How to navigate Los Angles to Long Beach?

[RoyF]

I've only driven straight through Los Angles on I-5, but next summer I plan to visit Long Beach: 101 Golden Shore Drive, near the aquarium. If I approach on I-15, both Garmin and Google Maps pick the same route: I-15 to I-210 to I-605 to I-105 to I-710 to Golden Shore Drive.

I will be pulling a 35-foot fifth-wheel and plan to come in on a Saturday afternoon.

Looking at the map, I-15 to I-10 to I-710 is possible. So is I-15 to CA 91 to I-710. Is the Garmin route likely to be as good as those? (I understand that slow traffic is always a possibility in any city on any freeway.)

[dedmiston]

profdant139 wrote:
After posting that item, I suddenly realized that I sound like an episode of The Californians on Saturday Night Live, where every conversation devolved into a passionate discussion of traffic patterns.

Classic.

"Muhreenah Del Rayah..."

[CA_Traveler]

Thanks, haven't wanted to take 5 recently which goes back years, so will consider in the future. On 12/27 I was actually in Vista and could have take 15, 91, 71, 210 which is 15 miles longer but 405 was familiar.

[2oldman]

profdant139 wrote:
the freeways of Southern California are not RV friendly --

Nor is Las Vegas. I think I'd rather be on an LA freeway than there.

[profdant139]

From Oceanside to Santa Barbara, I'd start with I-5 (the only choice) and then take the 5 to the 134 West, avoiding the 101 (always!) and the 405 through Sepulveda Pass. The 134 joins the 101 -- the merge can get a little tricky.

But to use Google Maps, have your navigator ask for routing as you approach the 405/5 split in Mission Viejo. It could be that the 5 north is in bad shape and that the 405 is preferable. Unlikely, but it does happen.

I know of a few drivers who do the phone navigation trick single handed -- using voice recognition. I think this is a bad idea -- you have to look down, even for an instant, to click the icon or whatever. Stay alert --the freeways of Southern California are not RV friendly -- traffic is both fast and dense, and many of the other drivers are the same. 😉

[2oldman]

profdant139 wrote:
Yes, it is. Amazingly accurate, too. If it says "if you take route A, you'll arrive in 29 minutes," it is right on the money..

Wow.. thanks for that info. I always relied on a separate lookup of a traffic flow map, but yours sounds much better.

I was headed to Dockweiler from the east on a weekday afternoon and consulted a flow map which was green all the way in, and it was no problem. The 105 headed east was at a dead stop.

[CA_Traveler]

profdant139 wrote:
And never take the 405, if you can help it. 😉

That's probably true for any LA road. What route would you suggest for Oceanside to Santa Barbara midday?

[profdant139]

After posting that item, I suddenly realized that I sound like an episode of The Californians on Saturday Night Live, where every conversation devolved into a passionate discussion of traffic patterns.

But that is really how life is in SoCal -- you dare not make a move without getting the latest info and then keeping it current during your drive.

And never take the 405, if you can help it. 😉

[profdant139]

Yes, it is. Amazingly accurate, too. If it says "if you take route A, you'll arrive in 29 minutes," it is right on the money.

Somehow, they can even predict when the traffic will start to slow down. So, for example, if you enter the LA area from the north at 3 pm, and the freeways look nice and clear ("green"), and you are heading for Orange County, the algorithm somehow knows that things will bog down at 4:30 and that the trip will take you a half hour longer than you would have predicted, based on the green appearance of the real time freeway map.

They must use data from Waze or some other source of real time info.

[2oldman]

profdant139 wrote:
We use this method every time we drive the freeways. I live here, and this method really works.

So, that's up to the minute traffic data?

[profdant139]

The trick is to have a navigator in the passenger seat who is very familiar with Google Maps. Then, all along the route, the navigator says, "Navigate from my location to the Long Beach Aquarium."

The app will calculate which alternative will produce the best results. And you can't predict in advance which way will be best -- it changes from moment to moment.

We use this method every time we drive the freeways. I live here, and this method really works.

[2oldman]

A traffic flow map will tell you the least congested route.

[CA_Traveler]

jdc1 wrote:
It doesn't matter...you'll never get over 30mph. Just stay in the right lane and use the restroom before you hit those freeways.

Seems to sum up LA. Midday is best for us.

I took I5 one time and one time only. Now I take 405 which is what it is. But use one of the above for your route.

[time2roll]

I use google maps to get accurate arrival time and avoid congestion when possible.
Otherwise there’s no secret route to get to LB.

[jdc1]

It doesn't matter...you'll never get over 30mph. Just stay in the right lane and use the restroom before you hit those freeways.