Horrible or OK? ->Santa Monica traffic on Fridays (just west of 405, not to/fro LA)

[disgruntled la native]

Originally Posted by Cloudwalker

Friday afternoon traffic is ugly wherever you are in the city.

Don't take Santa Monica Blvd on the way back, take Sunset instead. Prettier, way fewer traffic lights, faster. It may be a bit congested right before you cross the 405, just remember to stay in the inside lane until you cross the freeway so that you are not stuck behind people waiting to turn. I'd allow about an hour, depending on exactly where you mean when you say Hollywood.

Or leave Santa Monica a little earlier and stop and have a drink at the Hotel Bel Air or the Beverly Hills Hotel!

I'm not sure there's any stretch of road more congested than the stretch of Sunset Blvd between Mandeville Canyon and the 405 on weekdays between 3-7 pm. You're actually better off walking - that's how slow it can go!

The best ways to get out of Santa Monica are, unfortunately, San Vicente/Wilshire and Olympic. As congested and horrible as they are, they are wide streets that dominate most of the lights they hit. Santa Monica Blvd, Pico, and Sunset are absolute nightmares from coast to DTLA terminus. Well, Sunset is okay from the 405 to Doheny Dr (WeHo border).

There's also Broadway/Ohio Ave, but that only takes you to basically Beverly Glen, so you're forced back onto Wilshire anyway.

[Cloudwalker]

Yeah, you're right, it can get pretty backed up on that stretch. Really, every main thoroughfare going east is pretty slow until you cross the 405.

It's all going to suck basically, Friday before a long weekend!

If he's leaving from Venice Beach, Venice Blvd can give a reasonable run, once you cross Lincoln. Sometimes crowded near downtown Culver City, but it does usually keep moving, even if slowly.

[motley2]

Originally Posted by Cloudwalker

Friday afternoon traffic is ugly wherever you are in the city.

Don't take Santa Monica Blvd on the way back, take Sunset instead. Prettier, way fewer traffic lights, faster. It may be a bit congested right before you cross the 405, just remember to stay in the inside lane until you cross the freeway so that you are not stuck behind people waiting to turn. I'd allow about an hour, depending on exactly where you mean when you say Hollywood.

Or leave Santa Monica a little earlier and stop and have a drink at the Hotel Bel Air or the Beverly Hills Hotel!

Hi..Thank you for your answer.! Y es i think i take Sunset Bouleward I wil stay at Days in on sunset Bouleward west Hollywood. And i am a litle nervus about driving in los angeles, i come from a litle place in Norway.! Exiting