I-5 Northbound - Orange County (San Clemente to I-405)
Since Interstate 5 covers some 798 miles on its north-south journey, the roadtrip page is split to accommodate all of the photos along this route. This page covers Interstate 5 in Orange County between the San Diego County line at San Clemente northward to Interstate 405 at Irvine.
Northbound Interstate 5 in Orange County
After passing under Cristianitos Road (Exit 72), the freeway passes into Orange County and the city of San Clemente. These pictures show northbound Interstate 5 as it approaches Exit 73, Avenida Magdalena, 1.25 mile. Avenida Magdalena serves the central part of San Clemente. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Orange County is perhaps best known as "The O.C." as a result of the popular drama television series. Home to many beaches and suburban life, Orange County used to be better known as the home of Disneyland and countless orange groves. With a population and development expansion that has pushed the urbanized areas to the feet of the mountains, Orange County is rapidly approaching its limit on new development. Upon passing the county line, Interstate 5 enters the city of San Clemente. Photo taken 08/07/04.
The first shield along Interstate 5 after the onramp from Cristianitos Road (Business Loop I-5) is a more traditional shield with state name. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Immediately thereafter, this mileage sign provides the distance to three prominent cities in Orange County: San Juan Capistrano (junction California 74), Mission Viejo, and Santa Ana. Although most northbound signs for Interstate 5 refer to the control city of Los Angeles, the official northbound control city north of San Diego is Santa Ana. Photo taken 08/07/04.
The next overpass features an overhead mileage sign for the next three exits: Exit 73, Avenida Magdalena; Exit 74, El Camino Real; and Exit 75, Avenida Presidio. At the time this photo was taken, it was a bit overcast, and a makeshift flag was posted on the fence in memorial to the events of September 11, 2001. Photo taken 02/10/02.
Interstate 5 northbound reaches Exit 73, Avenida Magdalena. The next exit is Exit 74, El Camino Real. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 74, El Camino Real. This city street is old U.S. 101, but it is not continuous with the road of the same name in San Diego County, because the highway does not cross Camp Pendleton. However, El Camino Real is still so named because it is the original name for U.S. 101 from San Francisco south to San Diego. Having said that, El Camino Real in San Diego County is not an old alignment of U.S. 101, but it does parallel Coast Highway 101/Historic U.S. 101 a mile or two east of Interstate 5. El Camino Real literally means "the King's Road." El Camino Real is widely regarded as the first road built in the state of California, as it was constructed in 1769. Photo taken 02/10/02.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 75, Avenida Presidio, one-quarter mile, followed by Avenida Pico (Exit 76), Avenida Vista Hermosa (Exit 77), and Camino de Estrella (Exit 78). Exit 77 is relatively new, and modified signs with reflective overlay are used to incorporate the new exit into the mileage sign. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Use Exit 75 to reach La Cristianita, an historical landmark. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 75, Avenida Presidio. The next exit is for Avenida Pico (Exit 76). Photo taken 02/10/02.
Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 5 for Exit 76, Avenida Pico, one-half mile. Avenida Vista Hermosa is a newer exit that was added to this sign in 2001. Photo taken 09/01/03.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 76, Avenida Pico, next right. Photo taken 02/10/02.
Use Exit 76 to reach a tourist information office in downtown San Clemente. Photo taken 08/07/04.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 77, Avenida Vista Hermosa, one-half mile. The following exits are Exit 78, Camino de Estrella and Exit 79, Junction California 1, the southern terminus of the Pacific Coast Highway. Unlike other advance signs, this sign is entirely reflective. Photo taken 03/30/03.
This Exit 77 sign was added a year after the original signage was installed along northbound. It is the first indication that this is Exit 77, and the sign is located only a short distance before the actual exit ramp. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 77, Avenida Vista Hermosa. This interchange was constructed in 2000-2002 and opened to traffic in 2002. The overpass itself is much older, but it did not directly connect to the local road network, so for a time it was a bridge with no traffic. Now it gets frequent use by users of the interchange. The signs do not carry exit numbers because the exit number was not included in the sign specifications at the time the construction contract was bid. Photo taken 03/30/03.
Another mileage sign is posted on the Avenida Vista Hermosa overpass for the next two exits: Exit 78, Camino de Estrella and Exit 79, Junction California 1 North and Camino Las Ramblas. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Exit 78 serves Camino de Estrella, which is the final San Clemente exit. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 78, Camino de Estrella. The freeway remains close to the ocean here, but after Exit 79, it will turn sharply inland. The freeway leaves San Clemente, passes by Capistrano Beach and will enter Dana Point. Photo taken 02/10/02.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 approaches Exit 79, California 1/Pacific Coast Highway/Camino las Ramblas, 0.50 mile. Photo taken 02/10/02.
