Interstate 5 - California Travel Information

I-5 Northbound - Orange County (I-405 to L.A. County)

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 Interstate 405 split at Irvine to the Los Angeles County line.

Northbound Interstate 5 in Orange County
	As Interstate 5 approaches Exit 94B, it passes under the flyover ramp from mainline Interstate 5 northbound to mainline Interstate 405 northbound. Exit 94B is for Alton Parkway, followed by the California 133 Freeway. Photo taken on 09/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Junction California 133 (Exit 95), the toll road that connects to California 241. Note the high-occupancy vehicle onramp from the overpass here from Alton Parkway, which connects directly into the left HOV lane. Photo taken 09/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Junction California 133 (Exit 95). California 133 starts in Laguna Beach as a conventional highway, but it becomes a freeway in Irvine as it approaches Interstate 405. North of Interstate 5, California 133 is a toll road, ending at California 241 a few miles north of this interchange. The next exit after California 133 northbound is Sand Canyon Road. Sand Canyon Road parallels California 133 northbound between Interstate 5 and Portola Parkway. First photo taken 09/28/02; second photo taken 04/18/04.

	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 99, Culver Drive, one and one-half miles. The next exit is for Jamboree Road, which links to the California 261 toll road and serves downtown Irvine. Photo taken 09/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 99, Culver Drive. This road leads northeast-southwest through Irvine. Note that an exit number was added in late 2003. Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Exit 100, Jamboree Road, is a major divided highway that separates Irvine from Tustin on a southwest to northeast trajectory. Jamboree Road connects California 1 in Newport Beach with Interstate 405 Exit 7, Interstate 5 Exit 100, and California 261/Orange County Toll Road System. Use Jamboree Road north to reach California 261 north, which connects with California 241 en route to a junction with California 91 in Yorba Linda. In effect, California 261/241 act as an alternative to California 55. Photo taken 04/18/04.

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	The next exit along northbound Interstate 5 is Exit 101A, Tustin Ranch Road, followed by Exit 101B, Red Hill Avenue, which three-quarters of a mile ahead according to the sign in this photo. Photo taken 09/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Exit 101B, Red Hill Avenue, which leads into Tustin. Photo taken 09/28/02.
	California 55/Costa Mesa Freeway north provides a quick route to California 91 eastbound en route to Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. In addition, northbound California 55 serves the cities of Tustin, eastern Santa Ana, Orange, and northeast Anaheim. Southbound California 55 heads to Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, with connections to Interstate 405 and California 73. Photo taken 08/07/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaches Junction California 55 (Exit 103A-B). California 55 is a major north-south freeway in Orange County, starting in Newport Beach, crossing Interstate 5 in Tustin, and ending at California 91 in Anaheim. Between California 55 and California 57, Interstate 5 passes along the eastern portion of the city of Santa Ana. The exit sign for Exit 103A (northbound California 55) can be seen in the distance; the exit for southbound California 55 (Exit 103B) is located just beyond. Also note the high occupancy vehicle lane signage for the next HOV-only exit, which is Grand Avenue (Exit 104). Photo taken 04/18/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Junction California 55 Southbound, Exit 103B, which leads to Newport Beach. Photo taken 09/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 103C, First Street/Fourth Street. An exit number has since been added to this panel in the upper right corner. Photo taken 09/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 103C, First Street/Fourth Street. Photo taken 09/28/02.

