Driving Tour through Los Angeles
You can get a guided tour around the most famous sights in Los Angeles or you could drive yourself around. Or do both, of course. When you drive yourself, we’ve come up with two possibilities. They both will take about a day and they both will give you a somewhat different impression of what life in Los Angeles has to offer. The first tour setup will guide you through what everybody knows as Los Angeles, at least the best part of the city. The second tour, the tour around the tourists (not guaranteed you won’t see them) is a bit more off the beaten path. It will guide you through somewhat more remote parts of town and will give you an insight into what other great inspiration LA has to offer, such as the tranquility and closeness of the wilderness and the best of Californian beach life a bit to the south. Enjoy both rides and take your time.
Before you start touring get a good map of Los Angeles. One of the best, we think, is the hard copy maps supplied by Rand McNally available in the better bookstores or print some good maps from MapQuest. Also Checkout our ServiceDesk Maps section for routes and maps described in the articles below.
Santa Monica
Star early, well, we mean before 10 AM or so. Santa Monica is famous for its Pier, Third (or 3rd) Street Shopping Promenade (between Broadway and Santa Monica Ave.), its beaches, and Main Street. It’s all within walking distance and the bright light of the Californian sun and the cool ocean breeze will help you to enjoy the sights and sounds of it all even better. Although Main Street is just a few (hundred) steps further away from Third Street Promenade it’s definitely less crowded and worth a visit. We mean, don’t think of it as a huge street with hundreds of stores, think of it as a street where the locals hang out. With some little shops, coffeehouses, and some fine dining. It’s just relaxing and a bit away from the crowds. You’ll also find the Urth Caffe’s Santa Monica location here, a good place to eat some great yet very affordable food. Find more about Urth Caffe in our Where to Eat section.
When you’ve taken about an hour to visit Main Street and had your Coffee from Starbucks or the Coffee Bean start driving towards Ocean Ave. When you get to Ocean Avenue continue north until you ‘hit’ Wilshire Blvd. Take Wilshire all the way up and enjoy a typical broad LA street. Wilshire could take you all the way up to Downtown but we make a little d-tour in Westwood.
LA Driving Tour from Santa Monica to Westwood
- Santa Monica Pier: Start your tour at the iconic Santa Monica Pier. You can enjoy the beach, visit Pacific Park for some rides and games, and take in the beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.
- Start at: Santa Monica Pier
- Head northwest on Colorado Ave toward Ocean Ave
- Turn left onto Ocean Ave
- Third Street Promenade: Drive over to the Third Street Promenade, a popular outdoor shopping and entertainment district. You can park and stroll along the pedestrian-friendly street, exploring shops, restaurants, street performers, and more.
- Continue on Ocean Ave
- Turn right onto Wilshire Blvd
- Turn right onto 3rd St
- Third Street Promenade will be on your right
- Montana Avenue: This charming tree-lined street offers boutique shopping, cafes, and a relaxed atmosphere. It’s a great place to stop and explore.
- Head south on 4th St toward Wilshire Blvd
- Turn left onto Wilshire Blvd
- Turn right onto 15th St
- Turn left onto Montana Ave
- Palisades Park: Take a scenic drive along Ocean Avenue and enjoy the stunning views of the coastline. Palisades Park is a lovely spot to park and take a leisurely stroll while enjoying the ocean vistas.
- Head west on Montana Ave toward 7th St
- Turn left onto 7th St
- Turn right onto Ocean Ave
- Palisades Park will be on your left
- Getty Villa: While not directly in Santa Monica, the Getty Villa is a short drive away and well worth the visit. It’s a museum dedicated to ancient art and culture, and the architecture and gardens are also stunning.
- Head south on Ocean Ave toward Entrada Dr
- Merge onto CA-1 N/Pacific Coast Hwy via the ramp to Malibu
- Getty Villa will be on your right
- Annenberg Community Beach House: This historic site offers beachfront access, a pool, and beautiful gardens. It’s a relaxing spot to take a break and soak in the sun.
- Head southeast on CA-1 S/Pacific Coast Hwy toward Getty Villa Dr
- Turn right onto Beach Club Way
- Annenberg Community Beach House will be on your left
- Main Street: Drive down Main Street, which is lined with shops, cafes, and galleries. It’s a hip and vibrant area that’s worth exploring.
