Coping with Los Angeles traffic

Hi

My husband and I are coming from New Zealand to the USA in late July. We will fly into Los Angeles and plan to start our trip by getting a rental car and doing a Grand Circle road trip of the Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon, probably returning the car to Las Vegas or possibly driving up to San Francisco.

We have been wondering how difficult it will be to negotiate the traffic and find our way out of Los Angeles. If we picked a car up at the airport would we be likely to have problems heading out of the city? Would we be better to consider getting public transport to somewhere out of Los Angeles and picking up a rental car there?

While we have had some experience driving in Europe a few years ago we will be trying to get used to driving on the opposite side of the road and also dealing with volumes of traffic that are unfamiliar. The population of Los Angeles is almost equivalent to the whole population of NZ!

We'd really appreciate some of your thoughts on this.

I was delighted to discover this site today and have already gained some useful information.

Hi Ziggy, and Welcome to the The Great American RoadTrip Forum.

Whereas LA traffic has a reputation, it is not that bad, if you allow yourself time and have patience. Nothing worse than being in traffic to which you are not used, and having to make a deadline somewhere. I know on my first time, I had been driving for more than an hour and figured I must have missed the turn off. When I pulled off, and checked the map, I discovered that I was just half way to my turn off. So yes, it can be much slower than what you are used to or expect. I would definitely make sure I left LA after the morning rush... though sometimes it seems as if the rush is all day.

It is not that difficult to negotiate either, so long as you have worked out where you are going before you leave, and then watch for the exits you need. Everything is extremely well signposted and numbered. It is a good idea to make sure you have good maps, even if you are using a satnav. If you are a member of your local automobile club, then make sure you take your membership with you. It will give you access to free maps and tourist information at the AAA, through their reciprocal arrangements. It is very helpful to have the detailed map of LA.... the one that has every road and lane on it.

You may like to check the various rental car agencies in LA, and check their rates. The airport is not always the cheapest place to rent. Also, it may not be the best idea to hop straight into a vehicle when coming off a long haul flight. I make a point of spending at least 24 hours in LA before getting behind the wheel. (Also gives you a chance to pick up maps, etc.)

You don't say how long you have for this trip, but the loop you are planning to do is by far the most discussed roadtrip on these forums. The most efficient would be, LA - GC - Bryce - Zion - LV - Death Valley - Yosemite - SF - Pacific Coast Highway (#1) - LA. Depending on your time this could be extended to include some or all of the great national parks in southern Utah.

Might be a good idea to get a good map of the US to help in your planning. My favourite is the National Geographic Wall Map, it has all the roads, cities and NPs on it. Then you can use the map centre (on the green bar above) to zoom in and get more detail where warranted.

Enjoy the planning.

Lifey

If you rent the car at LAX, simply get directions from the rental agency to the 105 freeway east. Take that to the 605 north to the 210 east to the 15 north. It's about 65 miles (100 km) from LAX to the 210/15 interchange. If you pick up the car around 10am, the traffic shouldn't be terrible and I'd guess that it would take you about 5 hours or so to get to Las Vegas driving at the speed limit where traffic allows. LV to Zion is another 3 hours. If you go to the GC first, you are probably looking at about 9 hours.

You didn't say what time you will be arriving at LAX, but you WILL be jet-lagged and it would not be wise to hit the road right away. I'd spend a night in a hotel near LAX and start out in the morning.

I am from the older generation and map educated but I am a converted to having a GPS as a comfort tool. If you get confused or lost they can be very helpful in getting you on your path again.

You can purchase them in the US if it comes to it. But taking one with you gives you the time to carefully choose one at home.

Thanks for that information Lifey. We would definitely plan to spend a day recuperating from our flight before attempting to head off anywhere. I thought there would be good accomodation options close to the airport we could use if this seemed an easier option than going into the city and then trying to find our way out .

If time and patience are the main requirements then I'm sure we will cope. I will definitely follow your recommendations re maps and we will also make sure we get a car with a GPS system to help.

Thanks also for your thoughts on the best route. The first part of this is pretty much what I had planned out. We will have about 2 weeks to spend in this region and will then be flying to New York and then going on to Canada. I have a cousin in San Francisco so the plan is to do the Grand Canyon loop in the first week and then head up to SF via Yosemite.

I thought we might do LA - GC - Bryce - Zion - LV then head on to Yosemite. I don't want to fall into the trap of trying to see too much and just spending all our time rushing from one place to the next. The trouble is that the more you start to research the more you find that you want to see!

Great information thanks. Yes we know we will need to wait a good 24 hours before setting off so we will definitely look for a hotel nearby. Seems to me we would be wise to travel as far as LV and stop there for a night too before heading on to the GC as 9 hours on the road sounds a bit much to me.

