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Driving to Universal City from Irvine - any ideas?

gar mcmichaelgar mcmichael Posts: 184
edited September 2009 in The Porch
I'll be driving to the Thursday night show next week from Irvine. I don't expect anything less than a traffic nightmare in trying to get to the Gibson Amphitheater between the hours of 4 and 7. Renting a helicopter for the night is not an option unfortunately so I'll be driving. I know the most direct route is the 101, but is there any benefit to taking the 5 all the way to the 134 and backtracking? I guess I'm just looking for some advice since I haven't had to make this trek during rush hour before.

Like I said, I know it will blow no matter what I do but does anyone have any great ideas?
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Comments

  • djjazzy276djjazzy276 Posts: 229
    I think backtracking on the 134 could be a good idea. I drive home on the 134 east every day and it seems that the west bound 134 is usually pretty good at that time, as most people are going the opposite way. Good luck whichever route you choose. Hopefully you get there before Ben Harper takes the stage. Are you going to any of the other nights? I'll be at the 6-7th.
  • gar mcmichaelgar mcmichael Posts: 184
    No, this will be my only LA show, but I'll be at SD the following week. I doubt I'll be there in time for Ben Harper.
  • VeddernarianVeddernarian Posts: 1,924
    I have a boat in Newport Beach and I live in La Canada which is sort of near Gibson. Here is what I do if I take a boating day on a weekday and try to get home. I'll take the 405 N to the 605 N. Then take 5 N to the 710 N. You will be on 710 N for just a minute. Take the 60 W to the 101 N. Take the 10 E and exit State/Soto. Make a right and get back on the 5 N. Take 5 N to 134 W and exit Forest Lawn. Take Forest Lawn drive westbound until Barham. Make a left on Barham and go to Universal which will be on your right.

    **** THIS IS NOT SOME SMARTASS POST**** This is local knowledge. Look at a map. This doesn't avoid every traffic jam but it will avoid many of them. It looks like a lot of freeways but trust me. I can elaborate on the jams you'll be avoiding.
    Up here so high I start to shake, Up here so high the sky I scrape, I've no fear but for falling down, So look out below I am falling now, Falling down,...not staying down, Could’ve held me up, rather tear me down, Drown in the river
  • gar mcmichaelgar mcmichael Posts: 184
    That's the kind of knowledge I am looking for. Thanks to both of you!

    Funny though because I was about to make a comment about not wanting smart ass replies but figured that would just get me more smart ass replies.

    I totally understand about all of the freeways. There are 75 ways to get everywhere in LA just via freeways. I knew that taking the 5 to the 101 as the Citywalk website states is not the best option.
  • bigbadbillbigbadbill Posts: 1,758
    Or, you could take the 57 N to the 210 W, which then becomes the 134 after Pasadena. Stay on 134 W (through Glendale, past the 5 junction) and exit Forest Lawn. Take Forest Lawn to Barham. Turn left on Barham to the 101 (you'll see signs for Universal Studios/City Walk/Gibson). You'll drive more miles this way, but you'll also go faster.
    11/6/95, 11/18/97, 7/13/98, 7/14/98, 10/24/00, 10/25/00, 10/28/00, 6/2/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 7/6/06, 7/7/06, 7/9/06, 7/10/06, 7/13/06, 7/15/06, 7/16/06, 7/18/06, 10/21/06, 4/10/08, 4/13/08, 9/30/09, 10/1/09, 10/6/09, 10/7/09, 10/9/09
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    the 134 is backtracking?? :?

    yeah it's not like getting off the 101 but take the 5 to the 134 get off at cahuenga and in 2 minutes you're at universal

    at that time of the day there really is no good way to get there but whatever you do, do not get on the 101
  • VeddernarianVeddernarian Posts: 1,924
    Will you be carpool or solo?
    Up here so high I start to shake, Up here so high the sky I scrape, I've no fear but for falling down, So look out below I am falling now, Falling down,...not staying down, Could’ve held me up, rather tear me down, Drown in the river
  • gar mcmichaelgar mcmichael Posts: 184
    Carpool! Backtracking just based on distance.

