Heavens

Hello, helpful Fodorites. I am asking for my OD. She will be taking herself off to college in ten days and she wants to move herself in (we will be coming the next weekend to bring bigger stuff she can't carry).

She will be getting up at 5 and off on the road at 6 heading up to SB. I would like the safest, quickest route to advise her on. I think the 101 is in there somewhere, but what roads going from I10 West to the 101? Thanks in advance.

dwooddon

The most direct and fastest route would be I-10 into downtown Los Angeles. Connect to US-101 which is also the Hollywood Freeway. When she reaches the Junction for Cal-170 in Universal City, it goes straight and the US-101 heads west. Take US-101 toward Sherman Oaks and Woodland Hills and follow it all the way to and through Santa Barbara. Assuming she's going to UCSB, it will be a few miles on the west side of Santa Barbara in Goleta.

I just read through my directions and they are accurate but don't they sound a little like an early George Carlin routine?

dwooddon

The other route, which is nearly as direct and fast, would be the I-10 to the I-405 AKA the San Diego Freeway, to US-101 and then as in the previous post.

If it were me, I'd start listening to KFI or KNX as I got into the area of Pomona/Azuza and make my decision on which route based on traffic reports. She's leaving PS late enough so she should miss the heaviest traffic but, in LA, you never know what's going to create traffic misery.

In case she does not already know, tell her she could not have picked a better place to go to school.

Heavens

Yes, it looks like it will be a wonderful experience for her. Going to school in SB is going to be a bit of a challenge, I think. First, it is a small, resort town. You have to get through LA, and LA traffic, to get to it. From our little town, it is six hours drive. We can deal with all of this. And being not so close to home was part of the appeal of the school for her.

When talking with a hotel employee yesterday, she explained to me that the prices always go up on the weekends(understandable, so that makes a Best Western cost up to $200) and they require two night minimums, every weekend. So, we have to get around these rules too. Doesn't look like we will make it up there too often.

Is there any way to get from Palm Springs to SB without going directly through LA? Is there a way to get around some of the traffic? Thanks.

rjw_lgb_ca

You can avoid some of the greater LA traffic by hopping I-210 north toward Pasadena-- east of downtown LA. You'll then catch CA-134 west, which will magically turn into CA-101. Follow all the way up into SB.

boom_boom

The 210 option is likely to be much better at that time of day, but I'd go 10 to 210 to 5 north to 126 which runs into the 101 at Ventura then follow the directions to UCSB