Getting to Anaheim

Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California, located 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles. It is the second most populous city in Orange County and the 10th-largest city in California. It is about 15 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and is famous for its theme parks such as Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm.

By car

Hiring a car is always a good idea in America, as many of the attractions are spread out and can be difficult to get to. Car hire is relatively inexpensive and there are many companies to choose from. The road network throughout the state is good, although traffic can be heavy in certain areas.

To reach Disneyland by car from Los Angeles Airport, take I-105 east to I-605 north, then I-5 south. From Los Angeles city, take I-5 south until you see signs for Disneyland. Dedicated off-ramps from I-5 lead to the attraction's parking lots and surrounding streets. The drive from the airport can take as little as 40 minutes with no traffic.

Major roads in the state include the Santa Ana Freeway and the San Diego Freeway (I-405), which runs north-south through Orange County as two separate highways to Laguna. At Laguna, I-405 merges into I-5, and from Laguna south to San Diego, I-5 is known as the San Diego Freeway. Avoid the freeways during the busy rush-hours as traffic can be horrendous.

By rail

Amtrak provides train services throughout the country to over 500 destinations. The trains are comfortable and reliable, but journey times tend to be slow when compared to European trains. The Amtrak station in Anaheim is on the Los Angeles to San Diego route. The Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink commuter trains from downtown Los Angeles stop here. The station is located at the north side of Angel Stadium's parking lot (two miles from the Disneyland Resort).

Amtrak serves a number of other cities in Orange County including Fullerton, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente. The Pacific Surfliner trains travel to theme parks, beaches and attractions throughout Southern California.

By bus

Greyhound is the main long-distance bus operator in America and it has an extensive network covering destinations throughout the country. All Greyhound buses are equipped with air conditioning, an on-board restroom and reclining seats with headrests, footrests and tinted windows. No reservations are necessary, but you should arrive at the terminal at least an hour before departure to purchase your ticket. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and advance purchase tickets do not guarantee a seat. The Greyhound bus station is located on Winston Road, Anaheim.

By air

Visitors arriving by plane have the choice of four different airports. The county's main facility is John Wayne Airport Orange County, about 16 miles from the city centre. The airport has good facilities and is becoming increasing popular; however, it only has domestic routes to other American cities. Shuttle bus services and taxis are easy to arrange for the short transfer.

Most overseas visitors will arrive at Los Angeles International Airport, 35 miles west of Anaheim. LAX, as it is commonly known, has routes to destinations in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. The nine passenger terminals are all within a short distance of each other, but unless you are transferring to the terminal next door, it could be too far to walk comfortably. The LAX shuttle connects all the terminals for free.

The most convenient way to reach Anaheim from LAX is by using the airport bus which departs at hourly intervals from 06:00 to 24:00. Travel time is approximately 45 minutes, depending on traffic. Taxis and a train service are also available.

The two other airports in the region are Long Beach Airport, 20 miles from Anaheim, and Ontario Airport, 27 miles from the city. Both are relatively small and have a limited number of domestic routes.

Taxis

Anaheim is well-served by local taxi companies, both at the airport and in the town centre. You may have problems hailing a cab on the street, so ask at your hotel and they will call one for you. There are designated taxi waiting areas at Disneyland near the pedestrian entrance on Harbor boulevard, at any of the three Disney-owned hotels and in front of the Convention Center.