10. The 91
A.K.A.: Gardena Freeway
Route: Gardena to Artesia
The 91 Freeway is L.A.'s connection to Anaheim. How your trip will go largely depends on the day of the week, hour of day and if it's a holiday or not. The 91's traffic can be decent when it's good, and horrific when it's bad - especially if you're heading to the Happiest Place on Earth. Regardless of these variables, once you hop on the 91, you are sacrificing yourself to the freeway gods by entering a virtual minefield of potholes and cracks that could potentially steer you out of your lane. So, hold on tight the next time you take your girl to see Mickey.
9. The 5
A.K.A.: Santa Ana Freeway into the Golden State Freeway
Route: El Toro Y to East L.A. Interchange, East L.A. Interchange to Wheeler Ridge
For L.A. residents making the drive to the Bay Area, getting on the 5 Freeway marks the start of a more than five-hour trip. For those heading south, the 5 is a major chunk of a two-hour trip to San Diego. Plagued with bumps, narrow lanes, morning traffic jams and nighttime congestion during its long stretch, the 5 Freeway - for what it's worth - is a long, necessary evil.
8. The 605
A.K.A.: San Gabriel River Freeway
Route: Seal Beach to Duarte
The 605, in of itself, is not too bad of a freeway. It's the merging in from other freeways you'll have to watch out for. Those coming in from the 10 Freeway during rush hour are going to face a mad house, to say the least. Likewise, if you're driving on the 605 and see those drivers flooding in from the 10, you'll probably feel inclined to speed up.
7. The 405
A.K.A.: San Diego Freeway
Route: El Toro Y to San Fernando
The 405 is the "old lady who keeps breaking her hip" of freeways - this stretch of road is always in need of some fixing, and you'll almost always run into some construction. If you're looking for a smooth ride on this freeway, save it for midnight or a Sunday afternoon.
6. The 710
A.K.A.: Long Beach Freeway
Route: Long Beach to Alhambra
If you ever had to travel to Long Beach in the morning on the 710 Freeway, you probably stared at the rear end of a big rig for the better part of an hour. The 710's main purpose is to serve as a major artery for those trucks to travel to and from the Long Beach Ports. The freeway follows the course of the L.A. River, but when you're surrounded by big rigs, there isn't much to see.
5. The 210
A.K.A.: Foothill Freeway
Route: Tunnel Station to Redlands
If you take the 710 on the weekends, you'll be in for a breeze. 210 going west? Good luck. Planning on an evening trip to Pasadena on the 210 East? Pack your dinner.
4. The 105
A.K.A.: Glenn Anderson or Century Freeway
Route: El Segundo to Norwalk
Get ready for an intimate time getting to know your radio while on the 105. From lunch to about 3 p.m., you might be able catch a smooth ride, but hell breaks lose right after that. The 105 has a pretty extended rush hour, and you'd be smart to stay away between 3-8 p.m., if you can. If you're driving near the Compton area during rush hour, God's speed.
3. The 10
A.K.A.: Santa Monica Freeway
Route: Santa Monica to the East L.A. Interchange
Constant traffic that's thicker than Beyoncé's booty and new construction-related detours springing up every week make the 10 Freeway a permanent headache. Unlike the others on the list, the 10 doesn't get any better on the weekends. The sections to watch out for that get hit the hardest are near the 405 and 110 intersections. If you're coming from the South Bay, make sure to leave an hour and a half early to make it to that evening Laker game at Staples.
2. The 101
A.K.A.: Hollywood Freeway
Route: Four Level Interchange to Route 134 and Route 170 junction
What's that? You were expecting to make it back home from Hollywood before 3 a.m. to get some decent sleep before work in the morning? But the guy who left the bar before you crashed, and now half of the lanes are closed? Yeah. That's if you even made it to Hollywood without losing your mind, contemplating walking, and eventually turning around.
1. The 110
A.K.A.: Harbor Freeway into the Pasadena Freeway
Route: San Pedro to downtown L.A., four level interchange to Pasadena
Meet the grandfather of California freeways. Literally. It' the oldest freeway in the state, having been largely completed in the 1960s. It has a bit of everything: gridlock, crazy drivers, speedsters and police chases. It's the epitome of the classic Los Angeles Freeway: the one we love to hate.
