Driving to Universal City from Irvine - any ideas?

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?
Like I said, I know it will blow no matter what I do but does anyone have any great ideas?
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**** 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.
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.
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
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.
ah gotcha but at that time of the day it might be better to go 5/134...the 101 just blows
fyi... carpool lanes end at the la county line on the 5...the 605, 710, 10 and 210 all have carpool lanes
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.
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
no to the 101? then how the hell am i going to get there???
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.
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.
do what laird did and get on your bike!!
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.
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.
Hail, Hail!!!
yeah you'll make it just in time for the first encore
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
2009 - LA III & SD; 2011 - SD (EV) & LBC (EV); 2013 - SD & LA II; 2022 SD (EV)
Like I said before, I think this is the best route. What time are you leaving Irvine?
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.
Hail, Hail!!!
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.
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.
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