USC to Pasadena, bypassing downtown?

[BRinSM]

what about Vermont>Beverly>Silver Lake>2>134? Silver Lake doesn't connect directly to the 2, but it gets pretty close, you'll have to check mapquest.

[the one]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

I agree, those streets in what I call "the pits of the earth" is no place I would want to end up getting stuck. East of downtown actually makes the area north and west of USC look like a lovely, middle class neighborhood in comparison. I just want to get all the facts first. It seems like no matter how you slice it or dice it, expect this particular drive done at around 7:00 to take at least 45-50 minutes. Is there agreement though that taking the 10 east to 5 north, then reconnecting to the 110 north, is better than the 110 north through downtown the whole way? That's what my friend's dad who lives in So. Pas. told me, does anybody here confirm or reject that?

if you are ok with taking the 110 past downtown(or dodger stadium where it chokes at the 5) then catch it off monterrey rd, i thinks its marmion. or off of 43rd and griffin.

trying different routes till you find the "one" is best.

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by the one

if you are ok with taking the 110 past downtown(or dodger stadium where it chokes at the 5) then catch it off monterrey rd, i thinks its marmion. or off of 43rd and griffin.

trying different routes till you find the "one" is best.

Thanks, this helps a lot.

[happ]

From USC take Figueroa thru downtown & get on the 110\ Pasadena Frw in China Town - go thru the tunnels & quickly exit 110 in the left lane to Figueroa again. The drive up Figueroa eventually leads you to Colorado Blvd [make a right on the Blvd into Pasadena]. Figueroa will also take you to the 134 freeway for the last mile into Pasadena. You can also turn right on York Blvd at Figueroa & drive into South Pasadena on Monterey Road. Drive to Fair Oaks & up into Pasadena to Old Town.

[timelesschild]

Take the 10 to the 710, and then north to Valley, east to Fremont, and on up into the Pasadenas.

The 110 and the 5 are almost always horrible. No matter where you try to use them, they're still horrible.

[timelesschild]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

what about Vermont>Beverly>Silver Lake>2>134? Silver Lake doesn't connect directly to the 2, but it gets pretty close, you'll have to check mapquest.

If you do this, take Silver Lake up to Rowena (or Glendale, whatever it's being called at that point), turn right, then go left on Fletcher, go over the LA River and turn right onto the 2 North. Then you can work it one of 2 ways: go on up to the 134, or else head east on York.

[alaplex]

This is a tough commute. Stay away from the 110Northbound at all costs.
It's a terrible commute not to mention dangerous. If you can get the 710N you will find that it sails pretty smooth until Valley. This is where it's tricky...You only have 2 options up to Pasadena from Valley. North on Fremont or North on Atlantic which turns into Los Robles...When you exit the 710N you will find that turning right on valley then going to Fremont is a nightmare of it's own. Ah, but here is a trick I found. When you exit 710N turn left on Valley, go down to Mariondale and make another left. Keep yielding left and the road will change to Paseo Rancho Castilla. This will lead to Fremont where there is light you can turn left and go straight up Fremont. Fremont is still bad but at least you won't spend 15 minutes just getting from Valley to Fremont and will bypass much of the Valley trafic had your turned right.

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by alaplex

This is a tough commute. Stay away from the 110Northbound at all costs.
It's a terrible commute not to mention dangerous. If you can get the 710N you will find that it sails pretty smooth until Valley. This is where it's tricky...You only have 2 options up to Pasadena from Valley. North on Fremont or North on Atlantic which turns into Los Robles...When you exit the 710N you will find that turning right on valley then going to Fremont is a nightmare of it's own. Ah, but here is a trick I found. When you exit 710N turn left on Valley, go down to Mariondale and make another left. Keep yielding left and the road will change to Paseo Rancho Castilla. This will lead to Fremont where there is light you can turn left and go straight up Fremont. Fremont is still bad but at least you won't spend 15 minutes just getting from Valley to Fremont and will bypass much of the Valley trafic had your turned right.

1. I should have prefaced this isn't a commute. I have a couple of friends who live up there I like hanging out with at night. I don't do this drive very often; and on weekdays it feels like too much of a p.i.t.a. anyway. I just want to know if there's a better route that I'm not aware of.

2. The 710 might be the greatest freeway on earth (or not), but how do you get from USC to the 710 in the first place, besides taking I-10 (or the 60) through very, very slow traffic around downtown (which is most of the drive and most of the problem in the first place)? I don't see how the 710 is relevant given my starting location.