Overnight in LA
 

We are flying into into LA before starting a road trip up the coast to Santa Barbara, Pacific Grove, Glen Ellen and San Francisco. We're not really looking to spend time in LA on this trip, but as of now we'll be spending at least one night. We arrive around 12:30 in the afternoon and were planning to start the road trip the next day rather than start right out from LAX. Does that make sense? Should we just get right on the road? On the other hand, is it a complete waste to stay just one night and should we stay two? I've never been to California before so I need some advice on where to stay in the LA area. Thanks!

You can be in Santa Barbara in about 2 hours or less after you pick up your rental car. Since you don't appear to be very interested in seeing the sights of LA, you might just as well do that.

I can't tell from your profile where you are from, so I'll just say that if this is an international flight, please consider not driving the first day because of jet lag and fatigue. If it is a shorter domestic flight, driving to Santa Barbara after arrival makes sense. If you hurry, you may miss the worst of afternoon rush hour traffic going north.

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

We're in NYC so we'll be up at 6am to catch our flight. That definitely was part of our thinking. I also have some friends in LA who I'd like to see if it works out (if not, it's not a huge deal because they're in NYC frequently). Maybe we could pick up the rental and start right up but stop in Santa Monica for lunch. Please be patient with me if that's a completely ridiculous suggestion. I've travelled extensively but have never been to California and am completely ignorant of geography, traffic, etc.
thanks!

"Maybe we could pick up the rental and start right up but stop in Santa Monica for lunch."

That's not a bad idea, but the northbound 405 traffic really begins to build in the late afternoon. If traffic doesn't bother you, go for it!

_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

Yes! stay overnight in Santa Monica (or Venice), that's a good idea. Santa Barbara isn't horribly far, but for me I wouldn't want to drive 2 hours after a cross-country flight.

If you're interested in seeing just a bit of Los Angeles (The Grove/Farmer's Market, Chinatown, Olvera Street, LaBrea Tar Pits, Griffith Park, Walk of Stars, Hollywood Sign, Melrose Ave, are some LA classics) stay an extra night.

If not, just get on your way fresh in the morning.

A couple of issues: staying overnight means waiting till mid morning to drive up the coast to avoid commute traffic. driving up on your arrival day but stopping in LA for lunch . . . Puts you smack dab in the middle of the afternoon commute - which is even worse the direction you'll be going.

So EITHER drive up the coast immediately on arrival and skip Santa Monica, or stay over but leave after 10AM.

I agree. If it were me, I'd want to relax that first night after catching an early flight cross-country.

We always like the Jamaica Bay Inn, Marina del Rey. That gives you a nice part of LA to investigate, like Venice Beach and Santa Monica. You could get out of the car and walk along the waterfront to dine someplace. One of our favorites for dinner at oceanside, is Coast, at Shutters. It might be too far to walk from Marina del Rey, but parking is easy.

When you leave LA for Santa Barbara, drive up the coast route, to enjoy the scenery.

What janisj said. LA traffic is not a great way to start your trip. If you can get your car and get on the road before 2 pm you should be fine. If not, stay over and start super early, like 4 or 5 am (this will feel like 7-8 am to you with the time change from NY). If you don't get going early you have to deal with the traffic again in the morning. 'Traffic' just doesn't convey what a mess the freeway is in the morning. Ughhh.

I've driven to Santa Barbara after flying cross country, I don't consider it that big a deal. It isn't a difficult drive, major highway. I specifically flew into Burbank to make it easier, which is a good idea if you can do it. it's probably as much, or more, trouble to stay in LA one night than just to drive to Santa Barbara. Because staying in Santa Monica one night means driving into the city, in traffic, and finding some hotel with hotel parking, of course. Then leaving SM, you'll drive up Pacific Coast highway whcih can be very crowded right around SM. If you flew into Burbank, you just cut over to it above LA. I think I just went north a bit on highway 5 and then west to Ventura on rte 118. And Burbank is a small and easy airport to deal with.

I don't consider a cross county flight in the day time to be that big a deal, it's not tiring as you are just sitting there. and you have the time advantage.

I disagree that the OP would have to leave at 4 or 5am!
You could be on vacation time, enjoy breakfast, take a walk, and get on the road late morning.

Getting to Marina del Rey from LAX is easy. You don't need a freeway. And you are not really driving into the city. Parking is available where I mentioned, but it is paid parking. Cheap covered parking lot, at sister Pacifica property, the Inn at Venice Beach. There are others with free parking, like the very nice, but plain, Courtyard Marriott at Marina del Rey (great pool there, in back).

If the flight arrives on time, 1pm is a great hour to hit the road and head out of Los Angeles, not worrying about traffic. What day of the week? If you only have one night in Santa Barbara, make it two.

WHOA! What happened to visiting your LA friends, who have gotten together with you a number of times in New York?

Thanks everyone. I think we're going to stay over one night - my LA friends confirmed that the Santa Monica area works for them and that they're around the one night but not a second. I'll check out Jamaica Bay Inn. Thanks again!

Unless this is a summer Saturday or Sunday, I would start driving immediately and meet the friends for lunch. My choice would be Neptune's Net in Malibu. After lunch, continue up the coast highway (Hwy. 1). After passing through Oxnard, you'd get on Hwy. 101 (which is also Hwy. 1 at this point) and drive the final leg to Santa Barbara.

Meeting at Neptune's Net means you don't have to get off the freeway in Santa Monica and deal with traffic and parking. If your flight is on time, you might get to NN by 2:00/2:15p. It's another 1-1.5 hours to Santa Barbara from there. Most of the entire drive would be ocean view.

http://neptunesnet.com/

Wait a minute... Where do your friends live? Santa Monica or somewhere else in L.A.?

Doesn't matter. They have said Santa Monica is a good place to meet.

If it was me, I would stay in Santa Monica and get together with your friends and then drive up to Santa Monica the next day. We go to Santa Barbara quite often and it can be a fairly quick trip or it can be lots of traffic so you just don't know. I would drive up the Coast Highway through Malibu and Point Dume and get onto Hwy 101 when it gets up near Oxnard. Usually PCH is not bad during the day (unless during rush hour and going the direction of rush hour depending on a.m. or p.m.) and it is a pretty ride. Enjoy your time with your friends and then have a great trip.

Yes, definitely drive the PCH.