    The lengths I go to for Pearl Jam. My g/f works in SD and I work in Long Beach. So, we'll be meeting in Irvine to switch to one car and then making the trip through afternoon rush hour. The SD show will be much easier to deal with.

    Seriously guys, thanks for the responses. I really appreciate it.
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    gar mcmichael wrote:
    Backtracking just based on distance.

    ah gotcha but at that time of the day it might be better to go 5/134...the 101 just blows :D
  • gar mcmichaelgar mcmichael Posts: 184
    The shortest distance between two points is a straight line EXCEPT if you're in LA where the shortest distance is to take five different freeways in several different directions while illegally driving in the car pool lane at 80 mph. I guess in my case, at least I'll be legal in the carpool lane.
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    and it just gets worse every year

    fyi... carpool lanes end at the la county line on the 5...the 605, 710, 10 and 210 all have carpool lanes
  • VeddernarianVeddernarian Posts: 1,924
    gar mcmichael wrote:
    Carpool! Backtracking just based on distance.

    The lengths I go to for Pearl Jam. My g/f works in SD and I work in Long Beach. So, we'll be meeting in Irvine to switch to one car and then making the trip through afternoon rush hour. The SD show will be much easier to deal with.

    Seriously guys, thanks for the responses. I really appreciate it.

    OK Great. The 405 N has a carpool lane that moves better than the general freeway. It can be tough in the Costa Mesa area up to about Fountain Valley but Carpool will be better. The 605 N also has a carpool lane, and that one flies. When you are on the 605 and get to around the 105, you'll have to migrate right pretty fast to get onto the 5 N. The 5 nas no carpool lane but north at that time is usually pretty good. As you approach the 710, the 5 slows and after the 710, it is horrible. So the 710 N to the 60W is fabulous. That 60 W flies. Stay on the 60 W and pass the 5. It will become the 101. You;ll be flying along and can see the stopped 5 on your right. Stay in the right lane because the 101 will stop in the left lanes as you approach the 10. Take the 10 E for 3/4 mile and exit State/Soto. Make a right at the 1st light at the top of the ramp, go a couple hundred feet and you're back on the 5. Should be on the 5 10-15 minutes until you hit the 134 west. Forest lawn is one of your 1st exits. With carpool and this route, you're looking at 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes.
    Up here so high I start to shake, Up here so high the sky I scrape, I've no fear but for falling down, So look out below I am falling now, Falling down,...not staying down, Could’ve held me up, rather tear me down, Drown in the river
  • fanofzsfanofzs NYC Posts: 509
    What time does the traffic get real bad? I'm driving from Las Vegas late morning to the Sheraton at Universal City Walk on Wed the 7th. Is around 3pm arrival decent driving conditions? Thanks!
  • gar mcmichaelgar mcmichael Posts: 184
    The real answer to that is its never anything but bad. But, if you arrive at 3, you'll should be fine. I can't speak to traffic around there, but in South Bay and OC, 3:30 seems to be the witching hour when things start going from bad to worse.
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    fanofzs wrote:
    What time does the traffic get real bad? I'm driving from Las Vegas late morning to the Sheraton at Universal City Walk on Wed the 7th. Is around 3pm arrival decent driving conditions? Thanks!


    what time do you think you'll be leaving from vegas?

    coming from there once you get on the 210 from the 15 the traffic should be ok...rush hour traffic is going east but even that can be a crapshoot...it should take about an hour to get to universal from the 15/210 interchange
  • sweet adelinesweet adeline Posts: 2,191
    norm wrote:
    the 134 is backtracking?? :?

    yeah it's not like getting off the 101 but take the 5 to the 134 get off at cahuenga and in 2 minutes you're at universal

    at that time of the day there really is no good way to get there but whatever you do, do not get on the 101

    no to the 101? then how the hell am i going to get there???
  • fanofzsfanofzs NYC Posts: 509
    norm wrote:
    fanofzs wrote:
    What time does the traffic get real bad? I'm driving from Las Vegas late morning to the Sheraton at Universal City Walk on Wed the 7th. Is around 3pm arrival decent driving conditions? Thanks!


    what time do you think you'll be leaving from vegas?

    coming from there once you get on the 210 from the 15 the traffic should be ok...rush hour traffic is going east but even that can be a crapshoot...it should take about an hour to get to universal from the 15/210 interchange


    I plan on leaving from a late morning hotel check out. I could leave earlier though. I just wanted to make the most of my stay in Vegas.

