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Los Angeles Scenic Drives II
Part II-c: Los Angeles at night
Directions to the start of your scenic drive
This exciting Los Angeles at night scenic drive starts in Part II-a at the Beverly Center mall, located at the corner of Beverly and La Cienega in Los Angeles.
From this location, you'll set out to explore the lights of Southern California at night.
This page gives you directions to the Beverly Center from
- Beverly Hills and Century City
- Burbank and Universal City
- Disneyland and Orange County,
- downtown Los Angeles
- LAX airport, Long Beach, and
- Santa Monica
After you reach the corner of La Cienega and Beverly, these directions point you eastbound on Beverly toward the exciting stops on your tour.
However, if you want to visit this very upscale and popular mall, enter Beverly Center's parking from the west side of La Cienega, just south of Beverly Boulevard.
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A word about freeway driving in Los Angeles
On Los Angeles freeways, do not attempt to make a sudden lane change if you find yourself in the wrong lane at the last minute. Instead, drive to the next interchange and turn back.
Be in the correct lane well ahead of time based on observation of the overhead signs. Plan ahead, as L.A.-area freeways have many lanes in each direction.
In order to avoid dangerous stops or lane changes at the last minute, you also want to be looking far ahead of you for slow downs in traffic. Just staring at the lane directly in front of you is not safe driving in Los Angeles.
In addition, have ample gas, in order not to exit freeways in unfamiliar and perhaps unsafe locations.
From Beverly Hills and Century City:
Drive east (actually northeast) on Santa Monica Boulevard.
Turn right onto Beverly Boulevard.
Continue to the Beverly Center at the corner La Cienega Boulevard.
For the tour, stay pointed eastbound on Beverly Boulevard.
If more convenient, you can also take Wilshire Boulevard eastbound from either Beverly Hills or Century City, and then turn left onto northbound La Cienega Boulevard, but this may have a bit more congestion. At the corner of La Cienega and Beverly, turn right onto Beverly Boulevard, and start your scenic drive.
Go to the next section, Part II-a.
From the Burbank and Universal City area:
Take the westbound Ventura Freeway.
Avoid the lanes that take you to either the southbound or northbound Hollywood Freeway. You do NOT want to head toward Hollywood, Los Angeles, or San Fernando at this point.
Continue on the Ventura Freeway, which is now "northbound" U.S. 101.
Exit on southbound Laurel Canyon Boulevard.
After crossing the Hollywood Hills, Laurel Canyon Boulevard changes its name to Crescent Heights Boulevard.
Transfer your allegiance and stay on southbound Crescent Heights.
You can either
- Turn right onto Beverly Boulevard and then left on La Cienega Boulevard to visit the Beverly Center mall, or
- Turn left onto Beverly for the main part of the scenic drive.
Go to the next section, Part II-a.
From Disneyland and northern Orange County.
(For southern Orange County, use I-405 to I-10, as in the LAX airport and Long Beach directions below.)
Go north on any major street, such as Harbor Boulevard.
Enter the northbound Interstate 5 toward Los Angeles.
This is also known as the Santa Ana Freeway.
For safety reasons, do not exit this freeway anywhere near downtown Los Angeles.
Exit onto westbound I-10 toward Santa Monica.
This is also called the Santa Monica Freeway.
For safety reasons, do not exit this freeway until you reach Exit 7-A.
Take Exit 7-A toward northbound La Cienega Boulevard.
Drive north on La Cienega.
Turn right at Beverly Boulevard.
Go to the next section, Part II-a.
From LAX airport and Long Beach:
Take Interstate 405 northbound, which is also called the San Diego Freeway.From most hotels and air rental offices at LAX, this means using Century Boulevard eastbound to I-405. However, ask, as there are exceptions.
For safety reasons, do not exit I-405 anywhere near the airport.
Stay in the right lanes of I-405 as you approach I-10, the Santa Monica Freeway.
Exit onto eastbound I-10 toward Los Angeles.
Exit toward northbound La Cienega Boulevard.
Drive north on La Cienega.
Turn right onto Beverly Boulevard, after you reach the Beverly Center mall.
Go to the next section, Part II-a.
From downtown Los Angeles.
Follow the signs to the Harbor Freeway, Interstate 110.Drive southbound on I-110 toward Long Beach.
Exit onto westbound I-10 toward Santa Monica.
This is also called the Santa Monica Freeway.
For safety reasons, do not exit this freeway until you reach Exit 7-A.
Take Exit 7-A toward northbound La Cienega Boulevard.
Drive north on La Cienega.
Turn right at Beverly Boulevard, after you reach the Beverly Center mall.
Go to the next section, Part II-a.
From Santa Monica:
Go eastbound on Interstate 10 toward Los Angeles.
This is also called the Santa Monica Freeway.
Stay in the lanes marked Los Angeles as you approach the I-405 interchange.
Stay on I-10 through the interchange. You want to stay on the Santa Monica Freeway.
Exit toward northbound La Cienega Boulevard.
Drive north on La Cienega.
Turn right onto Beverly Boulevard, after you reach the Beverly Center mall.
Go to the next section to start your scenic drive:
