U.S. 101 North - Los Angeles County #2


U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north - California 170 to Ventura County Line
The next exit along northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) is Exit 14, Laurel Canyon Road to Studio City. U.S. 101 is now in the San Fernando Valley, which has attempted to secede from the city of Los Angeles earlier this decade. For now, San Fernando Valley will remain part of the city of Los Angeles. Photo taken 12/23/04.
Passing through the San Fernando Valley, this section of U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) carries five westbound lanes. While signed as U.S. 101 north, traffic reporters and locals refer to the Ventura Freeway as an east-west route. Eastbound Ventura Freeway is signed as U.S. 101 south, and westbound Ventura Freeway is signed as U.S. 101 north. (There are a few signs erected by the city of Los Angeles and other agencies aside from Caltrans that indicate U.S. 101 east and west, but most refer to north and south.) Photo taken 04/30/06.
Northbound (westbound) U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 14, Laurel Canyon Road to Studio City. A community of Los Angeles, Studio City is part of the San Fernando Valley and is roughly bordered by U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) to the north, Mulholland Drive and the Santa Monica Mountains to the south, U.S. 101 (Hollywood Freeway) to the east, and Ethel Avenue to the west. Former U.S. 101 Business (Ventura Boulevard) serves the business district of Studio City, which was named in the 1920s for Mack Sennett Studios, which today are known as CBS Radford Studios. Photo taken 12/23/04.
The next exit along northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) is Exit 15, Coldwater Canyon Road (0.75 mile). Photo taken 04/30/06.
A U.S. 101 north reassurance shield is posted after the on-ramp from Laurel Canyon Road. Photo taken 04/30/06.
Use Coldwater Canyon Road to the community of North Hollywood. Photo taken 04/30/06.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 15, Coldwater Canyon Avenue. The next exit is for Exit 16, Woodman Avenue, one mile. The Woodman Avenue sign is very old and features unusually narrow lettering on this sign. Photo taken 12/23/04.
This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits along U.S. 101 north: Exit 16, Woodman Avenue; Exit 17, Van Nuys Boulevard; and Exit 18, Sepulveda Boulevard (former California 7). Photo taken 12/23/04.
Woodman Avenue travels south into the Sherman Oaks community of the city of Los Angeles and north to the commmunity of Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley. Photo taken 04/30/06.
Northbound (westbound) U.S. 101 reaches Exit 16, Woodman Avenue. This was one of the first exit number signs to be posted in the San Fernando Valley along U.S. 101. Photo taken 12/23/04.
This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits along U.S. 101 north: Exit 17, Van Nuys Boulevard; Exit 18, Sepulveda Boulevard (former California 7); and Exit 19A, Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north to Sacramento and south to San Diego. A tiny Interstate 405 shield is posted next to the text "San Diego Freeway"; when this sign is replaced, it is likely the San Diego Freeway moniker will be dropped and a standard Interstate 405 shield will take its place. Photo taken 12/23/04.
A dynamic messsage sign is posted; on this day it had the travel times to the junction with California 27 (Topanga Canyon Road) and to California 23 in Westlake. Use Van Nuys Boulevard north to the San Fernando Valley Government Center. Photo taken 12/23/04.
Van Nuys Boulevard is a major north-south city street that leads from U.S. 101 at Sherman Oaks north through Van Nuys and Panorama City, then turns northeast after crossing Woodman Avenue. To the northeast, Van Nuys Boulevard passes Interstate 5 at Exit 155B and passes under Interstate 210, ending in Lake View Terrace. All of this happens without leaving the city of Los Angeles. Photo taken 12/23/04.
Prior to the Van Nuys Boulevard interchange, this sign announces the junction with Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway). A very congested interchange during commuting hours, the Interstate 405-U.S. 101 exchange can be a slow one. Watch for slowing or stopped traffic when approaching this interchange from any direction. Through traffic on U.S. 101 should use the left four lanes; Interstate 405 traffic (Exit 19A) should stay right. Photo taken 12/23/04.
Northbound (westbound) U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 17, Van Nuys Avenue. The next exit is for Exit 18, Sepulveda Boulevard, which is an old alignment of former California 7 prior to the construction of Interstate 405, the San Diego Freeway. With the opening of Interstate 405, California 7 was gradually decommissioned. At its longest extent, California 7 used to originate at U.S. 101 Alternate (now California 1) and travel north along Sepulveda Boulevard, follow U.S. 6 (now California 14) through Lancaster, and then continue along present U.S. 395 to the state line with Nevada south of Reno. The sections of California 7 north of Los Angeles were replaced by U.S. 395 and U.S. 6; in Los Angeles, it was ultimately replaced by Interstate 405. In later iterations, the California 7 designated was transferred to the Long Beach Freeway (now Interstate 710) and today functions as an expressway connector between Interstate 8 and the Calexico Port of Entry #2 south to Mexicali, Baja California Norte, Mexico, in Imperial County. Photo taken 12/23/04.
