Commute- Lake Forest to Santa Ana, take 405 to 55N or 5 to 55S (Irvine: live in)

[jazzlover023]

I will be driving to from Lake Forest to Santa Ana in the morning, around 8am or earlier. The location is off the 55- Dyer road exit.

I am not sure if it is best to take the 405 north to the 55 north, or to take the 5 north to the 55 south.

Or is it best to avoid the 55 altogether and take surface streets from the 5 or 405? It would only be about 2 miles on the 55.

Your thoughts are appreciated! Thanks

[EscapeCalifornia]

In the morning, the last place you want to be is on the 55S. I'd take the 405 to the 55N. Or maybe exit the 405 at MacArthur and take it around to Main or Red Hill depending on which direction your work actually is.

[missionhome]

I agree with Escape. You could also cut the El Toro Y out of your commute and take Alton Parkway from the Lake Forest side of the 5, cut across the Irvine Spectrum area, and get on the 405 north at Sand Canyon. This will have you avoid where traffic is usually the worst on the freeway. Then take the 405 north to the 55 north or get off on a nearby surface street like Escape mentioned.

My husband used to do Mission Viejo to the John Wayne Airport area before his worked moved to the Spectrum area and it would take 25-30 minutes at rush hour. Lake Forest is slightly closer, but imagine that is the general drive time you are looking at.

[Coldjensens]

I nver did that commute, btu the people that I worked with who did usually used the toll road. I think it is a lot out of the way, but they said that it is much faster. It probably depends on where you live in MV. Get a Bicycle. It will probably be faster.

[jazzlover023]

Thanks for all your advice! Today, I tried getting on the 405 at Sand Canyon (to bypass the Y like missionhome mentioned) and got off on MacArthur. I took surface streets the rest of the way. It wasn't too bad- it took me around 30-35 minutes.

I may try another route tomorrow. Thank you EscapeCalifornia, missionhome, and Coldjensens

[vegaspilgrim]

Funny how there's another jazzlover on this forum, and in the OC, California forum of all places!

[ca asb]

I do that commute daily, although I come from the top end of Lake Forest in Foothill Ranch. Take the toll road all the way down until it turns into 133. Then, take Barranca all the way across. It turns into Dyer. Door-to-door - less than 25 minutes reliably every day. I'm working right at the intersection past the Embassy Suites off of Dyer.

[mrlucero2002]

Brutal

[ca asb]

Actually, not brutal in the least. Controlled traffic flow much better than the hit or miss out on the freeways. I've had the freeways take me 20 minutes to an hour to get to the same place ... and I can always do it in under 25 this way. Heck, today I just came across Dyer/Barranca all the way and came up Bake (the worst part) to get home. But that was because I had to stop past the stables on the way home.