    Thanks for the info.
  • gar mcmichaelgar mcmichael Posts: 184
    [/quote]

    no to the 101? then how the hell am i going to get there???[/quote]

    Pretty sure that statement only applied to my situation, coming from the OC.
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    sweet adeline wrote:
    norm wrote:
    the 134 is backtracking?? :?

    yeah it's not like getting off the 101 but take the 5 to the 134 get off at cahuenga and in 2 minutes you're at universal

    at that time of the day there really is no good way to get there but whatever you do, do not get on the 101

    no to the 101? then how the hell am i going to get there???


    do what laird did and get on your bike!! ;):lol:
  • sweet adelinesweet adeline Posts: 2,191
    norm wrote:
    do what laird did and get on your bike!! ;):lol:

    i consider myself to be in pretty good shape, but laird hamilton, i am not.

    i'm leaving santa barbara at 3pm so even if we have to sit in traffic for a while i'll be fine i suppose.
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    This sounds complicated... but it isn't... check with any of the mapping websites to get a clear view.
    I drive from Cypress, CA. (Orange County) to Hollywood all the time... this is the best route i have found... normally 40 to 50 minutes (and I drive like an old lady).
    ...
    First... set your radio to AM 980 and 1070. They have consistant traffic reports... AM 980 (when there isn't a Dodgers Game) 5:01, 5:11, 5:21, 5:31, etc... AM 1070 5:05,5:15,5:25, etc...
    Now...
    North 405
    to 605 North
    to 105 West
    to 710 North
    to 10 West
    to 101 West (North)
    to Universal City Drive Exit

    This is a direct path that routes you around some of the most notorious congestion areas in the city. You will bypass the East L.A. Exchange and the worst corridor in the county... 405 North, past LAX and the 405/10 interchange.

    Note:
    You will normally hit traffic on the 405 North from about South Coast Plaza (Bristol Street) to about Beach Blvd.
    605 North is normally a clear shot and you bail out before the I-5 exchange mess by taking the 105 West.
    105 West is normally a clear shot.
    710 North is normally clear, but gets a lot of trucks from the harbor. Do Not take the I-5 North exit from the North 710... that puts you in the middle of the East L.A. Exchange.
    10 West is normally clear.
    101 gets busy (sometimes) from downtown L.A. to the 4-Level. Clears up through Hollywood and starts to get busy again from about Sunset. But, you are on the home stretch at that point.
    ...
    Listen to the radio and have a contingency plan if you hear any of those freeways called out.
    If the 101 North is a problem... exit 10 West to 5 North. Take that to 134 West... exit Cahuenga (South) or Lankershim (South) and follow the signs.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    sweet adeline wrote:
    norm wrote:
    do what laird did and get on your bike!! ;):lol:

    i consider myself to be in pretty good shape, but laird hamilton, i am not.

    i'm leaving santa barbara at 3pm so even if we have to sit in traffic for a while i'll be fine i suppose.

    yeah you'll make it just in time for the first encore ;):lol::lol:
  • sweet adelinesweet adeline Posts: 2,191
    norm wrote:
    sweet adeline wrote:
    norm wrote:
    do what laird did and get on your bike!! ;):lol:

    i consider myself to be in pretty good shape, but laird hamilton, i am not.

    i'm leaving santa barbara at 3pm so even if we have to sit in traffic for a while i'll be fine i suppose.

    yeah you'll make it just in time for the first encore ;):lol::lol:

    i'll be looking for you buddy. i'll look toward the ground and try to find the guy wearing teva's with socks ;)
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    sweet adeline wrote:
    i'll be looking for you buddy. i'll look toward the ground and try to find the guy wearing teva's with socks ;)