	Meanwhile, the high occupancy vehicle transition ramp from northbound California 55 to northbound Interstate 5 flies over Interstate 5 for a short distance north of that interchange. The exit for Exit 103C is visible on the mainline below the viaduct. This viaduct is visible in several of the preceding photoboxes. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Returning to ground level, the high occupancy vehicle transition lane returns to the main flow of Interstate 5 to meet the mainline high occupancy lanes. The next exit from the high occupancy vehicle lanes is Exit 104, Grand Avenue. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Fourth Street, Exit 103C. Fourth Street is an important east-west route in Santa Ana. This section of Interstate 5 has a separated carpool lane located on the viaduct running through the middle of the freeway. Traffic from California 55 uses this viaduct for a few miles, then merges into the "regular" carpool lanes along northbound Interstate 5. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Exit 104, Grand Avenue. This sign is located just as the central viaduct from California 55 merges into the northbound Interstate 5 high-occupancy vehicle lane. Photo taken 09/28/02.
	Exit from the high occupancy vehicle lane to Exit 104, Grand Avenue. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 signage for the exit to California 22 in the high-occupancy vehicle lane. Notably, the high occupancy vehicle lane shifts away from the main lanes to skirt to the left of the upcoming bridge support. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Close-up of the high-occupancy vehicle lane separation from the main lanes to left of the bridge support. After the bridge separation, the high-occupancy vehicle lanes merge back with the main lanes, affording motorists the opportunity to access California 22 (see next photo). Photo taken 09/28/02.
	Exit from the high occupancy vehicle lane to Exits 106-107B-107C, Junction California 22/Garden Grove Freeway, Chapman Avenue, and The City Drive/State College Boulevard. There is a direct connection from the high occupancy vehicle lanes to northbound California 57, so there's no need to exit here to reach that freeway. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 105A, 17th Street. 17th Street plies through Santa Ana, ultimately leading east into East Tustin and west toward Garden Grove and Westminster. It changes names to Westminster Boulevard upon entering that city and crossing Interstate 405 at Exit 19. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	The next exit along northbound is Exit 105B, Main Street, followed by the Orange Crush Interchange: Junction California 22/California 57. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 105B, Main Street. Main Street leads north into the city of Orange and south into Santa Ana. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	The Orange Crush interchange features the confluence of three major freeways: Interstate 5/Santa Ana Freeway, California 22/Garden Grove Freeway, and California 57/Orange Freeway. This interchange was reconstructed in the late 1990s and early 2000s as part of a reconstruction of the Interstate 5 corridor through Orange County. The right two lanes reach Exit 106/California 22 and Exit 107A/California 57. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching the Orange Crush Interchange, Junction California 22 and 57. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at the Orange Crush Interchange. This mega-interchange is where Interstate 5 meets east-west California 22 (Garden Grove Freeway) and California 57 (Orange Freeway). This photo was taken from the carpool lanes, which are separated by a jersey barrier at this location. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Mileage sign along northbound for the next three exits: Exit 107A, Junction California 57; Exit 107B, Chapman Avenue; and Exit 107C, The City Drive/State College Boulevard. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	California 57/Orange Freeway follows the Santa Ana River between Interstate 5 and California 91, then north through Fullerton and Brea en route to Diamond Bar and Pomona. California 57 currently shifts into Interstate 210 at the Kellogg Interchange (Junction Interstate 10), but it was legislatively extended north to California 210 as a result of the extension of that highway east to Redlands. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 107, Junction California 57/Orange Freeway north, as seen from the main lanes. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Junction California 57, Orange Freeway, from the high-occupancy vehicle lane. There is a direct exit from the northbound Interstate 5 HOV lanes to the northbound California 57 HOV lanes. Photo taken 09/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 HOV signage for the exit to California 57 northbound. Note how the HOV is again separated from the main lanes. Photo taken 09/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at California 57 at the high-occupancy vehicle transition ramp. Photo taken 09/28/02.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 107B, Chapman Avenue. The next exit is Exit 107C, The City Drive and State College Boulevard. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at The City Drive and State College Boulevard. These are actually the same north-south city street in Anaheim, and it connects to Edison International Field of Anaheim, home of the Anaheim Angels baseball team. This section of Interstate 5 was reconstructed in the late 1990s, and this section opened to traffic by 2001. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	The next exit along northbound is Exit 109, Katella Avenue/Disney Way. Orange County (Caltrans District 12) has been retrofitting its existing signs with green overlays to allow for inclusion of the exit number on its overhead guide signs. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 109, Katella Avenue/Disney Way. At the name implies, Disney Way reaches the Disneyland Resort, but only via hotels that line the eastern boundary of Disneyland. However, to reach the resort, use Katella Avenue west to Disneyland Drive, then north on Disneyland Drive. Another way to reach the Magic Kingdom and California Adventure would be to use Exit 110, Ball Road west. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	The next exit is Exit 110, Harbor Boulevard/Ball Road. Harbor Boulevard follows Historic U.S. 101 north to Fullerton and La Habra. The old alignment of U.S. 101 then turns northwest via California 72/Whittier Boulevard to reach downtown Los Angeles. At one time, this stretch of Harbor Boulevard was part of California 72, but it has since been removed from state maintenance. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 110, Harbor Boulevard and Ball Road. The exit is configured so that motorists exit onto Harbor Boulevard, and Ball Road may be reached by taking Harbor Boulevard north to the intersection. To reach Disneyland, use Exit 110 (Harbor Boulevard north to Ball Road west, then Disneyland Drive south). Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Lincoln Avenue (Exit 111), approaching Euclid Street. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	An exit number tab was affixed to this Euclid Avenue (Exit 112) sign along northbound. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Euclid Street (Exit 112). This is all along a completely reconstructed Interstate 5 between the Orange Crush and California 91. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Brookhurst Street/La Palma Avenue (Exit 113A). Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Brookhurst Street/La Palma Avenue (Exit 113A). The next exits are for eastbound La Palma Avenue, California 91 (Riverside Freeway), Magnolia Avenue, and Manchester Boulevard. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 approaching Junction California 91 westbound (Exit 113C). There is no direct connection from northbound Interstate 5 to eastbound California 91 due to the angle at which these two roads interchange. At night, this interchange is one of the most well-lit in Orange County, as tall mast lights increase nighttime visibility. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Junction California 91 westbound (Exit 113C). This sign is reflective, while the approach sign was nonreflective. This is because the sign orders for this construction job came while the policy regarding sign type changed during 1999, which was in the latter part of the Interstate 5 expansion project. The exit number was retroactively added to the California 91 exit panel. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Immediately after the direct connection from northbound Interstate 5 to westbound California 91 is Exit 114, which provides access to eastbound California 91 via Magnolia Street. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 114, Junction East California 91/Magnolia Street. There is no direct connection from northbound Interstate 5 to eastbound California 91. However, California 91 eastbound may be reached via Magnolia Avenue. The offramp for Magnolia is visible under the California 91 interchange. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	In addition to the direct connection from northbound Interstate 5 to westbound California 91, there is also a ramp from the carpool/high occupancy vehicle lane to the high occupancy vehicle lane on California 91, as seen in this image. This exit is located at nearly the same location as Exit 114/Magnolia Avenue. Photo taken 02/15/04.
	Northbound Interstate 5 passes under California 91 at this spread-out interchange, which was reconstructed in the late 1990s/early 2000s. The next exit after Magnolia Avenue (Exit 114) is for Manchester Avenue (Exit 115). Photos taken 12/23/01.


	Northbound Interstate 5 reaches Manchester Avenue (Exit 115). Photo taken 12/23/01.
	From here, Interstate 5 dramatically changes. Northbound Interstate 5, as it leaves Orange County, shifts from a ten to twelve-lane freeway to a six-lane freeway almost right at the county line. The change is that dramatic. Interstate 5 is slated for improvements north of California 39/Beach Boulevard, but none of the improvements are complete at this time. In this picture, the return of the older pavement and narrower facility are clearly evident. The fourth lane is shifted to "exit only" status, as it connects to California 39 (Exit 116). Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound Interstate 5 at Exit 116, California 39/Beach Boulevard. The Los Angeles County Line is just ahead, as is the Artesia Boulevard exit. Photo taken 12/23/01.

Page Updated August 11, 2004.