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Mulholland Drive, Hollywood Hills, California
Photo: KimonBerlin · CC BY-SA 2.0

Drives California Los Angeles

Mulholland Drive

Mulholland Drive · Hollywood → Mulholland Drive near I-405

Intense11.3 mi30 min1,700 ft climbHigh point ≈ 1,300 ftOne way
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The drive

Mulholland Drive follows the crest of the Hollywood Hills from Cahuenga Pass in Hollywood west to the Sepulveda Pass near Interstate 405. It opened in 1924, built by Hollywood Hills developers, and is named for William Mulholland, who designed the Los Angeles aqueduct. The road winds along the ridgeline with views of the Los Angeles Basin, the San Fernando Valley and downtown.

This drive covers 11.3 miles of it and stops near Interstate 405. Farther west, just beyond Encino Hills Drive, the road becomes unpaved and closed to motor vehicles, known as Dirt Mulholland. The road is residential, narrow and bending, so it is a slow, scenic drive and not a fast one.

Along the way

  1. Hollywood (Cahuenga Boulevard)
  2. Mulholland Drive near I-405
Elevation
1,700 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 1,300 ft
HollywoodMulholland Drive near I-405
Curves
Twisty most of the way
HollywoodMulholland Drive near I-405
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • It is residential: expect parked cars, tight bends and low speeds.
  • The road is busiest at sunset and on weekends, and cyclists use it.
  • The road has closed after storms and mudslides; a stretch between Skyline Drive and Bowmont Drive was closed in 2024 and repaired.
  • The pavement ends farther west, beyond Encino Hills Drive; the drive stops near Interstate 405 well short of it.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check StreetsLA (City of Los Angeles).

Questions about this drive

How long does Mulholland Drive take?

Mulholland Drive from Cahuenga Boulevard to Interstate 405 is 11.3 miles and takes about 30 minutes without stops.

Is Mulholland Drive paved all the way?

No. The road is paved through the Hollywood Hills to the Sepulveda Pass, but just west of Encino Hills Drive it becomes unpaved and closed to cars.

Why is it called Mulholland Drive?

It is named for William Mulholland, who designed the Los Angeles aqueduct. The road opened in 1924 as Mulholland Highway.

What can you see from Mulholland Drive?

The ridge road looks out over the Los Angeles Basin, the San Fernando Valley, downtown Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
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Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Mulholland Drive, from Hollywood to Mulholland Drive near I-405