Is a Trip to LA Still Worth It? Exploring Your Travel Options!

Universal Studios Hollywood along with Universal CityWalk, two of the region’s most favored destinations for families, shut down on Wednesday and Thursday. Even though both attractions reopened on Friday, they’re informing visitors daily regarding their operational status. (Disneyland, located in Orange County, remains accessible to the public.)

Significant sporting events have also faced disruptions due to the wildfires. The Los Angeles Rams were set to face the Minnesota Vikings on Monday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood; however, on Thursday, the NFL declared that the matchup would be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, at the originally scheduled time.

In basketball, both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Clippers are scheduled to play in the city, but supporters and analysts noted that the game involving the Hornets and the Lakers, which was on the calendar for Thursday, was canceled that morning. Other teams in L.A., such as the Chargers and Kings, have already arranged for away games over the weekend.

Reason 4: Travel might be complicated in L.A. at present

All prominent Bay Area airports (San Francisco, Oakland, and San José International) have verified with KQED that flights are still ongoing to the Los Angeles area. Amtrak is also maintaining service to its stations in L.A.

Nonetheless, city officials in Los Angeles are advising against car travel in the area. “Anywhere in this city, if you can refrain from using the roads, please do so,” City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson remarked during a press briefing on Wednesday. “If there isn’t a compelling reason for you to be on the roads, we kindly request that you keep the roads as clear as possible for the public safety personnel who need to work and will guide us through this crisis.”

It’s important to remember that over 150,000 individuals in Los Angeles County remain under evacuation directives, and more than 1,500 are utilizing shelters, as reported by the state’s Office of Emergency Services. Numerous residents are currently traversing the roads to evacuate with their belongings or returning home after evacuations have been lifted.

Reason 5: Fires are unpredictable

If you’re heading to an area of L.A. that is distant from the five currently — active wildfire zones down there, you may view yourself as considerably safer than if you were located closer to the flames.

However, fires can unfortunately behave unpredictably — and, as evidenced this week, can spread rapidly. New fires can impact communities that would never presume themselves to be at risk of wildfires or evacuations.

The red flag warning for the Santa Ana winds, which have been fueling these wildfires in L.A., will conclude on Friday at 6 p.m., but firefighters are already bracing for another potential red flag warning on Monday. The most extensive of the current fires, the Palisades fire, is still merely 8% contained after several days of burning. Altogether, it’s exceedingly challenging to anticipate accurately how these wildfires in L.A. will progress, and assuming improvement within days is not wise.