your morning on the road or trying to sleep in- the SD zoo is one of the best zoos in the world for a reason! I would have been so bummed if I waited for morning traffic to die down and then didn't make it to the zoo until lunch, there's just so much to see.

Edit: and I love the sticking around to have dinner in San Diego idea. You just aren't going to be able to leave early enough to beat traffic but you can wait out a good chunk of it if you enjoy a leisurely dinner somewhere near the zoo!

 

[bumbershoot]

Just realize that the zoo is *huge* and *hilly*. I cannot emphasize *hilly* enough to really get it understood, how hilly it is. And if you're going when it's hot (like August), well, it's *hot*. Huge, Hot, and Hilly. Bring your sunscreen, your hats, and water.

 

[MissErikaRae]

Yeah 2 hours is about right assuming you don't hit traffic. Driving during a weekday be sure to avoid commuter traffic- stay in San Diego until bout 7pm is and you should be fine on the way back. The morning you might hit a little traffic if you leave before 9am but I don't think much.

 

[A Small World]

Have you considered using the grey line bus? They pick you up at your hotel, take you to the bus hub to board the bus to SD Zoo. On the way back, they drop you off at your hotel. I found this well worth the money not to have to worry about traffic, driving in an unfamiliar place, and having door to door service...it just made sense to me. The bus ride (once on the actual bus) was 1-1/2 - 2 hours. SD Zoo is AWESOME. Word to the wise, wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for some wicked hills to climb (especially to get to the polar bear exhibit).

Agree (Im also from UK) - we used the Greyline bus to get to the zoo and it was a really easy option. Picked us up at the hotel and drove there in comfort and on the way back we snoozed.

We also used the bus to go the Sea World another year and also to Knotts

 

[DanM3]

Thanks for the advice. Will look into greyline. But if we drive I think we'll leave early maybe at 6ish. Really looking forward to the zoo

 

[grnflash]

Thanks for the advice. Will look into greyline. But if we drive I think we'll leave early maybe at 6ish. Really looking forward to the zoo

Good plan Dan! And please check that the bus company will get you to the zoo at/near opening (9am.) If not, drive down early and have breakfast nearby so you can be at the zoo around opening.

The thing is August is hot here. Hot means many animals retreating to shaded areas or just being lethargic. Mornings are absolutely best in the summer to see animal activity. Plus some, like the polar bears, will have scheduled feedings which definitely adds to the animal activity.

 

[Purrkins]

There's also the Amtrak option if you like trains (and its a pretty ride along the coast much of the way).

Do be aware that there is racing season in Del Mar just North of San Diego and this does create a traffic jams around posted start times. Just be sure to pass Del Mar an hour or two before/after the races start. There's really no way around this.

Zoo stays open for Nightime Zoo in the summer which is a great time to see the zoo. August can be hot, and the zoo does require walking, and has nice hills. Animals are most active early in the day and late afternoon/evening. If you drive, stay late to beat the traffic. I do this in reverse often (I live next to the zoo - I heard elephants this morning!) and usually head up at 6 AM and leave Disneyland at close. I've made the drive in 72 minutes once. Have fun! It's a great zoo (I visit a few times a week and will be there next week for my evening jogs once nighttime zoo starts).

 

[felice]

+1 for another recommendation of Gray Line's included transportation and entry to San Diego Zoo, as opposed to driving from Anaheim.

Gray Line will pick you up from your hotel and take you over to their depot, where it doesn't take long to get tickets organized and customers to the bus which is being used for the trip. Your concierge at your hotel should be able to take payment and ensure the bus collects and drops you at your hotel in the evening.

 

[HydroGuy]

I would DEFINITELY avoid weekdays from OC/Anaheim to San Diego. But weekends can have traffic too. I suspect it will take you closer to 3 hours to get to the SD zoo. I will be doing the same drive this week but to northern San Diego to meet someone in Carlsbad and have done it many times including when I lived in San Diego.

I personally recommend you NOT do this. It is worth it to pack up your things and get a hotel in SD if you want to go to the zoo. Then drive down the night before at 9PM or after and drive back to OC at 9PM or after the next night. IMO the traffic fight is not worth it to go to the SD Zoo on a day trip. You will waste more time than you expect in traffic and will have less hours than you expect at the zoo. Plus you will be frustrated and not enjoy the zoo as much as you expect as a result.

I stayed near DLR this past week and did a day trip to Carlsbad (north of San Diego zoo area by 30 minutes when there is no traffic). I have consistently had bad experience with traffic in SoCal no matter where or when I go anywhere. I have driven to OC to SD many, many times (used to live in SD) and I cannot remember the last time I made it through there without excruciating traffic. Until last Wednesday. I left DLR area around 9AM and had a 11:45 appointment. I was pleasantly surprised to hit minimal traffic thru south OC and I made it to Carlsbad in about 70 minutes. However, right where I got off the I-5 stop and go traffic started so I have no idea how long it would have taken to get to SD.

I again had good luck coming back. I left Carlsbad around 1:40 and got back around 3PM - with some traffic again in south OC but not that bad.

Based on my past experience I would never expect this to happen for me again. But it did happen last week and I thought it was fair I report it since this thread is still active.