If you’re staring at a map of Southern California for the first time, you’re probably confused. You see "Los Angeles" as a giant label, and then you see "Hollywood" tucked inside it. You’re wondering how far is LA to Hollywood, thinking it’s a simple trip from one city to another.
It isn't.
Hollywood isn’t its own city. It hasn't been since 1910. It’s a neighborhood within the massive, sprawling mess of the City of Los Angeles. When people ask about the distance, they usually mean the gap between Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. That’s about 6 to 8 miles.
That sounds like nothing. In most of the world, 6 miles is a ten-minute breeze. In LA? That distance is a lifestyle choice. It can take fifteen minutes, or it can take an hour and fifteen minutes. I’ve lived here long enough to know that miles are a useless metric in this town. We measure distance in "podcasts" or "half-albums."
The Literal Miles: Breaking Down the Geography
Geographically, the center of Hollywood (roughly the intersection of Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave) is exactly 7 miles northwest of the Los Angeles City Hall in DTLA. If you’re coming from the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which many people mistakenly think is "LA," the distance to Hollywood is closer to 12 to 15 miles.
The 101 Freeway—officially the Hollywood Freeway—is the primary artery connecting these two points. It’s a concrete ribbon that serves as the stage for some of the world’s most famous traffic jams.
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Honestly, the "distance" is a psychological barrier more than a physical one. If you’re staying in a hotel downtown near The Broad museum, you’re physically close to the TCL Chinese Theatre, but you’re effectively in a different climate zone. Downtown is vertical, gritty, and increasingly sleek with skyscrapers. Hollywood is lower-slung, frantic, and smells faintly of churros and broken dreams.
Why Time Matters More Than Distance
Let's get real about the clock. You cannot talk about how far is LA to Hollywood without talking about the 4:00 PM rush.
If you leave DTLA at 2:00 AM on a Tuesday, you’ll be in Hollywood in 12 minutes. You’ll fly past the Echo Park exit, cruise through Silver Lake, and be parking near Vine Street before your favorite song ends. It’s a dream.
Try that same drive at 5:30 PM.
The 101 North turns into a parking lot. You will sit under the overpasses. You will watch the sunset. You will contemplate every life choice that led you to this moment. That 7-mile trip will take 50 minutes. It’s a crawl. This is why locals are obsessed with "surface streets." We think we’re geniuses for taking Sunset Boulevard or Santa Monica Boulevard all the way across, even though it usually takes the exact same amount of time. It just feels better to keep moving at 10 mph than to sit still on a freeway.
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Public Transit: The Secret Shortcut
People love to bash LA public transit. It’s a local pastime. But if you’re trying to figure out how far it is from the center of LA to Hollywood, the Metro B Line (Red Line) is the only way to beat the "distance" logic.
- Starting Point: Union Station (DTLA)
- Ending Point: Hollywood/Highland Station
- Travel Time: Almost exactly 20 minutes.
Every time.
The train doesn't care about the 101. It doesn't care if there's a premiere at the Dolby Theatre or if a Lakers game just let out. It’s the most consistent way to bridge that gap. You’ll see a mix of tourists, commuters, and people who look like they’ve seen things no human should ever see, but you’ll get there on time.
Walking? Don't Even Think About It
Sometimes, European travelers or New Yorkers look at the map and think, "Oh, 6 miles? I can walk that."
Please don't.
LA is not a walking city in the traditional sense. To get from DTLA to Hollywood on foot, you’d have to trek through Westlake, MacArthur Park, and various stretches of intense urban sprawl that aren't designed for pedestrians. There are hills. There is heat. There are stretches of sidewalk that just... end. It would take you over two hours, and you’d be exhausted before you even saw a single gold star on the pavement.
The LAX Factor: A Different Kind of Distance
If your version of "LA" is the airport, the math changes entirely. LAX is in the southwest corner of the city. Hollywood is north.
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- Distance: 13-15 miles.
- The Route: Usually up the 405 to the 10, or through the "jungle" of side streets like La Cienega.
- The Reality: This is a brutal trek. If you land at 4:00 PM and need to get to a hotel in Hollywood, give yourself two hours. Seriously. The 405 freeway is a literal circle of hell during peak hours.
I once had a friend try to Uber from LAX to a dinner in Hollywood on a Friday night. The Uber cost $85 and took nearly two hours. They missed the appetizers. If you're coming from the airport, Hollywood feels like it's in another state.
Different Ways to Measure the Gap
The Ride Share Reality
Uber and Lyft are ubiquitous. If you’re going from the Arts District (LA) to Hollywood, expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $60 depending on surge pricing.
The Iconic Route
If you have the time, ignore the freeway. Take Sunset Boulevard. It’s a longer "distance" in terms of turns and stops, but it’s the scenic route. You’ll pass through Echo Park, Silver Lake, and East Hollywood. You see the city change. You see the gentrification, the history, and the palm trees. This is the LA people see in movies.
The Bird’s Eye View
If you go up to the Griffith Observatory, you can see both locations at once. You can see the clusters of skyscrapers in Downtown and the sprawl of Hollywood below. From up there, the distance looks tiny. It’s a trick of the light.
Common Misconceptions About the Distance
"I'll just stay in LA and go to Hollywood for lunch."
Sure, if you have three hours for "lunch." If you’re staying in DTLA, Hollywood is a destination, not a quick jaunt. Plan your day around it."The Hollywood sign is right there."
The Hollywood sign is actually quite far from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s up in the hills. If you’re in DTLA, the sign looks like a tiny white speck. Don’t expect to walk to the sign once you get to Hollywood. That’s another 3-mile hike uphill."Traffic isn't that bad on weekends."
Wrong. Saturday in Hollywood is a nightmare. There are farmers' markets, tourists, and events. Sunday morning is the only time the distance feels as short as it looks on the map.
What You Need to Know Before You Go
If you’re planning a trip, stop looking at the miles. Start looking at the clock.
If you want to experience both, pick a "home base" that makes sense. Staying in West Hollywood (WeHo) puts you right in the middle, but it’s not technically DTLA or "Old" Hollywood.
If you are a tourist, Hollywood is probably where you want to spend your afternoon, but DTLA is where you want to eat dinner. Just make sure you leave a massive buffer of time between the two.
The distance from LA to Hollywood is exactly as long as the city decides it wants to be that day. One day it’s a 15-minute joyride; the next, it’s a grueling test of patience.
Actionable Tips for Navigating the LA to Hollywood Gap
- Download a real-time traffic app: Don't trust the static "15 mins" on a travel website. Use Waze or Google Maps. They account for the daily accidents on the 101.
- Time your travel: Avoid the "Golden Hours" of 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM and 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM. If you must move between these areas during these times, use the Metro.
- Park smart: If you drive to Hollywood from LA, don't look for street parking. You'll waste 30 minutes and probably get a ticket. Use the garage at Hollywood & Highland (now called Ovation). It’s validated and central.
- Combine trips: If you’re going to Hollywood, do everything in that area (Griffith Park, West Hollywood, Thai Town) in one go. Don't plan to go back and forth to Downtown in a single day.
- Check the schedule: Before heading toward Hollywood, check if there’s a show at the Hollywood Bowl. If there is, the Highland Ave exit becomes a black hole that sucks in all traffic and never lets it out. Avoid that area at all costs on concert nights.