- Head north on Pacific Coast Hwy toward Beach Club Way
- Turn left onto Olympic Dr
- Turn right onto Main St
- Drive to Westwood
- Head south on Main St toward Marine St
- Turn right onto Ocean Ave
- Drive north on Ocean Ave until you reach Wilshire Blvd.
- Wilshire Blvd could take you all the way up to Downtown Los Angeles, but you’ll be making a detour in Westwood.
Remember to use navigation tools like Google Maps or a GPS device for real-time directions and to account for any road closures or detours. Enjoy your driving tour of Santa Monica!
Westwood
Take Wilshire Blvd up to Westwood Ave. and take a left. To explore Westwood, you can continue on Wilshire Blvd through the Westwood area. You’ll find UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) and various shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions in this vibrant neighborhood.
It’s best to park your car and walk around but you could also drive a bit and find your way through LA’s student residential village of Westwood. Students living here attend UCLA, The University of California at Los Angeles, just behind the residential area. In total 22.000 students attend. You could even walk up to the UCLA campus (image) and find out why this University is such an amazing place to get inspired to learn.
LA Driving Tour from Westwood to Beverly Hills
- UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles):
- Start your tour at UCLA’s campus, known for its beautiful architecture and vibrant academic atmosphere.
- Address: 405 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
- The Hammer Museum:
- Drive south on Hilgard Ave.
- Turn left onto Wilshire Blvd.
- The Hammer Museum will be on your right.
- Address: 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
- Westwood Village:
- Continue east on Wilshire Blvd.
- Westwood Village is a charming area with shops, cafes, and theaters.
- Address: Along Weyburn Ave and surrounding streets
- Holmby Park:
- Continue east on Wilshire Blvd.
- Turn left onto Comstock Ave.
- Holmby Park will be on your right.
- Address: 601 Club View Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90024
- Los Angeles Country Club:
- Head east on Wilshire Blvd.
- The Los Angeles Country Club will be on your left.
- Address: 10101 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024
- Greystone Mansion and Park:
- Head east on Wilshire Blvd.
- Turn right onto N Santa Monica Blvd.
- Greystone Mansion will be on your left.
- Address: 905 Loma Vista Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
- Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills:
- Continue south on N Santa Monica Blvd.
- Turn right onto Wilshire Blvd.
- Turn right onto N Rodeo Dr.
- Explore the luxury shops and iconic street of Rodeo Drive.
- Address: Rodeo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Beverly Hills
From Westwood Ave. or any of its parallel streets drive back onto Wilshire Blvd and continue East again towards Beverly Hills. When entering Beverly Hills continue driving on Wilshire Blvd until you ‘hit’ Rodeo Drive. Take Rode Drive and park your car or again drive through what is known as one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world. You’ll find pretty much all the exclusive designer labels on and around Rodeo Drive. You could also cross Santa Monica Avenue into the residential area of Beverly Hills and see some of the upper-class houses and Palm tree-studded avenues. Done shopping? Drive back onto Wilshire Blvd and continue East again.
LA Driving Tour from Santa Monica to West Hollywood
- Start Point: Beverly Hills
- Begin driving in the Hollywood area, which is a part of the City of Los Angeles, known for its rich movie history.
- Driving on Fairfax Avenue:
- Drive on Fairfax Avenue until you reach 3rd Street.
- 3rd Street:
- At 3rd Street, you’ll find the interesting Farmers Market on your right and The Grove, one of LA’s newest shopping malls, right behind the Farmers Market. Take some time to explore these attractions.
- Continue North on Fairfax Avenue:
- After exploring the Farmers Market and The Grove, continue driving north on Fairfax Avenue.
- Hit Sunset Boulevard: a historic and iconic street known for its vibrant nightlife, entertainment venues, and scenic drive. It has been featured in countless films, songs, and cultural references.
- When you reach Sunset Blvd, turn right and head east.
- Left on Highland Avenue:
- Take a left onto Highland Avenue.
- Pass Hollywood Boulevard:
- Drive past Hollywood Blvd.
