We have a function to attend on the night of Nov 30 in San Jose and also spend some time to tour the Bay Area. Will be driving to the Bay Area from SoCal. I am sure some of you guys have driven during the Thanksgiving weekend from SoCal to the Bay Area before. Need to use some of your experience for that weekend.

A: Will we be hitting traffic on the 5 if we leave LA on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday) around 8am?
B: Will we be hitting traffic on the 5 if we leave Bay Area on Sunday early am (around 6-7am) back to LA?

 

i've done this drive at least 20+ times, and will tell you that yes there will be traffic most likely, but leaving early like you planned will significantly lower the amount and odds of hitting "bad" traffic. You should be good, but I would expect the drive to take anywhere from 5.5-6.5 hours depending on how long you stop for gas/food and traffic on the 152 (although this has improved significantly from before)

 

5 1/2- 6 1/2 hours is pretty average. It all depends on traffic, which worsens later in the day.

 

I have been on that route to Bay Area before, but just on a regular weekend. I have never been driving there on Thanksgiving weekend, so want to get some opinion from those who have done it during the Thanksgiving weekend.

 

fyi - works on some part of I-5 is on going, so drive might be more than 8...leaving 6AM sunday is really a good idea...couple years back i left @ 10AM sunday, got home @ 8PM...i remember part of I-5 we came to a stop for a good 15 minutes but there was no accident, just plenty of traveler heading home for the holiday...hope you're not driving your S

 

I've left LA the day before Thanksgiving before. Worst, idea, EVER! Now I leave pretty late at night, like 10PM or 11PM and just get in super early. As far as Thanksgiving day, I've never left in the morning but you should be ok if you leave super early in the AM.

As far as the 5, it's not that great honestly. It might be slightly out of your way, but if it was me I would take the 5 to the 99 to the 132 or the 280. The 99 is 3 lanes most of the way and doesn't have super duper construction either. Well it does but it's never less than 2 lanes.

 

I've done that drive on Thanksgiving at least 5 times. The first 2 I left at the times you were thinking of...DON"T DO IT. 8+ hours for those times. Now I always leave before the sun comes up and still expect traffic near arrival (both ways). I've also done the drive in the middle of the night. I'd rather lose a few hours of sleep than lose a few hours on the road in traffic stuck with a million billion minivans on the 5. Whatever you do, do not leave on the Wednesday evening prior or at Noon on Sunday. Good Luck!

 

Thanks! I guess we will just be leaving LA on Thanksgiving Day before 6AM and leave the Bay before 7AM on the Sunday. Will report back the results

Have a safe and happy turkey day

I sold the S so will be driving something smoother