This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west): Exit 18, Sepulveda Boulevard (former California 7); Exit 19A, Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) north to Sacramento and south to San Diego; and Exit 19B, Haskell Avenue. Photo taken 04/30/06.
A U.S. 101 north reassurance shield is posted after the on-ramp from Van Nuys Avenue. Photo taken 04/30/06.
The right two lanes connect to Interstate 405 north to Sacramento and south to San Diego; the left four lanes continue west on U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) to Ventura, Santa Barbara, and north to San Francisco. While the northbound control city leaving Los Angeles is Ventura, the southbound control city leaving San Jose is Los Angeles. Photo taken 12/23/04.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 18, Sepulveda Boulevard. If traffic is slow on Interstate 405, Sepulveda Boulevard is a fair alternative, but it too can be slow. Sepulveda Boulevard travels south toward Los Angeles International Airport and north toward the Mission Hills community of the city of Los Angeles. The next exit is Exit 19A, Interstate 405. Photo taken 12/23/04.
Immediately thereafter, northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 19A, Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway). Caltrans has a policy of using a different pavement color for exit lanes so as to reduce confusion of which lanes continue on the freeway and which lanes exit. In this case, the section of asphalt separating through traffic from exiting traffic is a much lighter color than the travel lanes. Photo taken 12/23/04.
This view looks at the exit ramp from northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) to Exit 19A, Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) as seen from the mainline and the transition ramp. This style of sign bridge is rarely found on California highways today, but it was one of the earliest designs used on California freeways. Tubular sign bridges and Caltrans-standard gantries are the most commonly found sign bridge styles still in use today. Photos taken 12/23/04 and 04/30/06.
Immediately after the Interstate 405 interchange, northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 19B, Haskell Avenue. The next exit along U.S. 101 north (west) is Exit 20, Hayvenhurst Avenue. The second photo shows that incoming traffic from Interstate 405 north cannot access Exit 19B due to a barricade between incoming traffic and mainline U.S. 101. Photos taken 04/30/06 and 03/18/06.
This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west): Exit 20, Hayvenhurst Avenue; Exit 21, Balboa Boulevard; and Exit 22, White Oak Avenue. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 20, Hayvenhurst Avenue. The next exit is Exit 21, Balboa Boulevard. Photo taken 02/02/08.
This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west): Exit 21, Balboa Boulevard; Exit 22, White Oak Avenue; and Exit 23, Reseda Boulevard. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Northbound (westbound) U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 21, Balboa Boulevard to the community of Encino (still in the city of Los Angeles). Photo taken 03/18/06.
The next exit along U.S. 101 north is Exit 22, White Oak Avenue (0.75 mile). Photo taken 12/23/04.
This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west): Exit 22, White Oak Avenue; Exit 23, Reseda Boulevard; and Exit 24, Tampa Avenue. Photo taken 12/23/04.
Northbound U.S. 101 reaches Exit 22, White Oak Avenue. Photo taken 12/23/04.
This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west): Exit 23, Reseda Boulevard; Exit 24, Tampa Avenue; and Exit 25, Winnetka Avenue. Photo taken 12/23/04.
The next exit along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west) is Exit 23, Reseda Boulevard (0.75 mile). Photo taken 12/23/04.
Use Exit 23 to the communities of Tarzana and Reseda in the city of Los Angeles. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 23, Reseda Boulevard. The next exit along westbound is Exit 24, Tampa Avenue. Photo taken 12/23/04.
This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west): Exit 24, Tampa Avenue; Exit 25, Winnetka Avenue; and Exit 26A, De Soto Avenue and Serrania Avenue. Photo taken 12/23/04.
A Los Angeles Department of Water and Power transmission line passes over the ten-lane U.S. 101 freeway. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 24, Tampa Avenue. Photo taken 03/18/06.
This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west): Exit 25, Winnetka Avenue; Exit 26A, De Soto Avenue and Serrania Avenue; and Exit 26B, Canoga Avenue. Photo taken 03/18/06.
The next exit along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west) is Exit 25, Winnetka Avenue (0.50 mile). Photo taken 03/18/06.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 25, Winnetka Boulevard in Woodland Hills, which is the last community of Los Angeles before U.S. 101 skirts the cities of Calabasas and Hidden Hills. Photo taken 12/23/04.
