Drving tips to avoid rush hours

Question

Hello good people!

Getting excited for our trip next week and had some driving time questions.

1. If we are planning to drive from La Brea to Claremont-Mckenna, what hours should we try to avoid driving to and from there? (I'm assuming traffic in the am is generally coming into the city?) Also would it be better to do this on President's Day or a regular weekday? (I'm assuming traffic coming into the city on President's Day afternoon will be bad so was thinking a different day).

2. If we decide against that, on President's Day would traffic driving from La Brea to Santa Monica be bad? Or La Brea to Huntington Gardens?

3. In general if we're staying in La Brea what hours and directions should we try to avoid driving during the week?

Thank you!

Answer

Driving in Los Angeles can be challenging due to traffic patterns that vary depending on time of day, day of the week, and specific holidays. Here’s a detailed breakdown based on your questions and locations.

1. La Brea to Claremont-McKenna

The route from La Brea to Claremont generally takes you east on I-10 or surface streets, depending on traffic. In general:

Morning commute: Weekdays around 6:30–9:30am, traffic is heavy heading into downtown LA from the west and south, but your drive east may be slightly less congested. Still, parts of I-10 and I-210 can see slowdowns.
Afternoon/evening commute: From around 3:30–7pm, expect heavy traffic heading west towards LA and north-south on major interstates. Eastbound traffic towards Claremont is generally lighter than inbound to the city, but slowdowns can occur near major junctions.
President's Day: Traffic is lighter than normal weekdays because many people have the day off. However, certain areas, especially popular shopping or recreational areas, may see localized congestion. Driving on President's Day would likely be smoother overall, especially in the morning.

Best strategy: depart either before 6:30am or after 9:30am for morning, or avoid 3:30–7pm for afternoon/evening. President's Day can be a good day to make the drive if you prefer lighter traffic.

2. La Brea to Santa Monica or Huntington Gardens on President's Day

La Brea to Santa Monica: About 6–10 miles west. Traffic is generally moderate, but expect heavier flow around 11am–2pm due to people heading out for brunch, shopping, or beach activities. Morning (before 10am) or late afternoon after 3pm is usually easier.
La Brea to Huntington Gardens (Pasadena area): About 20 miles northeast. The main route is via I-210 or surface streets. Even on a holiday, expect some moderate traffic, especially near downtown LA junctions, but overall less than a normal weekday commute.

3. General driving advice staying in La Brea

Avoid driving west/south toward downtown LA during weekday mornings (6:30–9:30am). Heavy inbound traffic is typical.
Avoid driving toward the west side (Santa Monica, West Hollywood) in the afternoon/evening commute (3:30–7pm).
North-south streets like La Cienega, Fairfax, and major interstates (I-10, I-405) are particularly slow during rush hours. If possible, plan trips for mid-morning or mid-afternoon to avoid the bulk of congestion.
On holidays, traffic patterns can vary, but popular recreational destinations and shopping areas may see localized slowdowns.

Summary tips:

Use navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze in real time to adjust routes.
Try to schedule long drives outside of 6:30–9:30am and 3:30–7pm on weekdays.
President's Day may be easier for longer drives like La Brea to Claremont due to reduced commuter traffic.
For short trips like La Brea to Santa Monica, mornings or late afternoon are optimal.

In short, early morning or mid-morning drives, as well as mid-afternoon trips before evening rush, are generally the best times to minimize stress and travel time from La Brea to most destinations in LA.

Drving tips to avoid rush hours

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