As noted earlier, Interstate 5 departs Capistrano Beach and enters Dana Point. Photo taken 08/07/04.
For Capistrano Beach, Doheny State Beach, and Dana Point, use Exit 79, California 1/Pacific Coast Highway northbound. California 1 is former U.S. 101 Alternate, and it follows the coastline between Capistrano Beach and Oxnard before being subsumed into the U.S. 101 freeway en route to Ventura County. Although U.S. 101 and California 1 are merged for a good distance, they split in Central California, with California 1 serving the rugged yet incredibly scenic Big Sur region and Monterey. Photo taken 02/10/02.
This mileage sign provides the distance to Santa Ana, Long Beach (via Interstate 405), and Los Angeles. Santa Ana, the control city, is omitted. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 79, California 1/Pacific Coast Highway/Camino las Ramblas, next right. This is the first exit along northbound in San Juan Capistrano. California 1 is the best route to the beach cities of Orange County, such as Dana Point, Laguna Beach, and Newport Beach. Originally, plans called for all of California 1 from San Juan Capistrano north to Malibu to be a coastal freeway, and some preliminary models showed the highway extending out over the ocean. This freeway plan was never implemented, and it is no longer a consideration given the extreme environmental costs and degradation of the beach and coastal areas. Photo taken 02/10/02.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits after the California 1 interchange Photo taken 08/07/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 81, Camino Capistrano, one mile. The Camino Capistrano exit (exit 81) used to be signed as San Juan Creek Road. According to Mark Furqueron, the road name changed around 1990. The exit tab for Exit 81 was added in 2003. Photo taken 08/07/04.
San Juan Creek Road and Valle Road are both signed on this ancillary sign for Exit 81. Photo taken 03/30/03.
Leaving Dana Point, the next three exits along Interstate 5 serve San Juan Capistrano. Photo taken 08/07/04.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 82, Junction California 74/Ortega Highway east to the Cleveland National Forest, San Juan Canyon, and Lake Elsinore in Riverside County. Photo taken 08/07/04.
This mileage sign provides the distance to Exit 82, Junction California 74; Exit 83, Junipero Serra Road; and Exit 85A, Junction California 73/San Joaquin Foothills Corridor (toll road). Photo taken 08/07/04.
Take Exit 83 and follow the highway west into San Juan Capistrano to reach the San Juan Capistrano Mission. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 82, Junction California 74/Ortega Highway east and Ortega Highway west. This interchange marks the western terminus of California 74; it does not extend all the way to California 1. Photo taken 08/07/04.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 83, Junipero Serra Road. Junipero Serra was a Catholic missionary who helped to establish the missionaries between San Francisco and San Diego. His name adorns several highways and locations in California due to his influence. The power lines in the background belong to San Diego Gas and Electric. This is the northern extent of their territory; the remainder of Orange County is served by Southern California Edison. Photo taken 02/10/02.
Many of the signs for the toll road have been replaced since the completion of the California 73/Interstate 5 interchange. This is because the original signs were non-reflective, aqua-green, which is a non-standard color for regular exit signage. In 2002-2003, all of the aqua-green signs were replaced with reflective signs such as this sign and the darker reflective signs found in the following photoboxes. The next three exits are Exit 83, Junipero Serra Road; Exit 85A, Junction California 73 north; and Exit 85B, Avery Parkway. Photo taken 08/07/04.
A few variable message signs such as this one were installed by the Orange County Toll Road Authority to allow for messages about the toll roads to appear. Generally, these signs extol the virtues of traveling on the toll road and provide motorist information. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Use California 73 north as an alternate route to Interstate 405 north to Newport Beach and Costa Mesa as well as Long Beach and Los Angeles International Airport. Photo taken 08/07/04.
This mileage sign is an example of the new, darker reflective signage placed by the toll road authority in advance of the California 73 interchange. Note the light green California 73 shield amidst a darker green background. Photo taken 02/10/02.
Northbound Interstate 5 at Junipero Serra Road, Exit 83. Photo taken 02/10/02.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaching California 73 north, the San Joaquin Hills Corridor, Exit 85A. The original "control city" used to read "toll road," but it has since been changed to an actual city, Long Beach. Photo taken 08/07/04.
