Santa Monica Travel Forum

I will be visiting Santa Monica in July and getting around with a rental car. I would like to avoid the freeways at all costs!! I will only be driving on the west side to places such as BH, WeHo and the grove. I know both Santa Monica Blvd & Wilshire Blvd go right though West L.A. up to the BH area. Which would be easier for an “out-of-towner” to drive: S.M. Blvd or Wilshire Blvd as far as traffic and what not? Also do any of those roads abruptly end or cut-off anywhere and have to be picked back up? (in other words, are they both straight paths and easy to follow and not be pushed off onto some other road?) Also, would Sunset Blvd. be o.k. to take from PCH all the way up to WeHo and about how long would that take?

Thanks for any input!
Kim

Hi...I think the very best way to get back and forth from West LA, SM to BH etc. would be to take Olympic. It moves much better. Second choice would be wilshire in my opinion. Wilshire and SM don't end abruptly but there a bit of a turn at Beverly Hills and there's this whole Little Santa Monica issue.

In sum, personally I'd take Olympic or Wilshire.

Have fun.

G

Giampiero is right about flow of traffic on Olympic - however, Wilshire Blvd is definitely more attractive and a straight shot that takes you into the heart of Westwood - then the heart of Beverly Hills. Do check out my Beverly Hills pages for tips. Santa Monic Blvd is good only if you're going to Century City - otherwise it is a pain.