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How congested will the 210 freeway be the day of the Tournament of Roses? - Printable Version

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How congested will the 210 freeway be the day of the Tournament of Roses? - akdb8r - 12-30-2012

If one were to get on the 210 from the 5, how much time should that person reasonably expect to spend on the 210 before reaching the Rose Bowl stadium the day of the Tournament of Roses?

Thanks in advance!

Re: How congested will the 210 freeway be the day of the Tournament of Roses? - 97fan - 12-30-2012

If you're taking the 5 south to 210 east on game day, traffic should move pretty well until you get close to the Rose Bowl exit. Then I'd expect it to slow to a crawl over the last couple of miles. It looks like it's a 25-mile journey...I'd build in 50 minutes to an hour before you're in the Rose Bowl parking lot.

From Burbank, you'll want to take the 5 to 134 east. This route will have heavy traffic, but I don't think there's a better alternative, unfortunately.

Re: How congested will the 210 freeway be the day of the Tournament of Roses? - akdb8r - 12-31-2012

Thank you, 97fan! Very helpful!

If your estimates are correct, then I'll probably drive instead of taking public transit (it looked like public transit would be ~75 minutes).

Re: How congested will the 210 freeway be the day of the Tournament of Roses? - M T - 12-31-2012

Although I'm very familiar with the Pasadena/So. Pasadena area, I've never been to the Rose Bowl game or the Rose Parade. (My father-in-law's house was between Orange Grove at the start of the parade & the arroyo.)

Here is the info on getting to the Rose Bowl on game day
  http://www.rosebowlstadium.com/RoseBowl_directions.php
ALL RECOMMENDED APPROACHES ARE FROM Interstate 210, north of the Rose Bowl, even if coming from LA or points south.
NOTE: This contradicts what 97fan suggested for coming from Burbank.  According to this, take 5 to 134, then 2 north to 210, and then 210 east.

More info here:
  http://www.tournamentofroses.com/TheRoseBowlGame/TheGame/GameDayGuide/StadiumInformation.aspx
  http://www.tournamentofroses.com/gamedaycentral
($40. No overnight parking;  Parking lot opens at 4AM.  No in-out of parking or stadium.)


Remember, there will be a lot of traffic in the opposite direction (from the Rose Parade).  The Rose Parade draws many more spectators than the Rose Game.  (Discount the 1M person estimate.  But 500K might be possible) If you make a wrong turn and have to backtrack, the traffic may be even worse.  If you are coming from the east, you may hit traffic exiting the parade before you get to the Rose Bowl (which is west of the parade).  Also remember, you can not cross the parade route.

This gives some advice (I found this after I made my timing suggestion below), and mentions an alternate parking site.
  http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_22282135/fans-attending-rose-bowl-encouraged-arrive-early-avoid


I expect the Rose Bowl traffic will back up onto the freeway, possibly for a very long way.  The junctions between the freeways may also back up but that should be minimal.

I don't know about those with parking passes, but general parking is on a golf course.  They had 1.5 inches of rain from Dec 23 to 29 so there may still be mud present even though it will be sunny New Year's eve & day.

Watch the local news outlets (web) for updates.  Here is something from last year (no data in this, but watch for the advisories).
http://www.examiner.com/article/rose-bowl-game-traffic-and-flight-advisories-for-pasadena-residents-and-visitors
Use the traffic maps, such as  http://ktla.com/traffic/ and the radio and/or GPS traffic devices.

The game is at 2PM.  The parade broadcast starts at 8AM.  The head of the parade will get to the end about 10:30AM.  I would expect the last float to start at 10AM, which would signal the start of traffic exiting the parade.  So parade traffic will be minimal between 9AM and 10AM but will peak about 12:30-1PM.  If I were going to the Rose Bowl, I would plan on arriving about 10 or maybe 10:30, and tailgate until the start. 

Try as I might, I was not able to find any reports of actual driving times at previous Rose Bowls, other than to see a description of "turtle-like traffic".  The Rose Bowl probably has less delay at the gates (than say a SoCal rivalry game) because arrival times are spread out so much.

Remember, freeways in LA have numbers but are called by their names.  Like Apple OSX's, you have to know both!  Also, the Arroyo Seco (aka Pasadena) Freeway (110) is a bit trickier to drive than most.  It also puts you into the wrong part of Pasadena.  The Ventura (134) freeway or the Foothill freeway (210) will be the main part of your route.  The Glendale freeway (2) can get you between the two.

I do not advise taking city streets unless you have to.


Parade info: http://www.examiner.com/article/2013-rose-parade-order-of-march
(The B-2 Stealth Bomber flyover will be associated with the 76th float, so I'm guessing somewhere between 9:15AM and 10AM.)

If I were going, I'd consider taking in the parade (I didn't look, but I expect there are shuttles between the stadium and the parade area).  If you're young, do it.  If you're older, well, maybe you need to conserve energy for the victory parties.  But, you could still get to the parking lot before 8 & watch the parade via a TV or cellular web.  Don't watch it in your hotel and then go to the game.  (If you miss the parade, one of the stations (KTLA, I think) usually replays it most of the day.)

The floats will be available for viewing up close on the 2nd.
http://www.tournamentofroses.com/TheRoseParade/Events/tabid/1535/ModuleID/3717/ItemID/45/mctl/EventDetails/Default.aspx

If you should think you might park on the street in Pasadena or the towns adjacent to it (to go to the parade & then the game), forget it.  Not only will it be packed already, but they have restrictions on overnight parking.

Re: How congested will the 210 freeway be the day of the Tournament of Roses? - Oasis - 12-31-2012

  My experience in driving to the Rose Bowl is just be patient; it always takes an hour. They do a pretty good job of moving the ocean of cars in and (even better) out of the area.

Re: How congested will the 210 freeway be the day of the Tournament of Roses? - 97fan - 12-31-2012

(12-31-2012, 03:07 AM)MT link Wrote:Here is the info on getting to the Rose Bowl on game day
  http://www.rosebowlstadium.com/RoseBowl_directions.php
ALL RECOMMENDED APPROACHES ARE FROM Interstate 210, north of the Rose Bowl, even if coming from LA or points south.
NOTE: This contradicts what 97fan suggested for coming from Burbank.  According to this, take 5 to 134, then 2 north to 210, and then 210 east.

It makes sense that organizers would want to route traffic onto 210, approaching the stadium from the northwest, so as to minimize overlap between Rose Parade and Rose Bowl traffic. It may well be faster to take that route, but it's very much out of the way from Burbank.