Obvious answer: Go faster to hit "I-5 North" quicker.

Look at a map. These freeways do not bypass anything.

If you want tips/tricks to avoid traffic, I would suggest posting where you are leaving from and going to, which day of the week, and time.

Take the 210 from I-10 and it will take you to I-5 at the San Fernando Valley. I'm not sure it's quicker, but you then avoid downtown. The traffic isn't as bad, but that's mho. You will catch the 210 east of ontario. I wouldn't try the desert route. Lots of two lane.

I don't think there is a good answer to your question. I suggest you get a good overview map of the LA freeway system, select a preferred route, then listen to one of the LA news or talk radio stations as you approach and adjust your route according to conditions on that day and time. I just came back from the north last week and wound up making two changes in plan to avoid accident backups. All other things being equal, the suggestion of picking up the I-210 in Ontario to the I-5 in the north San Fernando Valley will probably be the quickest unless your travelling at a very low traffic time.

Depending on how far East you are starting, you can take I-15 North to the 210 W (to I-5). The 210 will bypass all that bad traffic on the 10. That is the way I've been going since the 210 extension opened earlier this year.

I also directed my elderly parents to use the same route and they were quite pleased with it.

Sorry I didn't give more details. Actually we'll be driving from Dallas to Seattle (with a stay in Fairfield, CA) and return to Texas on I-90 and I-25. We're doing Interstates now since we've done the backroads of all 50 states. Just finished I-20 east, I-95 north, I-90 west, and I-25 south. It's a great country. --jud

The fastest route that I have found: From the I-10 west, take 57 north (for about 4 miles) to the 210 West. Stay on the 210 into Pasadena and watch for a sign that says "210 West San Fernando". Take this exit (veers to the right off of the freeway right after Fair Oaks Avenue exit). Continue on the 210 West for about 30 miles and this freeway will eventually join the 5 north. If, for some reason, you miss the "210 West San Fernando" exit, continue on (210 turns into the 134 freeway at Pasadena) and you will reach the 5 north in Glendale. This route is a bit slower though depending on the traffic around Glendale/Burbank area and the time of day that you will be traveling. Hope that this helps!

I second Sherri's advice. I live here and that's the way to go.

Are you sure you've traveled all the back roads? Here's a shortcut:

I-10E to I-15N to Rt. 395N
Rt. 395N to Rt. 120
(cut west thru Yosemite)
Rt. 120W to I-205W
I-205W to I-580W
I-580W to I-680N
(have money ready for toll bridge)
I-680N to I-80N to Fairfield

The above directions can be dangerous. Many of these roads can be snowed in from October through June. We visited Yosemite in June 2011. It snowed on 395 and they shut it down. All the mountain passes including 120 were closed until the third week in June, except US 50.

Another route is I-215 to I-15 to CA 58. However, we are here on 2/22/13 and the mountain passes require chains, even on our Jeep GC. We were told not to take that route.

So we took I-10 to CA 210 to I-210 to I-5. We traveled at 10 AM on a Friday. Traffic was heavy in Pasadena, but it moved. It was relatively easy, except the yahoos cutting in and out.

We also use a Google Maps App on our iPad that shows traffic flow. Given the number of parallel roads in the area, there are usually alternatives. Most days, there are.

Look carefully for the sign marking the cutoff/exit - leading from the 10 to the 210. It's easy to miss.

Also - I/we always listen to AM 1070 when driving through LA - as they give updates on traffic every six? minutes - where the accidents are, etc.

If you can get the LA Freeways map (Auto Club of So Cal/Triple AAA have it) - it really is a good - quick reference.

I also listen to KNX 1070. the traffic reports are every 10 minutes on the "fives". It might have been different back in 2003 when the original question was posted.

FOLKS - the thread is from 2003

(Perhaps lhammer610 was hammered when he registered and topped it??)