The next five exits along northbound Interstate 5 serve Mission Viejo, and the first of those exits is California 73, Exit 85A. Photo taken 02/10/02.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaching California 73/San Joaquin Hills Corridor, Exit 85A. The original "control city" on the advance signs for California 73 was "SJH Toll Road", which didn't last very long. Also, according to Mark Furqueron, the California 73 overhead exit signs (and the southbound California 74 overhead exit signs) only seem to have the portion of green behind the shield in reflective green while the rest of the green doesn't look reflective.
Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 85A, California 73/San Joaquin Hills Corridor toll road. California 73 was authorized along with California 241, California 133 (extension), and California 261 in 1987. Additional toll roads were authorized in 1989, the California legislature, under AB-680, authorized the construction of various toll roads in the state: California 91 Express Lanes, California 125 between California 54 and California 905, California 57 from Interstate 5 south to Interstate 405, and the Mid-State Tollway from California 4/160 junction south to Interstate 680/California 84 junction with a spur via California 239 southeast to the Interstate 205/580 interchange. Of these routes, only California 91 has been constructed. The others are under design/construction, are canceled, or are on hold for a variety of reasons, including litigation. For more, visit Public/Private Toll Facilities in California. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Avery Parkway (Exit 85B), the first exit after California 73. This route leads directly into Mission Viejo. The next exits are Crown Valley Parkway and Oso Parkway. Photo taken 02/10/02.
Use Exit 85B to reach Saddleback College, a local community college. Photo taken 02/10/02.
Northbound Interstate 5 at Avery Parkway. Clearly, this sign has seen better days. It should be a larger sign to ease legibility. between Avery Parkway and Alicia parkway, Interstate 5 acts as the dividing line between Mission Viejo (located to the east of Interstate 5) and Laguna Hills (to the west of Interstate 5). Both cities have seen monumental increases in population in the last 20 years, as new housing developments continue to be constructed in the once-rural backcountry of Orange County. The new Orange County toll roads (California 73, 133, 241, and 261) help foster these new developments by providing freeway access to homeowners located a good distance away from the original freeway system in Orange County. Photo taken 02/10/02.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 86, Crown Valley Parkway. Crown Valley Parkway leads east to the new Ladera Ranch community via a new (2002) bridge over Trabuco Creek and southwest into Laguna Niguel. Photo taken 02/10/02.
An exit-only lane provides access to Exit 86, Crown Valley Parkway. Photo taken 08/07/04.
This exit number sign is located after the overhead sign shown in the previous photo. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 86, Crown Valley Parkway. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Use Crown Valley Parkway east to Mission Viejo and Ladera Ranch and west to Laguna Nigel. Photo taken 08/07/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Oso Parkway, Exit 87, one-half mile. The next exits are for La Paz Road and Alicia Parkway. Photo taken 02/10/02.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Oso Parkway, Exit 87, next right. This new reflective sign was placed in Fall 2001 as a result of interchange reconstruction. It was one of the last of the new signs to be placed prior to the exit numbering directive. Photo taken 02/10/02.
Northbound Interstate 5 at Oso Parkway. Oso Parkway leads east to the Coto de Caza development as well as the current southern terminus of California 241. Heading west, Oso Parkway leads into Laguna Hills. Mark Furqueron writes, "For a few years in the 1980s, prior to Laguna Hills incorporating, Oso Parkway west of Interstate 5 was renamed Pacific Park Drive by the Mission Viejo Company. This was presumably to promote the Pacific Park industrial park in the new community of Aliso Viejo, which was being developed by the Mission Viejo Company. At this time, the exit signs were changed to say Oso Parkway/Pacific Park Drive. Later, the city of Laguna Hills, upset with Mission Viejo's plan to put in the big box commercial development (Best Buy, CompUSA, etc.) in the small strip of Mission Viejo west of Interstate 5 and east of the railroad (Laguna Hills would get all the traffic and Mission Viejo would get the tax revenue), reverted the name back to Oso Parkway in the city. Shortly after this, Caltrans put up new signs with just Oso Parkway on them. Pacific Park Drive now starts a couple of miles west in Laguna Niguel." Photo taken 02/10/02.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 90, Alicia Parkway. Alicia Parkway leads northeast into Mission Viejo and west into Laguna Hills. Photo taken on 09/28/02.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Orange County Route S-18/El Toro Road (Exit 91). This is the vicinity of the former El Toro military base, which had been considered for a new international airport until recently. Now redevelopment plans for the former base include conversion of portions of the base into a regional park, new housing, and other redevelopment. Orange County Route S-18 begins at California 133 near the California 73/133 interchange, then heads northeast via El Toro Road through Laguna Woods and Lake Forest. It then turns north to follow the foothills, terminating near Limestone Canyon Regional Park. This is one of two signed Orange County Routes (although signage on El Toro Road is marginal at best, if not nonexistent). Mark Furqueron adds, "The northbound El Toro Road exit was resigned (during Summer 2003) when the lanes were realigned. It used to be misleading (as shown in this picture, taken in 2002) because the right lane was an exit only lane, but the overhead just noted the truck route with "two miles" oddly in the yellow background, rather than the correct signage now used. The new signage has the truck route sign on the left and the El Toro exit on the right, with "Exit Only" for El Toro Road on a yellow background." We will obtain replacement signage photos soon. Photos taken on 09/28/02 and 02/15/04.