- Left to Hollywood & Highland Mall Parking:
- Immediately after passing Hollywood Blvd, turn left and drive into the Parking Structure underneath the Hollywood & Highland Mall. The Hollywood & Highland Mall Parking Structure provides convenient parking for visitors exploring the nearby attractions. It’s a practical starting point for experiencing the heart of Hollywood.
- Hollywood & Highland Attractions:
- Once parked, explore the famous Hollywood Blvd section between Highland Ave and La Brea Ave. Here, you’ll see the ‘stars’ on the pavement, Mann’s Chinese Theatre, Disney’s El Capitan Theatre, and the Kodak Theatre, known for the Oscars.
West Hollywood
Still driving on Wilshire Blvd, passing Doheney Drive, you’ll enter the City of West Hollywood, known for its nightlife and gay scene. You will see more of this when driving back later on Sunset Blvd. Continue driving until your hit Fairfax Avenue and then take a left onto Fairfax driving North.
LA Driving Tour from Westwood to West Hollywood
- Sunset Strip: iconic nightlife, music venues, and entertainment scene, Sunset Strip offers a range of bars, clubs, restaurants, and live music venues.
- Head west on Santa Monica Blvd.
- Turn right onto N Doheny Dr.
- Continue onto Sunset Blvd to explore the vibrant Sunset Strip.
- Address: Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, CA
- Chateau Marmont: historic hotel cultural landmark that has played a significant role in Hollywood’s history.
- Continue on Sunset Blvd.
- Chateau Marmont will be on your right.
- Address: 8221 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046
- Melrose Avenue: an eclectic mix of boutiques, vintage shops, art galleries, and trendy eateries, making it a haven for fashion and art lovers.
- Head east on Sunset Blvd.
- Turn left onto N La Cienega Blvd.
- Turn right onto Melrose Ave to explore its trendy shops and cafes.
- Address: Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA
- Pacific Design Center: design-oriented complex hosts showrooms and exhibitions related to interior design, architecture, and furnishings.
- Head west on Melrose Ave.
- Turn left onto N San Vicente Blvd.
- Pacific Design Center will be on your right.
- Address: 8687 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Hollywood
You are now driving in an area most often referred to as Hollywood. Not a separate city with its own counsel like West Hollywood, but one of many parts of the City of Los Angeles and in this case famous for its movie history. When you are driving on Fairfax you’ll come across 3rd Street. Here you will find an interesting Farmers Market to you’re right and one of the newest Shopping Malls in LA, named The Grove, right behind the Farmers Market. Check out our section about shopping for more details. But it’s surely worth a stop and look around here!
When done strolling along with the many shops, boutiques, department stores, and little diners that the Farmers Market and The Grove offer, continue driving North on Fairfax Ave until you ‘hit’ Sunset Blvd. Then go Right on Sunset and continue East. Then take a Left on Highland and pass Hollywood Blvd. Then go immediately left and drive into the Parking Structure underneath the Hollywood & Highland Mall. A perfect place to park your car and enjoy Hollywood’s biggest attraction, the section of Hollywood Blvd between Highland Ave and La Brea Ave. Here you will find the ‘stars’ in the pavement, the famous Mann’s Chinese Theatre opposite Disney’s generously restored El Capitan Theatre and a fairly new shopping mall you just parked underneath. Of course, this section also houses the Kodak Theatre, annually in the spotlight during Oscar night. Check out our shopping section for more details about Hollywood & Highland.
When your day is almost over we would suggest you take Sunset Blvd. all the way back down (West) to the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and then head back towards Santa Monica, by going left (South) on PCH. An amazing drive all the way down!
- Start Point: Hollywood Area
- You are driving in the Hollywood area, which is part of the City of Los Angeles. It’s known for its movie history and is not a separate city like West Hollywood.
- Driving on Fairfax Avenue:
- Continue driving on Fairfax Avenue until you reach 3rd Street.
- 3rd Street – Farmers Market and The Grove:
- At 3rd Street, you’ll encounter an interesting Farmers Market to your right. Just behind the Farmers Market is The Grove, one of LA’s newest shopping malls. Take time to explore these attractions.
- Continue North on Fairfax Avenue:
- After exploring the Farmers Market and The Grove, continue driving north on Fairfax Avenue.
