You're standing on a sidewalk in DTLA, looking at your phone. It says Anaheim is only 26 miles away. Easy, right? You figure you'll be at the gates of Disney or catching an Angels game in thirty minutes.
That’s the dream. The reality of traveling from Los Angeles CA to Anaheim CA is a bit more... chaotic.
Honestly, those 26 miles can take twenty-five minutes or two hours. Southern California doesn't measure distance in miles; we measure it in "vibes and volume." If you try to jump on the 5 South at 5:00 PM on a Tuesday, you aren't driving; you're participating in a slow-motion parking lot. I’ve lived here long enough to know that the "best" way to get there changes based on the time of day, your budget, and how much you value your sanity.
The Interstate 5 Dilemma
Most people just plug the destination into Waze and follow the purple line. Usually, that line leads you straight onto the I-5. The Santa Ana Freeway is the literal artery connecting these two hubs. It’s the most direct route, cutting through Commerce, Downey, and Santa Fe Springs.
But it’s temperamental.
Construction near the Valley View Avenue interchange has been a years-long saga. It’s better now than it was in 2022, but the bottlenecks remain legendary. If you're driving, you have to watch the carpool lanes. California is strict about that. You need two or more people (HOV 2+) to use them on this stretch, and the fines for "solo-snaking" are enough to ruin your vacation budget.
If the 5 is a disaster, locals often pivot to the 91 or take the 110 south to the 105 and then cut across. It’s more miles, but sometimes more movement. There’s a psychological trick to LA driving: as long as the wheels are turning, you feel like you're winning, even if you're going out of your way.
📖 Related: The Gwen Luxury Hotel Chicago: What Most People Get Wrong About This Art Deco Icon
Surprising Truths About the Pacific Surfliner
People forget we have trains. We actually have pretty good ones for this specific route.
The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and the Metrolink Orange County Line both run from Union Station in Los Angeles to the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC). ARTIC is that giant, glowing, futuristic-looking dome you see from the freeway. It's beautiful. It's also right next to Angel Stadium and Honda Center.
- Amtrak: It’s the "luxury" choice. You get oversized seats, Wi-Fi that occasionally works, and a cafe car. It costs more—usually between $16 and $25—but it’s reliable.
- Metrolink: This is the commuter's bread and butter. It’s cheaper, especially on weekends when they offer those $10 day passes. Just check the schedule. Metrolink is built for workers, so midday and late-night trains are sparse.
One thing people get wrong: they think the train is faster. Not necessarily. By the time you get to Union Station, park, wait for the platform, and then Uber from ARTIC to your hotel, you might have been able to drive it twice. The train isn't about speed; it's about not having to stare at the brake lights of a 2004 Honda Civic for an hour.
The Rideshare Math
Taking an Uber or Lyft from Los Angeles CA to Anaheim CA is the ultimate convenience, but the price swings are wild. I’ve seen it cost $45 at 10:00 AM and $130 during a rainstorm or after a Lakers game.
If you’re traveling with a group of four, the rideshare often beats the train on price. Plus, it drops you at the door. If you’re solo? Take the flyaway bus to Union Station and hop the rail.
What About the "Hidden" Routes?
Sometimes the freeways are just broken. Totally stalled. When that happens, you see the "surface street warriors." This involves taking Telegraph Road or Atlantic Boulevard for miles.
👉 See also: What Time in South Korea: Why the Peninsula Stays Nine Hours Ahead
Is it faster? Rarely.
Is it more interesting? Definitely.
You’ll pass incredible taco trucks in East LA and industrial warehouses that look like movie sets. But unless there is a literal hazardous spill on the 5, stay on the freeway. The stoplights on the surface streets will age you faster than the traffic will.
The Disneyland Factor
If your trip from Los Angeles CA to Anaheim CA is specifically for the Mouse, timing is everything. Most people try to arrive right at park opening. That means you’re hitting the road at 7:00 AM—the peak of the morning rush.
Pro tip: Leave at 10:00 AM. You’ll miss the first hour of the park, sure, but you’ll save ninety minutes of frustration. Or, go down the night before. The hotels in the Anaheim Resort District vary wildly in quality, so look at the "Good Neighbor" hotels if the Disney-branded ones are hitting $600 a night.
A Quick Breakdown of Neighborhoods You'll Pass
- Boyle Heights: Just outside DTLA. Great food, heavy traffic.
- Commerce: You'll see the Citadel Outlets. The building looks like an Assyrian palace. It’s weird and cool.
- Buena Park: The home of Knott's Berry Farm. Once you hit the 91/5 interchange here, you're basically in Anaheim's backyard.
The Weather Trap
Wait, it's California, the weather is perfect, right? Mostly. But "June Gloom" is real. From May through early July, the marine layer keeps things gray and misty until noon. This makes the roads slick. LA drivers lose their minds when three drops of water hit the windshield. If it’s drizzling, double your estimated travel time. Seriously.
Logistics for the Modern Traveler
Don't just trust one app. Google Maps is great for big-picture stuff, but Waze is better for spotting that one random police officer under the overpass or a couch that fell off a truck in the middle lane.
✨ Don't miss: Where to Stay in Seoul: What Most People Get Wrong
Also, keep some small bills or a loaded FasTrak transponder if you plan on using the Express Lanes. On some routes, like the 110, those lanes are "toll only" and they will mail you a hefty fine if you don't have a transponder. On the 5, however, it’s mostly traditional carpool lanes.
Actual Next Steps for Your Trip
To make this trip successfully without losing your temper, follow this specific workflow.
First, check the schedule at the Metrolink website to see if a $10 weekend pass aligns with your plans. If you're driving, download the "KTLA 5" or "KABC" app—local news traffic maps are often more updated on specific lane closures than the national apps.
Second, if you are heading to a game or Disney, look at the ARTIC parking situation. It’s often cheaper to park there and take the short bus (the Anaheim Resort Transit or "ART") to the parks than it is to pay the $35+ for the official Disney parking structures.
Finally, aim to cross the county line either before 6:30 AM, between 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM, or after 8:00 PM. Anything else is a gamble with the traffic gods. Pack a bottle of water, find a long podcast, and just accept that the 5 is in charge, not you.