Navigating LA is always a super important trip planning step or you will spend most of your time bumper to bumper. Seems like 10am-2pm are the key day time hours to make your escape and re-entry. Try to avoid the lunch hour rush ;)

Last year my wife and I stayed in a good little motel (Rodeway Inn) in Barstow, family owned and operated. The husband made fresh eggs to order in the lobby/breakfast den, grandma managed the laundry, and so on. There are also some decent restaurants nearby. Also stopped at a small brewpub in the nearby town before pulling into Barstow (Firestation?).