- Hit Sunset Boulevard:
- When you reach Sunset Blvd, turn right and head east.
- Continue East on Sunset Boulevard:
- Drive east on Sunset Blvd.
- Left on Highland Avenue:
- Take a left onto Highland Avenue.
- Pass Hollywood Boulevard:
- Drive past Hollywood Blvd.
- Left to Hollywood & Highland Mall Parking:
- Immediately after passing Hollywood Blvd, turn left and drive into the Parking Structure underneath the Hollywood & Highland Mall.
- Explore Hollywood & Highland Attractions:
- Park your car and explore the Hollywood Blvd section between Highland Ave and La Brea Ave. Here, you’ll see the ‘stars’ on the pavement, Mann’s Chinese Theatre, Disney’s El Capitan Theatre, and the Kodak Theatre.
- Returning via Sunset Boulevard and PCH:
- To end your day, take Sunset Blvd westward all the way to the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).
- Turn left (south) onto PCH, heading back towards Santa Monica for an amazing drive along the coast.
Downtown LA
But when you have time left and there is plenty of daylight time remaining, continue on Highland Ave. (also when exiting the parking structure) and go North towards the 101 Freeway. Take the 101 Freeway South towards Downtown. Exit the 101 Freeway on … avenue. Now you are in a completely different world. Tall buildings and skyscrapers all around remind people of New York City or San Francisco, yet different.
It’s easy to drive around a bit and find your way. Most streets, however, are one-way so pay attention here. And better not stay around here after 7 PM because when the working people leave, it gets rather quiet pretty fast. But don’t get frightened or anything just use some common sense and it’s worth a trip to see the difference between Downtown LA and the rest of Los Angeles.
LA Driving Tour from Downtown LA to Sunset Blvd.
- Continuing from Hollywood & Highland:
- If you have extra time and there’s still daylight, proceed on Highland Ave (also when exiting the parking structure) and head north toward the 101 Freeway.
- Heading to the 101 Freeway:
- Merge onto the 101 Freeway South, driving towards Downtown.
- Exiting the 101 Freeway:
- Take the exit onto [Specify the name of the avenue you’re exiting onto].
- Exploring Downtown Area:
- As you exit, you’ll find yourself in a distinct urban landscape. The tall buildings and skyscrapers might remind you of cities like New York or San Francisco, but with a unique vibe. You can easily drive around and navigate this area but note that many streets are one-way, so pay attention.
The Broad Museum
Explore contemporary art at The Broad, a contemporary art museum known for its unique architecture and impressive collection of modern artworks.
Grand Central Market
Visit this historic food hall featuring a diverse range of vendors offering everything from fresh produce to international cuisine.
Olvera Street
Immerse yourself in Mexican culture at Olvera Street, a historic district known for its vibrant marketplace, authentic Mexican food, and cultural events.
Union Station
Marvel at the architectural beauty of Union Station, a historic transportation hub with a mix of Art Deco and Mission Revival styles.
The Last Bookstore
Explore a unique bookstore housed in a historic bank building, featuring a wide selection of new and used books, as well as art installations.
Sunset Blvd.
Drive back from Downtown LA taking the 101 Freeway North. Then exit on Highland Ave. Drive South on Highland Ave. until you get to Sunset Blvd. Turn right (West) onto Sunset Blvd. and take it al the way down to the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Then take a left on PCH and head back towards Santa Monica. An amazing drive all the way down!
This drive will take you past the ‘Sunset Strip’, between Fairfax and Doheney, where a major part of nightlife in LA is taking place. During the day it’s also fun driving by and enjoying the ‘fighting’ between the billboards for your attention. Pay attention to the road of course!
Then Sunset Blvd. will take you further West through Beverly Hills residential areas, past the Gates to Bell Air, along UCLA’s Northern Entrance, and into the secluded village of Pacific Palisades all the way down to the Ocean! Need we say more? At the end of Sunset Blvd. go left onto the Pacific Coast Highway towards Santa Monica (and get off again before it turns into the 10 Freeway).
The next Los Angeles Tour Guide will lead you a bit more off the beaten path. Go Around the Tourists and discover another part of Los Angeles in the next post.