You need to hybridize your two routes. Once you hit St Louis, head over to Kansas. Kansas is no fun, but it beats Nebraska. And eastern Colorado always sucks, but that I76 through Ft Morgan is, for my money, the worst stretch of road in America.
You’ll have no worries driving through CO in April.
Made this drive many times; I grew up in Glendale and my mom’s from Burbank. Compared to NJ, you’re going to a much better place.
Thanks for the heads up on the route suggestions! I've got plenty of homework to do to really lay out the intended route as opposed to just following GPS. I'll try to avoid I76!
The Verdugo Hills will be your before/after work hiking spot. Within 2 hours, you can be in three mountain ranges that rise above 10,000 feet (the San Gabriels, San Bernardinos, and the Santa Rosa). The real motherlode is the Sierra Nevada, 4 hours north!...and that doesn't include the desert, which is awesome in its own right! So much great hiking!
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I can't wait to dive into the mountains there. Lucky for me, my full time job is work from home M-F 8-4, so once I'm done work I;ll have plenty of time to hit the trails, traffic notwithstanding. Thanks for the link!
Stay off the 405 whenever you can
Avoid driving through downtown between the hours of 5am and 8 pm (small window of opportunity right around noon)...
A lot of advice here- most of it applicable as all hell, and some already experienced! Being from NJ I shouldn't struggle to maintain appropriate highway pace, and I already creep out unto the intersection on those lefts so I should fit right in!
Oh, the Mexican is wonderful! And I've only had a few spots to far! I do love food and am really pumped for the breadth of options on which I'll be grazing!
Moving from NJ to CA! (LA/Burbank)
Can you afford to live there? I have a friend who has to live with 2 other guys so they can afford the $3000 a month rent.
Naa, I decided to move somewhere where the expenses outweigh my income significantly...
I kid of course! (in good fun as well- no snark directed your way at all)
Kidding aside, I did get quite a view of the rental market and what an absolute challenge it is to maximize what you get for your dollar. Small studios at $1,500+, one bedroom apartments for $1,800+, two bedrooms apartments at $2,300+, easy. But a lot of the expensive housing is in those highly populated and perceived desirable areas.
My ace in the hole is that I'm not a big city guy, so my long term housing solution should I decide to stay in CA would rest probably in the mountains or in the desert- where you can get way more for your dollar. But I'll be good financially with just my full time day job, while my part time job is just extra fun/savings cash. Plus I'm targeting a promotion/raise at my full time job so if all continues the way it's going, we should be gravy!
Last year I drove from Vermont to San Diego with my wife and 2 cats. It was AWESOME!...
That sounds great! I'm glad you had a positive experience on your move! The lovely weather is something I'm eagerly anticipating., and I'm sure I won't starve to find a band, if nor nothing else than just a fun/hobby band.
Take the southern route, brother, through OK, TX, NM, AZ. You'll make better time, better weather. Godspeed.
Thank you for the suggestions and kind words!
If your gig is in Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear or other mountain area you could encounter up to 3 feet or more of snow in the winter. The rain can be heavy around January or February. I once got stuck in Hemet after a gig when the roads flooded. Another time I got caught in a blinding dust storm on the way to a gig in Hemet.
I've been aware of the high weather variability/volatility in the mountains so it's definitely something I'll keep in mind. Many folks have suggested to me spending some time in Big Bear Lake (I actually almost rented a house up there before deciding to go closer to LA) so perhaps I'll experience some of that weather; it'll be an experience for sure!
Man, that hit home. I'm 35 and settled with a family and career... And "what if" already robs me of an hour or two of sleep.
Never too late to address those what ifs my friend! It may take a bit of a different form or take a bit longer than initially planned, but don't resign to the ship having sailed! There are plenty of other ships that can take you to the same proverbial destination!
Welcome to the jungle!
Yes, being here to find housing is essential. You'll quickly learn that you want to live as close to work as possible. Assuming where you work is worthy of living.
As guys above have said, you'll realize how far away something is distance wise means little as to how long it takes time wise.
- John
Thank you for the comments! My other ace in the hole is that my full time job is 100% work from home, M-F 8-4, so I'm spared of the huge commuting headache I'd otherwise have to negotiate daily. My part time job will only be about seven miles away (probably in Pasadena) so I'm sure that trip will take significantly more time than a NJ suburban 7 miles, but that will only be a few days a week.
lived there for 25 years. Moved back to WA 2 years ago... In late Oct-early Nov they have Bass player Live in LA... you need to check it out. Been to it 3 times and its like NAMM but only for bass players and clinics all day!!
Oh my I've never heard of that- but I've lusted after attending NAMM (perhaps misplaced lust? I've read mixed reviews of the NAMM experience) so Bass Player Live sounds awesome. I'll need to keep na eye out for that- thanks for the rec!