This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next four exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west): Exit 26A, De Soto Avenue and Serrania Avenue; Exit 26B, Canoga Avenue; and Exits 27A-B, California 27 (Topanga Canyon Road). Photo taken 03/18/06.
The next three exits also serve the neighborhood of Warner Center, which is part of the community of Woodland Hills in the city of Los Angeles. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Exit 26A connects to De Soto Avenue and Serrania Avenue (next right). Photo taken 02/02/08.
Northbound U.S. 101 (westbound Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 26A, De Soto Avenue and Serrania Avenue to Woodland Hills and Warner Center. Photo taken 02/02/08.
The next exit along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north is Exit 26B, Canoga Avenue. Photo taken 12/23/04.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 26B, Canoga Avenue. Use Canoga Avenue north to the Canoga Park community of the city of Los Angeles. Photo taken 12/23/04.
This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next four exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west): Exits 27A-B, California 27 (Topanga Canyon Road); Exit 27C, Shoup Avenue and Ventura Boulevard; and Exit 28, Woodlake Avenue. Photo taken 12/23/04.
Due to vehicle axle and weight restrictions on Kanan Road, use California 27 (Topanga Canyon Road) south to Malibu. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 27A, California 27 (Topanga Canyon Road) north. The state route travels through the San Fernando Valley to its northern terminus at California 118 (Ronald Reagan [Simi Valley] Freeway) near Santa Susana Pass. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Immediately thereafter, northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 27B, California 27 (Topanga Canyon Road) south to Malibu. California 27 is a short north-south route, starting at the Pacific Coast Highway (California 1) at Topanga Beach and continuing north to end at California 118 (Ronald Reagan Freeway) near Chatsworth. The next exit along U.S. 101 north is Exit 27C, Shoup Avenue. Photo taken 12/23/04.
The next exit along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west) is Exit 27C, Shoup Avenue, Fallbrook Avenue, and Ventura Boulevard. At this interchange, the off-ramp will connect to Ventura Boulevard. Turn right (west) to Shoup Avenue north/south; continue west to Fallbrook Avenue. Photo taken 12/23/04.
Northbound (westbound) U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 27C, Ventura Boulevard (Former U.S. 101 Business) to Shoup Avenue, Fallbrook Avenue. Photo taken 03/18/06.
This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next two exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west): Exit 28, Woodlake Avenue and Exit 29, Mulholland Drive east and Valley Circle Boulevard north. Photo taken 12/23/04.
The next exit along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west) is Exit 28, Woodlake Avenue. This interchange only provides access from U.S. 101 north to Woodlake Boulevard north and from Woodlake Boulevard south to U.S. 101 north. No direct access is available from southbound U.S. 101 except via Exit 29. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 28, Woodlake Avenue. The next exit is Exit 29, Mulholland Drive east and Valley Circle Boulevard north. Photo taken 03/18/06.
A sharp turn forms part of the off-ramp from U.S. 101 north to Exit 28. Photo taken 12/23/04.
After the on-ramp from Exit 28 joins the northbound freeway, the right lane becomes exit only for the next exit along U.S. 101 north (west): Exit 29, Mulholland Drive east and Valley Circle Boulevard north. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Use Exit 29 to the cities of Calabasas and Hidden Hills. Mulholland Drive travels southeast to Old Topanga Canyon Road; turn south on Old Topanga Canyon Road to enter the city of Calabasas. To the north, use Valley Circle Boulevard north to Burbank Boulevard west to the gated city of Hidden Hills. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 29, Mulholland Drive and Valley Circle Boulevard. Mulholland Drive leads east from this exit toward Hollywood Hills via the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Valley Circle Boulevard leads north from this interchange toward the Chatsworth Reservoir. This is the last interchange to serve the city of Los Angeles along northbound (westbound). Photo taken 12/23/04.
This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west): Exit 30, Parkway Calabasas; Exit 32, Los Angeles County N-1/Las Virgenes Road; and Exit 33, Lost Hills Road. Photo taken 12/23/04.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 30, Parkway Calabasas. Photo taken 03/18/06.
An El Camino Real replica bell is posted in the shadow of the Parkway Calabasas overpass. Replica bells line the U.S. 101 (El Camino Real) corridor between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and they are especially noticeable in rural areas. Photo taken 12/23/04.
This interchange sequence sign provides the distance to the next three exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west): Exit 32, Los Angeles County N-1/Las Virgenes Road; Exit 33, Lost Hills Road; and Exit 34, Liberty Canyon Road. This sign is posted on the Mureau Road overpass. Photo taken 03/18/06.