El Toro Road leads northeast to Lake Forest and southwest to Laguna Hills. Orange County Route S-18 follows El Toro Road southwest until it ends at its junction with California 133. Photo taken 02/15/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 91, Orange County Route S-18/El Toro Road. Note the placement of the exit number to the right of the sign on the sign bridge. Photo taken 02/15/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Lake Forest Drive (Exit 92A). The exit following Lake Forest Drive is the truck split and Bake Parkway (Exit 92B). Photo taken on 09/28/02.
The next exit is Exit 92A, Lake Forest Drive, followed by Exit 92B, Baker Parkway and Exit 94A, Junction Interstate 405 North. For California 133, use Interstate 5 for northbound and Interstate 405 for southbound. Photo taken 02/15/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 92A, Lake Forest Drive. Photo taken 02/15/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 at the Truck Bypass (Exit 92B). All traffic en route to Bake Parkway and all through/local trucks must use this exit. The separation of trucks and cars through the upcoming Interstate 5/405 interchange encourages traffic flow through the upcoming Interstate 405 interchange (Exit 94A). For more on the truck bypass, see the truck bypass photoboxes below. Photo taken 09/28/02.
Truck bypass: Northbound Interstate 5 is essentially split now between the local/truck lanes (shown here), the express lanes (to the left), and the high occupancy vehicle lanes (far left), which creates one very wide freeway! This picture shows the northbound truck lanes as they approach the Bake Parkway exit. Photo taken 04/18/04.
Truck bypass: Although this sign is not visible from the mainline, Interstate 5 enters the city of Irvine. Photo taken 04/18/04.
Truck bypass: Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 92B, Bake Parkway. Photo taken 04/18/04.
Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 94A, Junction Interstate 405 as seen from the mainline (not HOV and not truck bypass). This is widely considered to be one of the busiest interchanges in all of Southern California. It was expanded to its present configuration in the mid to late 1990s, but it has only improved to a level of service "C." Having said that, the separation of trucks and automobiles at this location has improved traffic flow substantially. As part of this mega-interchange, the high occupancy vehicles are allocated their own transition lane that leaves the left lane of Interstate 5 northbound and merges onto the left lane of Interstate 405 northbound. Photo taken 09/01/03.
This photo shows the split within the high occupancy lane between Interstate 5 and Interstate 405 as they prepare to split. A dedicated ramp (from left lane to left lane) takes carpool traffic from the northbound HOV lane directly onto the northbound Interstate 405 HOV lane. Photo taken on 09/28/02.
Northbound Interstate 5 (mainline) at Exit 94A, Junction Interstate 405 as seen from the mainline. This interchange marks the southern terminus of Interstate 405. In terms of naming convention, the San Diego Freeway shifts from Interstate 5 northbound onto Interstate 405 northbound. The Santa Ana Freeway begins its northward journey to downtown Los Angeles from this point. Photo taken 09/01/03.
These photos provide another view of the northbound Interstate 5/405 split, as seen from the high occupancy vehicle lanes. The photos show the overall perspective followed by a closer detail. Photos taken 02/15/04.
Meanwhile back on the truck bypass: Interstate 5 and Interstate 405 prepare to split here to. There are three separate ramps that lead from northbound Interstate 5 to northbound Interstate 405! Photo taken 04/18/04.
Truck bypass: Interstate 5 and Interstate 405 (Exit 94A) split here. Note that the overhead signs also indicate the next surface street exit (Irvine Center Road/Exit 1 for northbound Interstate 405 and Alton Parkway/Exit 94B for Interstate 5). Also note that there is another, smaller city of Irvine sign located here. Photo taken 04/18/04.
Truck bypass: The truck bypass merges back onto the Interstate 5 mainline here at this merge point. Photo taken 04/18/04.
