How Do You Get To The Hollywood Sign
The Hollywood Hills are some of the most well-known hills in California. They get a lot of attention because they’re beautiful, but also due to their rich history as a filming location.
The area is home to many famous movie studios and buildings that have been featured across the globe. It’s also where you will find one of the state’s most recognizable landmarks - the Hollywood sign!
While it may not be totally accessible for those with limited mobility or who can’t handle long hikes up steep inclines, there ARE ways to reach the top!
You can either take organized tours (more on that later) or just go during non-peak times. If you do decide to head up there without planning ahead, make sure you are completely prepared by bringing food, water, and blankets so you don’t end up cold and uncomfortable.
Take the Hollywood/Vermont intersection
Located in California, the famous Hollywood sign is surrounded by very expensive real estate. It’s not easy to get access to this beautiful setting, however. Luckily, you don’t need too much money or time to visit it!
The most popular way to see the Hollywood sign is via car. There are two ways to do this depending on your schedule. The first is taking the Pacific Coast Highway (aka PCH) northbound from Malibu up until just before State Route 2. At that point, there’s an entrance for cars which goes down towards the sign and then back up the hill away from the sign.
This isn’t bad if you’re going during the summer when traffic moves smoothly, but can be tricky during winter months due to snowfall. If possible, try visiting at night so you won’t have to deal with heavy traffic either.
The second option is taking the Santa Monica Boulevard exit off of I-5 southbound and heading west. This takes you through some less glamorous parts of Los Angeles, but doesn’t require any special driving skills or knowledge of the area. Just make sure you don’t go past the limit or you could end up in some trouble!
Both of these routes are great ways to enjoy the Hollywood sign while also keeping yourself busy and out of danger. Now, let’s talk about another way to see the Hollywood sign without leaving the house.
Take the Hollywood/Highland street intersection
At this level, you will find some great pictures! If you are very motivated and want to have some fun, there is an easy way to get up here. The road becomes Highland Avenue at the top of the hill. It then makes a quick left turn onto Mount Lee Boulevard. This is also known as Mulholland Highway or just “The Mountain” due to its curvy shape.
This highway goes all the way down into Los Angeles where it connects with other roads. Most people don’t know what lies beyond that but if you really wanted to go somewhere, you could probably figure out how to make it happen.
There was a time when going down The Mountain was not safe for inexperienced drivers. Many cars got stuck because there were too many curves and bridges that needed to be crossed. Now though, things are much safer.
If you ever feel like taking this route, stay off The Mountain during peak hours (probably around 9 AM-5 PM). The traffic can grow quite heavy and it takes longer than expected to get anywhere.
Take the Sunset Boulevard exit off the 110 freeway
If you are coming from the north or west, take the Sunset Boulevard exit off the highway. This will put you onto Sunset Boulevard, which is also known as Mulholland Drive. Make sure to stay in this area while heading south towards The Hollywood Hills!
If you are traveling eastbound on the 110, there is an easy way to get to the famous Hollywood sign. Simply take the Valley View Avenue exit and turn left onto State College Blvd. Follow State College until it becomes San Fernando Road, then make your way down through the hills!
This is a very popular route because you do not have to go back up on the expressway, so rest areas are more accessible for breaks.
Take the Sunset Boulevard/Hollywood Boulevard intersection
At this intersection, you will find yourself facing one of two signs. One says “Sunset Blvd N” and the other has a picture of the famous Hollywood sign with the word “BEGINNER!”
If you are looking to take the easy route, then go down the hill towards the beach and turn left onto Sunset Boulevard. This is definitely not difficult or hard, but it isn’t very adventurous either.
There are only so many ways to get here if you don’t want to do some creative thinking about routes. For example, there is no way to get here without taking the highway at least once- that doesn’t make sense does it?
Going up the mountain is much more fun than going along the ocean because you feel like you accomplished something by climbing a steep incline. Also, there are lots of beautiful things to see and do while traveling up the mountainside which makes it worth your time.
One such thing is Griffith Park where you can enjoy nature and spend time walking around. There you could also look out for wildlife such as deer, rabbits, and even lions and tigers!
Once you have visited the park, continue on up the road until you reach Mulholland Drive. Make sure to check out the view before heading back down.
Take the Vine Street exit off the 101 freeway
If you are coming from the south or west, there is an easy way to get here! The best route is through the vine street entrance of the highway. This means exiting at the 101 freeway and traveling eastbound on Vine St towards California State Route 2. At that intersection, you will have to make a right turn onto state route 2, and then a quick left onto Catalina Rd.
Once you reach Catalina Road, continue north until you see the sign for the famous Hollywood landmark! Keep in mind that traffic can be very heavy during popular times so please be prepared for delays if this route does not work out easily for you.
This is also a good option if you do not feel comfortable walking up the stairs of the sign due to height restrictions.
Take the Sunset/Vine Street intersection
The next, and most popular way to access the very top of Mount Charleston is by taking the Sunset/Vine street intersection. There are actually two ways to do this!
The first is via car. Simply take Sunset Boulevard westbound up the hill, turn left onto Vine Street, then right onto Mulholland Highway. Make sure you’re staying in your lane and that cars have enough room to pass you as you climb the mountain.
The other option is to use public transportation. Metro buses run along both Sunset Boulevard and Mulholland Highway, making it easy to get to the top without using a vehicle. Check out our article here for more information about getting to the beach from downtown Los Angeles with mass transit.
Take the Sunset/Gower Street intersection
Located in California, the Hollywood sign is famous for its beautiful view of Los Angeles and the surrounding area. It’s also well-known for being accessible to most anyone. If you live in the greater LA area, you have already received this valuable information!
The best way to get to the Hollywood sign isn’t actually mentioned online or in many guides - it’s simply coming out of the house every once in a while and taking advantage of one of the greatest views in America.
If you don’t believe us when we say that there are some pretty spectacular panoramic sights from the top of Griffith Park, then do yourself a favor and check it out for yourselves. The park is only about 10 miles west of downtown so even if you can’t make it all the way up to the Hollywood sign, you will still be getting a good workout!
Griffith Park is home to various hiking trails as well as an aerial tram which takes people up into the hills where they can enjoy the scenery even more (for a small additional fee).
Take the Sunset/Laneholme street intersection
If you are traveling from downtown Los Angeles or west of downtown, your first stop will be the Sunset Boulevard intersection with Laneham Street. This is actually not an easy road to get to unless you know it well!
Most people take this route to make their way up Mulholland Drive and then onto the famous The Hollywood sign. But there’s a problem: all the cars heading north on Sunset usually don’t even try to go up the mountain because there’s no good reason to.
So what happens? Well, they turn left instead onto La Cienega Avenue, which doesn’t connect anywhere but gets very congested due to its popularity as a major artery. Many drivers who would otherwise keep going uphill end up turning around because there’s nowhere better to go!
This creates more traffic in the area and a vicious circle that needs to be broken. Thankfully, however, things change at the top of the hill. There’s a small parking lot next to the famous landmark where tourists can park for free while they explore the surrounding area.
But why should we pay attention to something that anyone can do for free anyway? Because this little pullout has a really interesting story attached to it!
The Hollywood sign was built by artist David Shepard back in 1933. At the time he created his work, he was inspired by Native American art and culture.