Let's face it, driving in L.A., or any other major U.S. state for that matter, is never fun. Adding to your regular daily stresses is the fact you are in a strange city; in a car you aren't really familiar with (your cheap rental car), which is potentially full of kids or other rambunctious travelers can you say STRESS! Here we'll try to give you some insider tips on how to drive in L.A., when to avoid the roads at all costs, and some detours which may, (or may not, depending on the day, time and other factors) prove to be a bit faster.
Stay calm. If you aren't comfortable driving with crazy people, try to keep off the major highways and interstates. If you think you can handle it, make sure to stay in the slow lane. The faster lanes are for experienced (crazy) people. Cars in this lane tend to travel between 30 and 40 miles faster than the posted speed limit, so keep out of their way!
Know where you are going BEFORE you leave. A lot of people think they are connoisseurs of reading and driving at the same time, but believe me, when you get into L.A. traffic you'll need to have your full attention on the road at all times. So plan your route out before you leave. Have the person you are traveling with in the front seat of the cheap rental car, with the map open to the area you are traveling to. This early planning helps to cut down on the amount of turning and bunching of the map that goes on while in the car.
Tune to a local station to listen for traffic updates. AM 640 or AM 1070 are particularly good for traffic info on Los Angeles/Ventura/Orange county freeways. If you come upon an accident and have a cell phone, pull over and phone it in to the stations. As well as doing a good deed, you help other people to know where the congestion will be.
Know the roads and the times they are bad. The following is a pretty good idea of when to travel and when not to:
5-9am - morning rush hour ' unless you have a death wish, AVOID DRIVING NOW
9-11am - post morning rush hour ' rush hour is most likely over and probably only light traffic around now, a good time to head out
11-1pm - lunch time ' hit and miss, downtown may be busy
1-3pm - pre-rush hour ' if you have somewhere to go that's close, now is a good time to get a move on
3-7pm - evening rush hour ' your second death wish of the day, STAY OFF THE ROADS
7-10pm - post evening rush hour ' moderate traffic unless there is an event happening somewhere in LA (ex basketball game)
10pm-5am - Red Eye time ' the roads are free and empty, a good time to travel BUT ONLY if you have had sufficient sleep. Watch for impaired drivers, pedestrians and small animals.
Highway 1 is one of the most famous and infamous highways in California. This highway has one of the highest maintenance bills for any State roadway in California. The Big Sur section is closed more than it is open in wet winters, the Malibu section is plagued by mud and rock slides.
Route 2 is one of the more varied routes in the Los Angeles area. It begins in Santa Monica at the junction of Lincoln Boulevard and the Santa Monica Freeway, follows Santa Monica Boulevard east to the Hollywood Freeway (US 101), joins the freeway for a couple of exits, then leaves it at Alvarado St. Following Alvarado Street, then Glendale Boulevard, it gets onto the stub end of the Glendale Freeway. The Angeles Crest Highway is a very scenic route through the Angeles National Forest.
Interstate 10 (Santa Monica / San Bernardino / Redlands Freeway)
The Route 10 freeway goes through some of the most heavily populated areas of Los Angeles and its suburbs. The San Bernardino Freeway is often called the US 60, US 70, US 99; the Ramona Freeway, the Ramona Parkway, and the Ramona Boulevard east of the Los Angeles River by locals, so be sure to note this if you need to ask for directions! The Santa Monica Freeway is also known as the Olympic Freeway.
