Follow up to: Best neighborhoods to raise a family in San Diego?

Question

Thanks to everyone who answered my earlier question. I see that I am unable to respond in the same thread, for whatever reason, so I've started a new one. I've looked at Poway, and it looks like just what I'm looking for. I have a question about some of the other areas mentioned, though, (and Poway to a certain extent). What is traffic really like in San Diego? For those that recommended San Carlos, is it possible to get to La Jolla in 45 minutes from there during rush hour? What about San Marcos and some of the other areas mentioned? Where I live, in the northeast, traffic is a disaster and it takes at least twice mapquest's estimate to get anywhere. Is San Diego similar? Or os it a simple matter to zip around from one side of the city to the other? Again, thanks. This will help me better guage the reasonableness of some of the places mentioned in the other question.

Answer 1

During rush hour I think San Diego Traffic Rivals other big cities. The good part is that the Rush Hour does not last as long as it does in other cities. But when it goes wrong, because of the lack of alternate routes it can go Really really wrong. I've seen a 30 minute drive turn into a 2 hour drive on more than one occasion.

From San Carlos to La Jolla, you should have no problem in 45 minutes. This is depending on exactly where in La Jolla you are going. If you are near the 5/805 you should be fine. If you have to get into Downtown La Jolla 45 minutes might be a bit tough.

It will definatly take you longer to get from San Marcos to La Jolla, probably about an extra 20 minutes or so. You mentioned Poway and it is the same thing depending on exactly where you start from. Some parts of Poway can be a good 15 minutes from the freeway. Total time could be anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes during rush hour.

As a good gage what you could do is look at the live traffic conditions during the time you will be traveling. It will just give you freeway conditions but if you have the area you are starting from it will give you an idea of traffic paterns

Answer 2

Either way, there's going to be rush hour traffic around 4-7pm. Sometimes there are days where traffic is light, and others can be a parking lot traffic. San Marcos has major traffic on Hwy 76 because there are people commuting SD to LA or Vice Versa. Plus there's CSU San Marcos which can stir up some traffic as well. From La Jolla to Poway area, getting out of Downtown La Jolla will be congested. The traffic to Poway is normally light but it thickens when it's more after 5pm. There are a lot of optional back roads to choose from to avoid traffic though. I go through a lot of back roads at ease, and trust me... I get panic attacks and anxiety in traffic so I avoid it in any way I can by taking other routes. :)

Answer 3

You will SIT on the 5, the 8, the 15, and the 163 into downtown, it is bumper to bumper. Things like the giant Ikea in Mission Valley and the stadium add to the traffic issues. It is bumper to bumper except very early am, the hour after lunch, and after 7 pm. There is no such thing as zippng from one side of SD to another, even on the weekends.

You can do it in the 45 minutes only if you are like my husband and leave home at 5:30 am Before rush hour and then leave work early or later. Traffic is terrible. You will not be able to do that commute in 45 from San Carlos during rush hour unless you are on a motorcycle. You are correct about adding to the mapquest time and also you need to factor in things like construction which is ongoing, and special events, which since san diego is a tourist city are every day through summer months.
Here is a link to the real time traffic report.
The second link is to the sig alert page
you will want to bookmark those for when you move here. The sig alert one is more accurate.

Right now, we have also been having crazy strong winds which you will want to factor in and also remember when people are telling you area is lovely that FIRE is a hazard up in some areas still. Google Scripps Ranch and wildfire photos to see the homes that burnt in 2003 and know city has done very little.. At the risk of getting some big thumbs down, I am telling you again that you are going to want to look in bay park, claremont etc.. for a home if you are going to work La Jolla or Downtown and want a reasonable commute & nice lifestyle for preschool age kids.

Answer 4

Traffic in SD is still better than LA. However, rush hour is terrible. If you are working in La Jolla, then Carmel Valley might be better area than Poway or San Marcos or San Carlos. It's a little pricier, but personally, I'd rather be closer to work and pay a little extra in cost of living. I would figure 60 minutes from San Carlos to La Jolla, on average. Rancho Penasquitos is another area, to consider, it's between Poway and Carmel Valley and a little cheaper than Carmel Calley. Hopefully you're not working in Downtown La Jolla, because that's a tough commute no matter where you're coming from (unless you live on Mt. Solidad). Torrey Pines and the UTC area are much more easily reachable now with the 56 going in and it only backs up where the 56 connects to the 15 (which you can avoid if you live in Carmel Valley or Rancho Penasquitos).

I read your previous post...you want Carmel Valley...trust me....not sure what's in your price range there. If you want to live with lawers and scientists, you probably don't want to live in a town that has yearly rodeos (Poway).Torrey Highlands is another area you should check out (brand new) and I know for a fact that you'd find 4br 2ba homes on your price range in Rancho Penasquitos (Blink182 is a product of Poway School District btw)

Answer 5

Well, my family and I are moving to San Diego the first month of February. My dad talks to people are his job about areas because we are trying to be safe. We have a 5 year old and a 3 year old. Plus a 5 month old baby. Then my sister and brother who are 12 and 13. Well I'll tell you this, do not move to FallBrook and Oceanside, we wanted to move there but Fallbrook high school has a gang and Oceanside has gangs. Well other than that is ok. We are looking at San Marcos or Escondidos, Vista or Poway. We are also looking for a 4 bed 2 or 3 bath and the max of 2000. San Marcos Escondidos Vista Poway Santee some of those areas are very safe and nice, which we are looking at. Hope this helped. Sincerely, Sydney

Answer 6

Traffic in San Diego is bad, but if you're lucky as to where in La Jolla you're commuting to, Highway 56 isn't too crowded and it goes from Poway/Rancho Bernardo right to the coast between LaJolla and Del Mar. A pretty easy commute.

Answer 7

being born in san diego and raised in chula vista i know a lot about our county
everyone brings up poway,la jolla,and del mar
but those are all the most expensive places in the cnty
chula vista and clairmont are the two best and some of the cheapest
traffic is the worst i have seen during rush hour and i have ben to LA and Las Vegas
weekend traffic is bad from like 8am-7pm around the county
south san diego(south of chula vista)is an ok place to
stay away from east san diego(lincoln,imperial,and encanto)
north is a little rough(linda vista,kerny mesa,and mira mesa)

Answer 8

If you are not going to have your children attend a private school. La Jolla High is the highest rated public high school in San Diego. Second rated in Torrey Pines High School in the Carmel Valley Area. Carmel valley is a bit safer, but La Jolla only has theifs and petty crime. I would recomend La Jolla.

Answer 9

It depends on what you expect of a neighbourhood! Anyway, it is a matter of give and take, patience and perseverance! Afterall, when in Rome, it is better for one to live like Romans, right?