Road Directions to Disneyland

Finding the simplest road directions to the Disneyland Resort is useful when traveling from out of the town via highway. Just remember, though, that the shortest route to the Happiest Place on Earth may not always be the quickest way there. It all depends on which Southern California highway you're on and what time of day you're traveling.

Driving to Disneyland

While there are several ways to actually get to Disneyland, the most popular are flying or driving. If you land at one of the several nearby Southern California airports, the drive to the theme park isn't too bad, especially if you hire a car or shuttle for transport. Also, if you know the area around Anaheim well, the drive can be simple. If you have a GPS, it's best to bring it along. If you don't, make sure you have a few different sets of driving directions to help you maneuver through any unexpected traffic or road problems.

However, if you plan to drive more than a few miles to the park and are unfamiliar with the area, there are a few things you need to know:

• Historically, Southern California has some of the most congested highways in the United States. Rush hour doesn't last for only a couple of hours a day -- it can last all day, from 5 or 6 in the morning to 7 or 8 at night.
• Many road closures or construction occurs in the late night or early morning hours.
• Be wary of road conditions; wet roads due to rain can be very slick.
• The price of toll roads throughout the Southland changes throughout the day.
• Traffic tends to move at a faster pace; if you are going to drive slower, do so in the proper lane.
• Motorcycles have the right of way on the highways even driving in between cars and lanes.

Basic Road Directions to Disneyland

Southern California is full of major highways, therefore you can always find at least one or two routes to take you to Disneyland.

From Los Angeles and North

If you are flying into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Long Beach Airport or Burbank Airport, you can get to the Disneyland Resort and its surrounding hotels by:

1. US Route 101 South to Interstate 5 South (Santa Ana Freeway)
2. Get off at Exit 11 (Lincoln Avenue) and turn left
3. Turn right on South Anaheim Boulevard
4. Follow Signs to Disneyland

Alternately, you can get off Interstate 5 at Exit 11A (Harbor Boulevard) and follow the signs to the theme park. Even easier is taking the highway to Disneyland Drive (Exit 110B), which will take you directly into the amusement park.

If you are traveling from a bit farther north, such as Ventura County, the directions are basically the same. You can hop on the 101 South in Ventura and continue as noted.

From San Diego and South

There are several ways to get to Disneyland from San Diego (including San Diego Airport and Ontario Airport) and surrounding areas:

1. State Route 163 North (Cabrillo Freeway) toward Escondido
2. Take this to Interstate 805 North (Jacob Dekema Freeway)
3. Merge to Interstate 5 North (Santa Ana Freeway)
4. Exit at Disney Way (Exit 109)
5. Turn left at Katella Avenue
6. Turn right on Disneyland Drive
7. Follow signs to resort

If you are traveling north on Interstate 15 from the San Diego County area, you can get to Disneyland by:

1. Interstate 15 North (Temecula Valley Freeway) to State Route 91 West (Riverside Freeway)
2. Take this to Interstate 5 North (Santa Ana Freeway)
3. Exit Disneyland Drive (Exit 110B)
4. Follow signs to the park

From Locations East

Many Disneyland patrons often visit from nearby Arizona. From this state, you can get to the park several ways:

1. Interstate 10 West (Papago Freeway) through Phoenix, Arizona, all the way into Los Angeles, California
2. Merge on to Interstate 5 South (Santa Ana Freeway)
3. Exit at Disney Way (Exit 109)
4. Turn left at Katella Avenue
5. Turn right on Disneyland Drive
6. Follow signs to resort

Unfortunately, this route can be quite heavy with truck traffic. If you want to avoid that:

1. Take Interstate 10 West (in Phoenix) to Interstate 8 (in Casa Grande, Arizona; also known as the Border Friendship Route)
2. Take this route into San Diego, California, where you can pick up either State Route 163 North (Cabrillo Freeway) or Interstate 5 North (Santa Ana Freeway; follow previous directions)

Check for Traffic Often

Before you venture on your road trip to Disneyland, check traffic-related websites that may help you

Sigalert.com

Sigalert.com is a customized map that allows viewers access to traffic flow and accidents in several California and Arizona areas including:

• Los Angeles
• Orange County
• Inland Empire
• San Diego
• Sacramento
• San Francisco
• Phoenix
• Tucson

Monitor traffic accidents, road closures, speeds and congestion on most of the major highways. You can also access a mobile version of this website as well.

Caltrans.com

The California Department of Transportation allows you to check on road or lane closures, detours and construction on any of the state's roads. Simply enter the highway number you will be traveling on and applicable information about that road is displayed. You can also map out roadside rest areas too.

Allow Plenty of Time

Make sure you allow yourself plenty of time arrive for unexpected stops such as traffic, rest breaks and even road detours. Your vacation won't be as much fun if you are late arriving to the park.