Freeways of LA
Los Angeles is world famous for its intricate maze of a freeways that criss cross each other and extend their tentacles out to cover the entire Southern California area. Dozens of freeways move locals from the beaches to the deserts and from the Valleys to the suburbs. For those visiting Los Angeles, there are only 4 freeways that cover all the sights, points of interests and areas worth visiting in Los Angeles. They are the 405 (San Diego Freeway) the 10 (Santa Monica Freeway) the 101 (Ventura/Hollywood Freeway) and the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). For those skitish of the freeway system, aside from visiting Malibu, it is entirely possible to still get to every point in LA without ever entering the freeway system. The main roads page of this section goes into detail on alternative routes.
The 405 (San Diego Freeway)
The 405 (San Diego Freeway) is the main north south freeway on the westside of Los Angeles. Begining in Orange County the 405 travels within 3 miles of the coast, past LAX, north into West Los Angeles where it intersects with the 10 (Santa Monica Freeway). After the interchange with the 10 it passes through the Westwood and Brentwood areas where such major streets as Santa Monica Blvd, Wilshire Blvd and and Sunset Blvd cross the freeway taking drivers to either the beaches or into Beverly Hills/West Hollywood and Hollywood. After the Sunset Blvd exit, the 405 extends its way into the "Sepulveda Pass". The Sepulveda Pass section of the 405 is where the freeway slices through the Santa Monica Mountains on its way into the San Fernando Valley. It is this section, although heavy with traffic, drivers will feel they are no longer in a major urban area but in the middle of so distant mountain range. On either side of the freeway are jagged peaks with green and brown foliage. There are no advertisements and few freeway signs. This 4 mile stretch is just complete nature and scenery. At the end of this stretch the freeway takes a steep descent into the San Fernando Valley. Once arriving on the valley floor, the freeway interchanges with the 101 (Hollywood/Ventura Freeway) in Sherman Oaks. The 101 goes into Studio City and curves back over the mountain into downtown to the east and heads out towards Ventura to the west. The 405 extends the length of the Valley Floor before merging with the 5 freeway in the Santa Clarita Valley.
The 405 is usually one of the busiest freeways in all of LA. It is rare, on any day of the week, or any time period to find the system free of traffic and hitting speeds up to 60 mph. Its usually stop and go and at times gridlocked. Be cautious when driving on the 405 as the freeway is known to give an open no traffic free flow affect only to have cars ahead slam on branks with little warning and sudden back ups.
The 10 (Santa Monica Freeway)
The Santa Monica Freeway begins in Santa Monica at the beach where its a natural extension of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). As the PCH curves inland, and changes its name to the 10 (Santa Monica Freeway), it travels through Santa Monica, intersects with the 405 and the proceeds east into Downtown LA. Along the route from the 405 are the exits of Robertson, La Cienega, Fairfax and La Brea. Each of these exits take drivers north of the 10 and into Beverly Hills/West Hollywod (Robertson), West Hollywood (La Cienega), Hollywood (Fairfax and La Brea). By traveling south instead of north on one of these exits, drivers will find themselves in the more industrial neighborhoods of LA. It is in Downtown the 110 (Harbor Freeway) extends off the 10 to the north, by enterting this route drivers can exit any of the numbered streets and proceed directly into downtown LA.
The 101 (Ventura/Hollywood Freeway)
The 101 Freeway runs the width of the San Fernando Valley floor, through the Hollwyood Hills (Santa Monica Mountains) and into Downtown LA. The 101's official direction orientation is a bit confusing as when it runs from downtown and through the Valley it is is an east/west direction, however as it travels out to Ventura it then aligns with the coast and proceeds north. Therefore the signs and titles for the 101 can be somewhat confusing. If traveling on the 101 west of the 405 interchange-it is known as the Ventura Freeway. The 101 east of the 405 is known as the Hollywood Freeway. To travel the 101 away from the Valley, 405/Downtown and to the coast, follow signs, 101 "North". To travel 101 to Downtown and along the valley floor through Studio City, follow 101 "East".
The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH)
The PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) runs the length of the coast from Santa Monica all the way up to San Francisco. In the immediate LA area, the PCH connects Santa Monica, the Pacific Palisades, Malibu and the Ventura Coast. The PCH is a 4 lane highway across, 2 in each direction and affords spectacular views of the Pacific Coastline. At certain points between the Pacific Palisades and Malibu, the ocean comes right up to the shoulder of the freeway. With such spectacular views, its important to keep focused on the road ahead. Where the PCH enters the Malibu area the stretch becomes slow with many traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. The PCH is an extension of the 10 (Santa Monica Freeway) from inland LA. Where the 10 hits the coast it makes sharp turn to the north and becomes the PCH. It is possible to travel the 10 from the Downtown LA and end up in San Francisco without ever exiting.