Hi Eris. Yes we are from the map generation too but would definitely want to have a GPS for this trip. I understand you can hire them from the rental companies for a cost so we will probably do that. Though I can see that buying one here now would give us time to become familiar with how it works which is definitely worth a thought. Thank you .

Quote:

---

I thought we might do LA - GC - Bryce - Zion - LV then head on to Yosemite.

---

Quote:

---

Seems to me we would be wise to travel as far as LV and stop there for a night too before heading on to the GC as 9 hours on the road sounds a bit much to me.

---

If you are planning to go to the South rim of GC, Las Vegas wouldn't be on the direct route and you could save time by stopping elsewhere, perhaps Laughlin or Kingman. From the south rim you could take a detour and check out Monument valley before continuing to Bryce.

If you are visiting the North rim, Vegas would be an overnight option.

Quote:

---

Great information thanks. Yes we know we will need to wait a good 24 hours before setting off so we will definitely look for a hotel nearby.

---

If you have no real wish to spend time in LA then an airport hotel would make most sense and you should find some options that offer a free shuttle bus service to and from the airport. As previously mentioned, you will soon adjust to driving on the other side of the road, but if you were still concerned or just plain didn't want to bother with LA traffic there is a 'Luxbus' service from LA to Vegas that goes for around $70 per person.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ziggy

Thanks for that information Lifey. We would definitely plan to spend a day recuperating from our flight before attempting to head off anywhere. I thought there would be good accomodation options close to the airport we could use if this seemed an easier option than going into the city and then trying to find our way out .

---

I would be checking out the car rental agencies, then find a hotel not too far away, one which provides airport transfers. In more than half a dozen visits to LA I have never been 'into the city'. (I am not even sure if LA has a 'city' area. I make a point of staying more in the direction of West Hollywood/Beverly Hills.)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ziggy

... then head up to SF via Yosemite.

---

Make sure you include Death Valley in that plan.... even if it is only a drive through. It is an amazing place. A landscape like you will not see anywhere else on earth.

For a two week rental, you will probably find it much cheaper to buy a satnav, than renting it with the car. They're very cheap in the US.

Lifey

One key word about driving in L.A. (something I do more times during the year than I like to!):

PATIENCE!!!!!

Some car rental agencies may suggest that you take a non-automatic transmission (i.e. stick shift). I highly recommend that you get the automatic transmission! On my last three trips to LA, I've driven my stick-shift vehicle. Then my left leg is very sore when I get home, from all that pushing down the clutch, and my right shoulder is numb from changing the gear shift.

You can get GPS's (or satnav's) in most department stores or electronic stores here in the US. Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, K-Mart, and Sears all have them. They cost about $100-150 (some with lifetime maps) and you can carry them home easily.



Donna

I drive in LA traffic every single day. Yes, you have to paying attention and yes it's not a sport for the faint-hearted, but I rather enjoy it.

Mark

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DonnaR57

Some car rental agencies may suggest that you take a non-automatic transmission (i.e. stick shift). I highly recommend that you get the automatic transmission!

---

I'm very curious as to what car rental agencies you've heard of suggesting a manual transmission Donna. In fact, I'd be even more curious as to what US car rental agency would even offer a manual.

About 99% of the US car rental fleet has automatic transmissions, and the 1% is typically coming from the exotic/specialty/sports car market.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ziggy

I understand you can hire them from the rental companies for a cost so we will probably do that. Though I can see that buying one here now would give us time to become familiar with how it works which is definitely worth a thought. Thank you .

---

Most of the time is is much cheaper to purchase your own GPS, either before you leave or after you arrive, than renting one through your car rental. The rental company will typically charge you about $20 per day, and since you can buy one for under $100, you can see GPS rental is a huge money maker for the rental company.

Another word of caution about the GPS. They can be a a nice addition especially for finding specific addresses (like hotels and restaurants), but they should never be used in place of paper maps. Blindly following a GPS without knowing where you are going is one of the easiest ways to get completely lost!

Michael....Enterprise Rent-a-Car in St Louis, and one other small rental company (Rent-a-Wreck, I think) offers stick-shifts, or at least they did a few years back.



Donna

I prefer a manual, and I haven't been able to rent one for at least 20 years!

Thanks everyone for some very useful hints.
While nothing is yet decided re the drive from LA to Flagstaff I have discovered there is an overnight train service between the two places and we are wondering if that may be a smart way to sleep off the jet lag while getting closer to the things we most want to see.Collecting a rental car in Flagstaff seems not to be an issue and we would be saved a lost day in LA.
So far we have planned to spend 1-2 days in Flagstaff including visiting the GC, then on to Torrey for 2 nights so we have time to see Monument Valley, Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon, then a night in Las Vegas after seeing Zion, a night in Bishop and a night somwhere around Yoshemite before going on to SF.

