San Diego to Santa Barbara - Best way thru/around LA

If it rains or had recently rained PCH will probably have some issues. Still don't know when you are going, but I recommend early Sat or Sunday morning and I would take the 405. I actually would not take PCH or the 101. The 101/405 interchange can be ugly as many cars try to make their way over and leave little to no room for breaking on a down hill approach to the 101. I'd actually take the 405 to the 126 and head west. The 126 turns into the 101 near the Oxnard/Ventura line.

Why is this even a debate?

Not a debate it is a fact, that CalTrans, the people that fix the roads in CA, as of TODAY do not have any closures on PCH that will stop the poster from using it to get to Santa Barbara. Maybe there were closures yesterday and maybe there will be some tomorrow.

BTW Living in Oxnard and working in Los Alamitos for 3 years so I drove that route most everyday. Being from NM has nothing to do with where I am at the moment. I may be at the RV park in Malibu or Point Mugu Naval Air Station or sipping a rum and coke in Cuba it makes no difference I know the road and the op asked for info on routes to Santa Barbara. Lighten up it is not about you.

NMDriver wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:
PCH has been closed on and off for weeks. Once again, when its closed there is no way around unless you're willing to drive a canyon road.

Caltrans shows no delays on 1 in that section for traffic during the day. There are some night time lane closures from 1-6 Mar but they start after 2000.

Looks to me like you're in New Mexico? Who cares what CalTrans says at the moment you looked? That road has been open and closed due to both rock and mud slides ON & OFF for weeks. Why is this even a debate?

SCVJeff wrote:
PCH has been closed on and off for weeks. Once again, when its closed there is no way around unless you're willing to drive a canyon road.

Caltrans shows no delays on 1 in that section for traffic during the day. There are some night time lane closures from 1-6 Mar but they start after 2000.

PCH has been closed on and off for weeks. Once again, when its closed there is no way around unless you're willing to drive a canyon road.

On PCH, watch out for the bicyclists!

Also, the answer to the OP's question depends a lot on the day, the time, and the weather. Early on a weekend, just sail up the 5 to the 405 to the 101. In wet weather, don't go. On a weekday, leave San Diego any time between 8 pm and 3 am.

Check Sigalert.com and Google Maps for traffic as you are driving -- zigzag on alternate routes if something major pops up.

Listen to 1070 am for traffic on the fives (1:05, 1:15, etc) for last minute info.

SCVJeff wrote:
OP must not be from round these parts...
The offered up "detours" are hours out of the way on any day

There is no way to short cut LA without at least a 60 mile detour. Leave early on a weekend morning, head up the 5 to the 405 to avoid all the truck traffic, and either the 101, or up to the 126 and back to the 101. Save lots of time and headache

I would agree but cut off at the 10/405 exchange and take 10 to 1 (PCH), instead of going over the pass to Simi Valley. I use 1 from Santa Monica to 101 in Oxnard. It has a "NO TRUCKS" restriction but it is not enforced on RV's and PCH is just as fast as 405/101, shorter mileage, and a lot more scenic. It is 4 lane with some traffic lights up to the Ventura County line and a mix of passing lanes and single lane stretches, until it is again 4 lane at Point Mugu.

SCVJeff wrote:

ccxnola wrote:
BUT...a 60 mile detour ain't nuttin compared to sitting in a 15-mile long parking lot called a 'freeway'!!!!

You obviously aren't from these parts either. Anyone that lives here will tell you that ANY of those back road freeways can lockup far worse than the San Diego freeway, often worse. And there is NO detour to the 15 when it shuts down.

People try to make a big deal out of the 5 & 405, but the "alternates" are no better.

Exactly

ccxnola wrote:
BUT...a 60 mile detour ain't nuttin compared to sitting in a 15-mile long parking lot called a 'freeway'!!!!

You obviously aren't from these parts either. Anyone that lives here will tell you that ANY of those back road freeways can lockup far worse than the San Diego freeway, often worse. And there is NO detour to the 15 when it shuts down.

People try to make a big deal out of the 5 & 405, but the "alternates" are no better.

BUT...a 60 mile detour ain't nuttin compared to sitting in a 15-mile long parking lot called a 'freeway'!!!!