Commuting from Aliso Viejo to Sorrento Valley Area (San Diego, Oceanside: home, employment)

[AlisoViejoGal]

Because of the field I am in, there are a lot of job opportunities in the Sorrento Valley/Del Mar/Carmel Valley/UTC areas (in other words, areas which are all near the 5/805 freeway split). In fact, there are a lot more opportunities for me there than the Orange County area. So, I am considering expanding my job search to that area.

Can anyone give me some idea of how long the commute would be during the work week (during rush hour) from Aliso Viejo to those parts of the San Diego area?

I own a home in Aliso Viejo and it's not possible for me to easily relocate to San Diego.

Thank you!

[MichelleSG]

That's going to be a horrible commute. I'd say it'd be 2 1/2 - 3 hours with out traffic then add 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours during rush hour. I worked in the Golden Triangle for 6 years and there were times where it took 45 minutes just to get on the freeway (and my work was right off the freeway). It'd be a rough commute. If you can get to teh coaster that may be a better plan.
~Michelle

[AlisoViejoGal]

Thanks, Michelle. I had NO IDEA it would be that bad. What about the commute from Carlsbad to those same areas in San Diego...do you or anyone else know approximately how long would that take?

[NYSD1995]

Originally Posted by AlisoViejoGal

Thanks, Michelle. I had NO IDEA it would be that bad. What about the commute from Carlsbad to those same areas in San Diego...do you or anyone else know approximately how long would that take?

30-45 minutes, mostly in bumper-to-bumper trafffic. 15 minutes in clear driving conditions. The stretch of 5S from Oceanside to La Jolla is basically a parking lot every day.

[J-Lu]

If travelling from Carlsbad to Sorrento Valley, you can easily take the Coaster. It might not save you time, but will probably be less stressful. There are lots of shuttles from the Coaster to all of the business centers in Sorrento Valley.

[AlisoViejoGal]

Thanks to everyone who responded, this information is very helpful. :-)

[muddaerf]

Agree about the Coaster idea. I live in Encinitas right off of the freeway (it's about a 10 min. drive south of the freeway from Carlsbad) and I work in La Jolla (equivalent distance from Sorrento Valley). Getting on to the freeway is my biggest issue currently (I live about 1/4 mi. away from the freeway entrance yet somehow it takes me 15-20 min. to get on the dang thing). Once I'm on the freeway it's not too bad - takes me a total of anywhere from 20-35 min. to get to work. From Carlsbad, your biggest issue would be the clog-up from Carlsbad to the Encinitas/Solana Beach area, after that, it's really not bad.

NOW, driving home is another situation entirely (805/5 merger all the way through Del Mar/Solana Beach sucks). On a good day it will take you anywhere from 45 min. to an hour. On a Friday, try an hour and 15 min. to an hour and a half. I have resorted to cutting through Rancho Santa Fe from the 56 freeway and it takes me about 20-30 min. But on most days I take the coast just because of the view.

[socketz]

I used to commute from Laguna Niguel to Sorrento Valley and back....

It didn't take 3 hours ! Even in the rain. I seem to remember 1 avg to 1.5 hours in the worse conditions.

If you take a job there, make sure you can do flex time.

Since alot of employment is in Carlsbad, traffic should not be that bad for you. I have several friends that live in Carlsbad and have worked in Irvine for years.....very doable.

What's odd is that you say there is no work in OC, but there is here....what do you do ? Typically OC has many more jobs and about 15% higher pay.

[dynomite1]

I would say 1-3 hours in rush hour traffic. 1 hour being if there is some magical moment where nobody is on the freeway except you. Plan on at least 1.5 hrs. each way. If there is a crash anywhere along the line. It could take you 2-3 hrs. Rush hour would be awful going home too. Mira Mesa Blvd. is a parking lot from 4-6pm. People walking will be passing your car some days on MM. Blvd. No joke.