After the Parkway Calabasas interchange, U.S. 101 begins to descend toward Agoura Hills. Land on either side of the freeway is preserved as part of California's state park system. Photos taken 12/23/04 and 03/18/06.
The next exit along northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) is Exit 32, Los Angeles County N-1/Las Virgenes Road south to Malibu Canyon. County Route N-1 leads south through the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to meet California 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) in Malibu. This is the first significant open space along northbound. Photo taken 12/23/04.
Use Las Virgenes Road south to Malibu Creek State Park. Photo taken 12/23/04.
On the coast, Pepperdine University sits in Malibu near the south end of Las Virgenes Road. Photo taken 12/23/04.
Due to weight and axle restrictions on Kanan Road, traffic is encouraged to use Las Virgenes Road south to Malibu. Photo taken 12/23/04.
Los Angeles County N-1 follows Las Virgenes Road south through Malibu Canyon to Malibu. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 32, Los Angeles County N-1/Las Virgenes Road south to Malibu Canyon. As is standard for signage of county routes from a California freeway, there are no shields for County Route N-1 on any of the overhead signs. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Another El Camino Real bell is placed in front of the Las Virgenes Road overpass. Photo taken 03/18/06.
The next exit along northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) is Exit 33, Lost Hills Road (right lane becomes exit only). Photo taken 03/18/06.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 33, Lost Hills Road. Photo taken 03/18/06.
The next four exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north (west) serve the city of Agoura Hills, the final city along U.S. 101 in Los Angeles County. Photo taken 03/18/06.
A U.S. 101 reassurance shield is posted after the on-ramp from Lost Hills Road. Photo taken 03/18/06.
The next exit along northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) is Exit 34, Liberty Canyon Road. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 34, Liberty Canyon Road. Photo taken 12/23/04.
The next exit along northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) is Exit 35, Cheesebro Road. This is the first exit for the city of Agoura Hills along westbound. Photo taken 12/23/04.
The right lane of northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) becomes exit only for Exit 35, Cheesebro Road. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 35, Cheesebro Road. Photo taken 02/02/08.
At this point, northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) enters the city of Agoura Hills. Incorporated in 1982, Agoura Hills has a population of 20,537 as of the 2000 Census and consists of 8.20 square miles. Photo taken 02/02/08.
The next exit along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north is Exit 36, Los Angeles County N-9/Kanan Road (1.25 miles). Photo taken 02/02/08.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north: Exit 36, Los Angeles County N-9/Kanan Road; Exit 38, Reyes Adobe Road; and Exit 39, Lindero Canyon Road to Westlake Village. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Use Los Angeles County N-9/Kanan Road south to beaches. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 36, Los Angeles County N-9/Kanan Road south to western Malibu. Photos taken 02/02/08 and 12/23/04.
A Los Angeles County N-9 trailblazer is posted on the off-ramp to Kanan Road. This interchange was reconstructed in 2006 to allow for a loop on-ramp to U.S. 101 west. Photo taken 02/02/08.
The next exit along westbound U.S. 101 is Exit 38, Reyes Adobe Road (one mile). Photo taken 02/02/08.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the next three exits along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north: Exit 38, Reyes Adobe Road; Exit 39, Lindero Canyon Road to Westlake Village; and Exit 40, California 23/Westlake Boulevard. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Northbound (westbound) U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 38, Reyes Adobe Road. Photo taken 03/18/06.
The next exit along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north is Exit 39, Lindero Canyon Road to Westlake Village. Photo taken 12/23/04.
U.S. 101 leaves Agoura Hills and enters the city of Westlake Village, which is known as the "city in the country." Located in the Conejo Valley along with Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village is home to 8,368 people as of the 2000 Census. Photo taken 02/02/08.
This mileage sign provides the distancen to the next three exits: Exit 39, Lindero Canyon Road; Exit 40, California 23/Westlake Boulevard; and Exit 41, Hampshire Road. Photo taken 02/02/08.
Northbound U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) reaches Exit 39, Lindero Canyon Road to Westlake Village. This is the last exit in Los Angeles County; Exit 40 is located in Ventura County/city of Thousand Oaks. Photo taken 02/02/08.
The next exit along U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) north is Exit 40, California 23/Westlake Boulevard south to Pacific Coast Highway. Photo taken 02/02/08.
To Sherwood Village and Westlake Village, use Exit 40, California 23/Westlake Boulevard. Photo taken 02/02/08.
U.S. 101 leaves the city of Westlake Village (Los Angeles County) and enters the city of Thousand Oaks (Ventura County). Photo taken 03/18/06.

Continue north to Ventura  Return to the U.S. 101 Guide  Return to the California Gateway

Page Updated February 27, 2009.

© AARoads