I now find myself with some new queries. I have looked at the route from Flagstaff to Torrey which seemed like a good stopoff point The map brings up two options for routes. THe UT 95 which is a bit shorter or the US 89 through Page. Is one of these routes preferable to the other if we wish to see Monument Valley or in terms of other scenery?

Secondly, we are unsure if we really want to spent a whole day driving through Death Valley in the heat on our way to the Yoshemite Valley(It will be late July or early August). Is the route that goes to the East of Death Valley via Bishop (US95) a good alternative or do you think we are being silly?

I know a lot of people rave about Death Valley but I don't know if we are that mad keen on deserts!
Look forward to some answers to these questions and any other advice or comments.

As you are going to Monument valley, UT 95 would be quite a bit quicker and both options will be scenic. I would consider spending one night in Flagstaff and then leave the GC at the east entrance along Desert view drive and look for lodgings on route to MV, instead of back tracking to Flagstaff. Cameron Trading post, Tuba City or Kayenta would be options. The same I would say of Torrey, you could visit Capitol Reef from Torrey, [or on the way] but it would make no sense to go all the way to Bryce and then back to Torrey. Look for lodgings in Tropic or check out 'Rubys Inn' right by the entrance to Bryce canyon.

If you take UT 95 route you can turn onto UT261 a little way past Mexican Hat. This will give you a rather 'exciting' ride up the 'Moki Dugway'. You will also be passing Goosenecks State park and Natural Bridges NM, but time might not be on your side. [Use the search box for 'Moki Dugway'.]

I think it would be silly not to drive through Death valley and experience the landscape, even if it's through the windshield in the comfort of your air conditioned car. There are spots you can hop out for a photo and stay close to the car and Furnace creek has refreshments and a museum. It's what you think that matters and taking the alternative route is a viable option if you are not convinced. Of course you would have the option of skipping Las Vegas if you don't go to Death valley and making your way between Zion and Yosemite via Tonopah NV. I certainly think you should try and find a night from somewhere to stay at Zion NP, it's a wonderful place with a selection of easy walks through the canyon and alongside the Virgin river. Springdale is a great little town right near the entrance.

My preference after a long plane flight is to spend a night in a good hotel near airport and then rent car the next day. Many hotels provide airport transportation and you'll find smaller ones north or south of airport. You'd have to check rental car companies and locations to see if it is in fact cheaper to rent outside airport. Some companies will also pick you up.

Heading east from LAX should be OK except for late afternoons M-Th and Fri afternoon. Death Valley may be the hottest place on your route which includes many warm summer locations.

People I've met from NZ and Australia do quite a bit of shopping for non-souvenir items before returning home and there are many major stores near LAX if that is your departure point.

Okay, you've convinced me! Death Valley here we come! We will take up your suggestions of the best places to stop on the way around and have decided to take a stop at Pahrump too. That way we will be able to make an early start on the Death Valley route so that we will hopefully be through and out the other side before it reaches it's peak temperature. Have just booked our flights and we will be doing this part of the trip on 22nd July so it will no doubt be very hot.
Thank you so much for all the helpful advice. I'm so pleased I found the website.

Hey Ziggy.

If you think of any further questions between now and then, just let us know.

If not, have a great trip and please drop by and share your experience and thoughts with us when all is done, Thanks.

Dave.

I was petrified about driving out of LA. We picked up the van an four after getting to LA.It was low on fuel so had to fuel up first.Set the GPS to Tehacapi and followed the directions.After six weeks in the US we we driving around Hollywood and Rodeo Drive without a care in the world.Without the Navman I would be still driving around lost though.
John

Hi,

Im going on a roadtrip this summer from San Fran to Vegas. We only paid an additional £25 for the GPS and that was for the total for 10 days which I thought was very reasonable.

Check out arguscarhire.com

I got a Ford Mustang Convertible for 10 days, GPS included, additonal driver for £400 in total. Without the addtional driver it would have been £340! Also bare in mind that my pick up / drop off are different places so generally its alot more expensive. I more 'normal' car would have been alot cheaper. Included was also the usual stuff like taxes...unlimited mileage etc

Hope info helps
Alex

We tell out European friends that they can often do better by booking their car hire through a European consolidator such as the one you found. This is particularly true for underage (less than 25) drivers and/or people looking to do a one-way rental. But, $526 (one driver) or $620 (two drivers) does not strike me as a particularly cheap price for a 10 day rental.

AZBuck

Hi,

If we went for a bog standard car it would have been aronnd £250 for the 10 days with the GPS and addtional driver included. The extra cost is purely because we were quick specific on hiring a Mutang covertible and i think £37 a day is good. In the UK id be paying that for the most basic car