Los Angeles - Driving to LA from San Jose CA next Friday

I will be going to LA for the Labor Day weekend and was wondering if I leave around 1 PM if I should take Highway 101 South to 152 East to 5 South to 405 South to West LA(Sunset) or take Highway 101 South to Paso Robles and take 46 East to 5 South. Will 46 be longer or the same as taking 152? Is 46 curvier than 152 ? Thanks for your advice

101 - 46 = Some view but longer drive.
101 - 5 = No view but fastest way.

Take 101 all the way.

1) Via 152 = 331 miles

2) Via 46 = 361 miles

3) Via 101 = 380 miles

While they are arranged in order of distance and time each will take, they are in inverse order of scenic beauty and interesting stops on the way.

Warning: traveling solely via 101 will almost certainly involve some bad commute traffic in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and/or the hills through Thousand Oaks and Agoura depending on how fast you drive and/or if you take a dinner stop.

Personally, I'd take option 1).

Is 46 curvier than 152 ?

46 is actually much straighter than 152. It was on 46, actually, that I discovered the Chrysler 300 (rental company Limited trim with 3.5L V6, at least) governs out at 115mph. ;)

The additional mileage will, however, cost you about a 30-minute increase in driving time (unless you, too, are curious what your car's top speed is :p).

Having grown up in Paso and having driven 101 between there and southern Ventura County literally a hundred times, I'll agree with mlshanks that it's the most interesting route. On the other hand, a family member who lives in southern Ventura County and used to drive to Santa Cruz every couple of months would always choose the 5-152 route because it was the fastest--especially if you set your cruise control to 90mph like everybody else.

Incidentally, it's almost guaranteed that the CHP will be running heavy enforcement along Highway 101 between Santa Maria and Gaviota on the Labor Day weekend, so any ideas of making the 101 run at high speed to make up for it's greater length should be avoided...

By contrast, the Northern I-5 sections of the other two routes mentioned sees very little CHP presence until one hits the I-5, US-99 merge just before Tejon Pass. Even though labor day in general sees greater law enforcement presence, CHP is still very thin on the ground on I-5, since all arrestees have to be hauled either to Bakersfield or Fresno...well east of the highway.

Incidentally, it's almost guaranteed that the CHP will be running heavy enforcement along Highway 101 between Santa Maria and Gaviota on the Labor Day weekend, so any ideas of making the 101 run at high speed to make up for it's greater length should be avoided...

By contrast, the Northern I-5 sections of the other two routes mentioned sees very little CHP presence until one hits the I-5, US-99 merge just before Tejon Pass. Even though labor day in general sees greater law enforcement presence, CHP is still very thin on the ground on I-5, since all arrestees have to be hauled either to Bakersfield or Fresno...well east of the highway.

I've always had the impression that 101 near King City was a huge speed trap. I used to make the commute between SJ and LA, but this was some 15 years ago. When I drove, I almost always took 101-152-5. It's boring, but a straight shot. Just make sure you hit "recirc" on your A/C when you get near Coalinga, as the cattle farms can get, well, fragrant. Especially on hot days.

On the plus side, once safely upwind you can stop and get a pretty good prime rib lunch at Harris Ranch. Better if you're not the one driving, of course...

Be aware that the CHP has instituted very heavy speed enforcement on I5.

See this related thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/california/993813-watch-your-speed-i-5-sf-la.html