    :twisted: :twisted:

    well you met him at the wiltern and he's going to the second night and san diego so give him shit not me!!! :P :lol:
  • SD CanadiaSD Canadia Posts: 23
    How bad is the hike from the Metro stop to the actual venue? I was thinking of taking the train from San Diego to Union Station and then the Reline to Universal City.
    1994 - Bridge School I; 2005 - The Gorge; 2006 - SD & LA I; 2008 - SD II(EV) & Camden I;
    2009 - LA III & SD; 2011 - SD (EV) & LBC (EV); 2013 - SD & LA II; 2022 SD (EV)
  • bigbadbillbigbadbill Posts: 1,758
    bigbadbill wrote:
    Or, you could take the 57 N to the 210 W, which then becomes the 134 after Pasadena. Stay on 134 W (through Glendale, past the 5 junction) and exit Forest Lawn. Take Forest Lawn to Barham. Turn left on Barham to the 101 (you'll see signs for Universal Studios/City Walk/Gibson). You'll drive more miles this way, but you'll also go faster.

    Like I said before, I think this is the best route. What time are you leaving Irvine?
    11/6/95, 11/18/97, 7/13/98, 7/14/98, 10/24/00, 10/25/00, 10/28/00, 6/2/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 7/6/06, 7/7/06, 7/9/06, 7/10/06, 7/13/06, 7/15/06, 7/16/06, 7/18/06, 10/21/06, 4/10/08, 4/13/08, 9/30/09, 10/1/09, 10/6/09, 10/7/09, 10/9/09
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    SD Canadia wrote:
    How bad is the hike from the Metro stop to the actual venue? I was thinking of taking the train from San Diego to Union Station and then the Reline to Universal City.
    ...
    The Metro Station is at the bottom of the hill. It's a bit of a hike up the hill... not so much the distance, but the incline. I be;ieve there is a free shuttle that just goes up and down the hill.... but, it may be a wait... depending upon the crowd.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • VeddernarianVeddernarian Posts: 1,924
    From Vegas, one route would be 15 S to 210 W becomes 134 W, exit Forest Lawn. Take Forest Lawn to Barham, make a left and then right into Universal. Another Route is to take the 15 S to the 18 and then 138 from Victorville west on the 138 and catch the 14 South. Take the 14 S to the 5 S to the 170 S which becomes the 101 right at Universal. Make the decision based on traffic reports.

    From Santa Barbara, consider 101 S and take the 126 East through Santa Paula to Santa Clarita. Catch the 5 South to the 170 South and Universal is right there where the 170 becomes the 101. Benefit is you miss all that traffic on the Canejo grade leaving Camarillo, miss the Thousand Oaks/Agoura traffic around the 23, and most importantly, miss all that traffic between Topanga Canyon and the 101/134 split. This is a huge savings.
    Up here so high I start to shake, Up here so high the sky I scrape, I've no fear but for falling down, So look out below I am falling now, Falling down,...not staying down, Could’ve held me up, rather tear me down, Drown in the river
  • VeddernarianVeddernarian Posts: 1,924
    Cosmo wrote:
    SD Canadia wrote:
    How bad is the hike from the Metro stop to the actual venue? I was thinking of taking the train from San Diego to Union Station and then the Reline to Universal City.
    ...
    The Metro Station is at the bottom of the hill. It's a bit of a hike up the hill... not so much the distance, but the incline. I be;ieve there is a free shuttle that just goes up and down the hill.... but, it may be a wait... depending upon the crowd.

    Train from SD to Red line is a very smart move at those hours. Train is 2:45, Red Line is another 45 minutes. You'll be missing all of that SD North County traffic, all that traffic through Irvine through Orange County, and missing LA's traffic. Somebody will get you up that hill. You're choosing the best option.
    Up here so high I start to shake, Up here so high the sky I scrape, I've no fear but for falling down, So look out below I am falling now, Falling down,...not staying down, Could’ve held me up, rather tear me down, Drown in the river
  • TonykinTonykin Posts: 252
    Thanx OP and all of you for this info. I am driving up there from Tijuana. I need now the info to avoid heavy traffic in SD area :( On top of that I need to cross the border which would take me at least one hour more... :cry:

    I think I am calling in sick to work on 10/06... then again on 10/09 for SD gig... :shock:
    "... Tan suato mi'jo!!"

    -Salomón & Artemisa Vargas
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