Driving to Universal City from Irvine - any ideas?

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  • Cosmo
    Cosmo 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!!!
  • norm
    norm 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 adeline
    sweet 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 ;)
  • norm
    norm 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 Canadia
    SD 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)
  • bigbadbill
    bigbadbill 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?
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  • Cosmo
    Cosmo 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!!!
  • Veddernarian
    Veddernarian 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
  • Veddernarian
    Veddernarian 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
  • Tonykin
    Tonykin 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
  • Veddernarian
    Veddernarian Posts: 1,924
    ~Tijuana~
    Doesn't that Red San Diego Trolly come to the border at San Yisidro, across the arch from Tijuana? I would consider crossing the border at Tijuana into San Yisidro by foot. Catch the Red San Diego Trolley and take it to the San Diego Train station. Then catch Amtrak to Los Angeles Union Station. Then from Union Station, take the Metro Red Line to Universal.
    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 mcmichael
    gar mcmichael Posts: 184
    Just make sure you're past the 5/805 interchange in SD by 2:30. I'm hoping to leave Irvine at 4 and be at the venue by 6. If you're trying to arrive at a similar time, you would have to be at the 5/805 interchange by 2:30 or so and you should avoid the SD traffic that way. Yeah, I'd call in sick if that's an option. These mid-week LA shows are a killer.

    Veddernarian - I'm not sure what you do for a living, but you should consider switching careers and just start providing directions to people in Southern California. Next time I need to go anywhere in the area, I'm PMing you for insight.
  • Tonykin
    Tonykin Posts: 252
    Veddernarian wrote:
    ~Tijuana~
    Doesn't that Red San Diego Trolly come to the border at San Yisidro, across the arch from Tijuana? I would consider crossing the border at Tijuana into San Yisidro by foot. Catch the Red San Diego Trolley and take it to the San Diego Train station. Then catch Amtrak to Los Angeles Union Station. Then from Union Station, take the Metro Red Line to Universal.

    :o You really know southern California!!

    You are right! But it would take me about the same time as driving. There's also a lot of people crossing the border to work by foot.

    Thanx ne way!! :)

    Gar McMichael - Thanx for the advise.... :) and I would do the same if I got any plans around Southern California... Just send PM to Veddernarian :lol:
    "... Tan suato mi'jo!!"

    -Salomón & Artemisa Vargas

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