Car Travel in Orange County with Anaheim

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Car Travel

The San Diego Freeway (I-405), the coastal route, and the Santa Ana Freeway (I-5), the inland route, run north-south through Orange County. South of Laguna I-405 merges into I-5 (called the San Diego Freeway south from this point). A toll road, the 73 Highway, runs 15 mi from Newport Beach to San Juan Capistrano; it costs $3 and is usually less jammed than the regular freeways. Do your best to avoid freeways during rush hours (6-9 and 3:30-6:30).

Highways 55 and 91 head west to the ocean and east into the mountains and desert. Highway 91, which goes to inland points, has some express lanes for which drivers pay a toll, ostensibly to avoid the worst of rush-hour traffic. If you have three or more people in your car, though, you can use the Highway 91 express lanes most of the day for free (the exception being 4 PM-6 PM on weekdays, when you pay half-fare). Highway 55 leads to Newport Beach. The Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) allows easy access to beach communities and is the most scenic route.

Laguna Canyon Road, the beautiful route that winds through a coastal canyon, is undergoing a widening project begun in 2003. The work is expected to finish soon, but the road will remain open throughout. The old road is quite narrow and used by cyclists as well as drivers, so be especially cautious and turn on your headlights even in daytime.