LA has the worst traffic of any city ive ever been in. when people complain about traffic up here in SF i cannot help but laugh at them.

"boo hoo, it took me 30 minutes instead of 20 minutes ," well in LA it would take you an hour+ to go that far

and yes, venice beach is off the 405 so you will h ave to go 405 N and then 10 West E (west part of 10, going east) to get to la brea, which will both be gridlocked (there gets a point where it's more useful to measure speed in hours/mile instead of mph)

just re-read the OP: i originally read it as you would be arriving in indio at 12, not leaving at 12. that makes things much better

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Originally posted by civicstyle So I am flying in with a group of friends on Thursday for Coachella. Rather than waste a day by the pool of the house we rented, I think we should go to Los Angeles. Now, I haven't been since I was a teen. We get in early on Thursday. I was thinking we could do the following: Venice Beach La Brea Tar Pits Mann Grauman's Chinese Theatre Hollywood Walk Of Fame We would leaving from Indio around noon. Any advice on routes, traffic to avoid, places other than those above to go visit. Thanks in advance. -ryan

My advice is to go straight to Indio after getting in on Thursday. Late Thursday night to Friday is going to be hell. I stopped going to Indio on Fridays because of the traffic. We are going to roll out around 11:00am Thursday from Long Beach and beat the rush hour. If you want to do some shopping there is an outlet mall on the way in Cabazon along with an Indian Casino if you want to gamble a bit. But it all depends on your stress level and if you feel like getting into Indio super late Thursday night.

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Originally posted by jonmitz LA has the worst traffic of any city ive ever been in. when people complain about traffic up here in SF i cannot help but laugh at them. "boo hoo, it took me 30 minutes instead of 20 minutes ," well in LA it would take you an hour+ to go that far and yes, venice beach is off the 405 so you will h ave to go 405 N and then 10 West E (west part of 10, going east) to get to la brea, which will both be gridlocked (there gets a point where it's more useful to measure speed in hours/mile instead of mph) just re-read the OP: i originally read it as you would be arriving in indio at 12, not leaving at 12. that makes things much better

Yea, this is true with regards to inching along during rush hour. Where else could we go to hit the beach and avoid some of that traffic???

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Originally posted by msilin i disagree. at noon or 1pm u could get to venice in 2 or 2.5 hrs, as long as you go fast. after about 3 pm is when things start getting hairy. i definitely would go for it. at the least, you can spend an afternoon at venice beach and the santa monica pier then head back at 8 or 9 once traffic dies down.

I want to hit the beach and take in some rays for a few. If I decided to scrap the beach and stick to the pits and the walk of fame, what else could I do around there that's worth checking out?

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You could also go this route.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conte...d=1237608331430

There's a station in Indio. I think it's like $40.00 round trip to LA Union Station. From there you could subway it into LA/Hollywood. Beats sitting in traffic.

Basically, what Jon and the others have said is dead on. LA has the worst traffic in the country and it's unpredictable. Especially on Thursday's which seems to be the cluster fuck day where every interstate is jammed.

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Originally posted by Brandt Slater You could also go this route. http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conte...d=1237608331430 There's a station in Indio. I think it's like $40.00 round trip to LA Union Station. From there you could subway it into LA/Hollywood. Beats sitting in traffic. Basically, what Jon and the others have said is dead on. LA has the worst traffic in the country and it's unpredictable. Especially on Thursday's which seems to be the cluster fuck day where every interstate is jammed.

That won't work because he'll have to take the Amtrak bus to Fullerton, than take the train to Union Station there. Plus, it's an early ride too. I looked it up.

If he wants to head to the beach, his best choice is OC. He can easily get to OC and back the same day or maybe even San Diego. LA is too far.

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Looking at that I dont see a train leaving after I arrive in Indio. So the train looks like a no-go.

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Originally posted by DjWoody That won't work because he'll have to take the Amtrak bus to Fullerton, than take the train to Union Station there. Plus, it's an early ride too. I looked it up. If he wants to head to the beach, his best choice is OC. He can easily get to OC and back the same day or maybe even San Diego. LA is too far.

If I cut out the beach, what could I substitute in it's place?

In other words: You have just a few hours in LA, what would you do?

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quote:

Originally posted by DjWoody That won't work because he'll have to take the Amtrak bus to Fullerton, than take the train to Union Station there. Plus, it's an early ride too. I looked it up. If he wants to head to the beach, his best choice is OC. He can easily get to OC and back the same day or maybe even San Diego. LA is too far.

Or Metrolink www.metrolinktrains.com from San Bernadino to LA and then back. No buses. I was just looking for another option so he can avoid the parking lots.

Last edited by Brandt Slater on Apr-10-2012 at 00:15

quote:

Originally posted by civicstyle If I cut out the beach, what could I substitute in it's place? In other words: You have just a few hours in LA, what would you do?

The only dilemma is the time you're leaving Indio. What time looking to be back in Indio? I would just make a day of it in LA. If that's where you're wanting to go. Leave LA by 8:30ish to head back you would avoid most of the traffic.

However, Woody did present OC and San Diego. Those could be better options for you.

quote:

Originally posted by Brandt Slater The only dilemma is the time you're leaving Indio. What time looking to be back in Indio? I would just make a day of it in LA. If that's where you're wanting to go. Leave LA by 8:30ish to head back you would avoid most of the traffic. However, Woody did present OC and San Diego. Those could be better options for you.

I think if we are back in Indio by midnight I am okay with that. I don't see us being at the grounds til later in the day on Friday.

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