I lived in NJ for a while and now live in Socal - about 45 minutes from Burbank. When you come out, don’t look me up.
Take the more southern route - in April, some of those mountains you’ll driving through (uh, the Rocky Mountains!) will still get snow. Plus pulling that load, try the less mountainous route...
Some good advice here as well so thank you for the pointers. Regarding the superficiality of LA: I've heard but I'm not sweating it. I've had my fair share of tumult and unpleasant experiences as a result of disingenuous people in my life (haven't we all), and my BS detector is pretty finely tuned as a result.
I'm generally pretty selective who I share my time with so I should be able to swiftly filter out those who aren't worth the energy. Antennae will be up though for sure.
Funny enough - its not just the time or the distance, its the cars. On the East Coast, I’d go drive an hour to get somewhere 60 miles away...
I hear you, friend! I've experienced the driving situation in and around LA/SoCal a bit so it won't be too much of a shocker. I'm generally a contingency planner so I'll be sure to continue to plan for exorbitant travel times.
Angeles Crest Highway was a gem in the rain or snow, too. The great majority of unpleasantness in driving in SoCal was, and I bet still is, none of the impediments I itemized below, it was the high density traffic...
Having driven many a mile in NYC/NJ traffic and Jersey shore traffic both from Philly and North Jersey (as you referenced), the LA traffic I've experienced so far has felt pretty similar, there's just more of it.
And I don't know if I'm crazy, but the traffic in SoCal seems more considerate than in NJ. Most of the people driving around here either have their heads up their bottoms, are total a-holes, or are dangerously/gratingly unaware of their surroundings on the road. Cruising around LA people are still aggressive and boneheaded, but at least they have a purpose and are cutting you off knowing you're there as opposed to cutting you off because they didn't check if you were there.
I don't know if this follows any discernible logic, but I'll take assertive, aware drivers over morons who aren't paying attention. Maybe I'll change my tune once I get there and spend more time, but I'm prepared either way! Thanks for the insight!
Being from California, all I can say is sounds like you're going from bad to worse. My plan is to get out of this state as soon as possible and I was born and raised here. I wish you luck, but watch your back. We are becoming the poverty and crime capitol of the USA. Keep safe!
Not trying to be a downer, it's just not what it is hyped up to be, but it was once upon a time.
No worries, I definitely understand what you mean. I'm in a similar spot with Jersey (born and raised, and have wanted to get out ASAP) but as we both know, it's all subjective and relative. Best part of this move: It doesn't have to be permanent. If I arrive at the same conclusion you have yourself, I can always come home, or try out Washington, or Oregon, or anywhere! I think the journey, change of scenery, and fulfilling a long time goal will keep me enchanted at least for a bit until the crappy realities of living in CA sink in.
I take solace in the fact that it's all a matter of perspective though. Best of luck to you in your departure!
When I was 19 I had a buddy that was going to GIT. His girlfriend was a homebody and bailed two weeks before he was going so he asked me to go for while.
From a dumpy little town called Sydney Nova Scotia to Hollywood California!!...
That sounds like quite a good time! I look forward to creating some lasting memories in this new chapter of my life. With the higher concentration of the music industry in LA I'm hoping to find myself in some unique experiences!
Thanks for sharing and the well wishes!
I have made this drive a four times with a loaded pickup and UHaul trailer, though I took the I 10 route. I would suggest you take 76 through Pennsylvania until you hit 70 just outside Pittsburg. Take 70 all the way to Kansas City and pickup 35 south...
Thank you so much for the route suggestion! I'll have to map that out and take a peek, but it sounds like a great route. I work in insurance and as a result have adopted a general "risk aversion" strategy with regard to certain things... this drive is one of them. And with a relatively even route once you pass PA, that sounds like the kind of drive I'd prefer. I'd definitely like to avoid mountain driving as much as possible so this might be the way to go.
I have a pretty ambitious plan set for driving out there with regard to time/stopping, so it will be an experience one way or the other. I'll be sure to update once I'm up and running!
LA's a lot cheaper than NYC. And you might even get a place with a parking slip. Heck...the rent in LA's cheaper than where I live now and the weather is a lot nicer. Been trying to get my wife to move there for years.
Just get used to saying "in line" when you are "on line" (for coffee and such)
...Wait- Was I supposed to have been calling it "on line" while waiting for an order for the past 30 years?! I've been "in line" for things and generally reserve the term "online" for interwebz contexts. But it sounds like I've belonged in CA this whole time!
And you are correct- You don't have to spend inordinate amounts of money to live near LA (but it seems very easy to feel like you HAVE to). It takes some strategic maneuvering but life can be maintained close to LA for not that much more than other areas back east.
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