Traffic Monterey to L.A. early vs later.....big diff?

I leave Sunday around 6-7 a.m. Make it back in 4 hours.

 

...and that's why I'm staying overnight in Solvang, arrive, enjoy some wine and good food, depart on Monday late morning and miss all the weekend traffic.

 

I usually stop in Solvang for some breakfast and coffee, very relaxing.

 

Last year we left on Saturday and stop by at Solvang (might as well visit Hearst Castle) and stayed over in Santa Barbara. Trying to get out of town (Monterey) on Sunday is a nightmare.

You guys have fun, can't go this year.

 

if your comming thru Santa barbra same thing on the weekends, its gotten really bad on the traffic on that section, Santa Maria as well.

so I left last year at 10am got back to LA at 1:30pm

 

I usually leave on Sunday afternoons and it sucks. This year I'm staying through Monday to see what the drive is like that day.

 

BTW should any of you be taking the Interstate 5 to show this year and are taking a Map quest route "CHP" noted more patrols on the HWY's on the east and west State Routes such as


SR41&46
101
SR1

 

What do you suppose traffic is like if one left Monterey at 8pm Sunday night?

 

should be farily easy but be strict on your speed on the way back.

 

I'm sure others in the area are watching this thread via their hotels =D
Would you mind informing those others on possible "safe time's" to leave if you know. I bet 7pm may be inconvenient for some.

Racer98 you totally correct, I can also DEFINITELY RECOMMEND that others DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT on their journey to and from.

 

I think Jason and I will be heading out of here early afternoon tomorrow and stopping in Solvang for some grub.

 

Yes just be careful on the east and west Highways. Espcially the 41/46 or that one high way that drops you out by Gilroy.Ca. I had toooo much fun last year with my run up and back. .

 

take the 101 to the 154 and also once your on the 154 SPEED LIMIT ONLY !.

 

Yo Frank, how'd you like the weekend? I didn't see you, I'd like to meet up with you at one one the upcoming car shows one day

 

I left Monterey at 6:15am and pulled into Malibu @ 11AM .. Took the 5 and averaged about 100mph most of the way it seemed - no traffic, thank god I left early.

 

I left Monterey this morning at 5:15 a.m. I took the 101 and made one stop in Solvang for breakfast which took 30 minutes. I arrived at the VCR at exactly 10:00 a.m. Total driving time of 4 hrs. 15 mins. (325 miles)

 

I left Carmel Valley at 12:08pm took Hiway 1. Arrived in Santa Barbara at 3:10.

 

I arrived in SB at 3:10 too. Then i arrived in Carpenteria at 4:11 then i arrived in Westlake at 5:30. Next year if i say im coming back on sunday. Somebody shoot me.

 

Gotz to leave early Sunday or wait until Monday.

 

Justin, Haig and I had a late breakfast in Carmel at Katie's Place and left at 1. We cut over on the 46 to the 5. I think we renamed that stretch the California Audobon. We hooked up w/ a Mclaren SLR and got on it pretty good. The girls were all a little woozy when we stopped for gas at the end of the 46. Justin got some great video. Was home by 6:45 in Newport. Considering we hit about 30 minutes of heavy traffic by Magic Mountain I was glad it only took that long.

 

Sounds like fun. I was able to hit a new personal record on the 101 Audobon!

 

I heard, you are a wild man!

 

That was speedo reading, actual gps speed was 10 mph less.

 

I did 101 from the races at 3:45PM. Traffic was smooth - except for the CHP - down to Paso Robles. Roadside fires brought traffic to a standstill for several miles. Past that, at speed again until the dreaded SB 3-2 lane conversion. 7PM. Crawled down to Oxnard. At speed again in the dark until the construction zones in Westlake through Calabasas. 8:30PM. On to the 405 south at speed in tight traffic until home in PV. 9:30PM arrival. Just about 6 hours in the most frustrating drive of my life. Monday next year.