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Old 05-26-2009, 03:40 PM
 
Location: Los Angeles, CA (born in Chi-town, though!)
92 posts, read 409,451 times
Reputation: 42

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Hi, all,

The BF and I are looking to take a little trip over Fourth of July weekend. I had originally suggested Palm Springs but he informed me that he was not going to the desert in July (only using a few more expletives than that, ha ha).

We live in LA and have been to San Diego and would like to try to visit somewhere new. Perhaps San Francisco? How long does it really take to drive there from LA?

Or, I am completely open to alternate suggestions.

Thanks!
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Old 05-26-2009, 03:42 PM
 
Location: Planet Earth
1,084 posts, read 3,287,525 times
Reputation: 857
I would advise against it on Holiday weekends. The only time I've done the trip was when there was a holiday on a monday. I left on Friday at noon and it took me well over 10 hours. Maybe if you leave really late or really early it would be better.
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Old 05-26-2009, 03:50 PM
 
242 posts, read 432,989 times
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On my many, many trips from Pleasanton to Pasadena, it would take (on average) about 6 hours. However, on holidays it would take substantially longer (especially along the 5). Driving back on Christmas day of 2007 took 11 hours.
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Old 05-26-2009, 03:52 PM
 
Location: Los Altos Hills, CA
36,653 posts, read 67,499,960 times
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Holiday weekends are really bad on I-5 up and down the state.

One thanksgiving it took us 11 hrs to drive from LA to Oakland. It felt like traffic was stop and go virtually all the way.

Normally tho in no traffic it takes 6-7hrs Id say.
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Old 05-26-2009, 03:53 PM
 
Location: Los Altos Hills, CA
36,653 posts, read 67,499,960 times
Reputation: 21229
Quote:
Originally Posted by mkdude_08 View Post
On my many, many trips from Pleasanton to Pasadena, it would take (on average) about 6 hours. However, on holidays it would take substantially longer (especially along the 5). Driving back on Christmas day of 2007 took 11 hours.
Yikes, I just posted our 11-hr ordeal only the other direction.
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Old 05-26-2009, 04:11 PM
 
Location: West Coast
1,310 posts, read 4,137,896 times
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If you want to make it there fast, leave extremely early in the morning. I've gone from my driveway in south east San Jose and parked on Westwood Blvd next to UCLA in 4 hours and 15 minutes exactly. Left on a Saturday at 4:30am and was there at 8:45am.
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Old 05-26-2009, 04:44 PM
 
12,823 posts, read 24,395,722 times
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Offset it by a day, ideally two days. Leave on Thursday, or Wed evening. Return on Saturday.
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Old 05-26-2009, 04:45 PM
 
12,823 posts, read 24,395,722 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vdy1985 View Post
If you want to make it there fast, leave extremely early in the morning. I've gone from my driveway in south east San Jose and parked on Westwood Blvd next to UCLA in 4 hours and 15 minutes exactly. Left on a Saturday at 4:30am and was there at 8:45am.
Also a very good idea. That works well.
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Old 05-26-2009, 05:08 PM
 
Location: NYC
1,213 posts, read 3,607,901 times
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Or maybe just fly up there? Flights from LAX to SFO are [relatively] inexpensive and you really don't need a car in San Francisco - BART will take you directly from the terminal to the city in about 30 minutes, with no transfers needed. Once you get to the city, you really can walk or take public transit everywhere.
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Old 05-26-2009, 05:48 PM
 
Location: CITY OF ANGELS AND CONSTANT DANGER
5,408 posts, read 12,662,998 times
Reputation: 2270
what i do is leave around 9 or 10 pm. even on holidays. it takes less than 6 hours going up the 5->580->80 (oakland richmond or sf).

i do the same coming back. leave later on in the evening. it makes a world of difference.

i cant stand drivers during the day, especially the ones who forget the whole "slower traffic keep to the right" thing. its pretty much a smooth cruise at night. find a couple cars going at your desired rate of speed. stay with them. safety in numbers.

it is bad on holidays, but not if you leave at non peak times.
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