An Iconic Road With Unmatched Views Of The City Is Los Angeles' Best Nighttime Drive

With so much to see and do in Los Angeles, any trip to the City of Angels will understandably have to last more than a few days. From the lovely beaches to the lights of Hollywood and its numerous diverse neighborhoods, it's no wonder 46 million people visited the city in 2022. If you're looking for the picture-perfect American destination for a long weekend, look no further than LA.

There are endless things to do in Los Angeles, and one highly recommended destination is the iconic Mulholland Drive, a 21-mile stretch of road on the Santa Monica Mountains that offers visitors some of the most scenic views in the entire city. From Mulholland Drive, you'll get picturesque views of the iconic Hollywood sign and celebrity mansions, and maybe even bump into a real-life celebrity or two! The road is also known for being the namesake of David Lynch's surreal 2001 film starring Naomi Watts, a tale of mistaken identity set in the dark underbelly of Hollywood.

A night drive up and down Mulholland Drive isn't just a drive under the skies of Los Angeles. Coasting down the street at night is a winding journey through the city's history. So, buckle up, get your camera ready, and prepare for one of the most beautiful night drives the West Coast has to offer.

Once you make it through Los Angeles' notoriously bad traffic (such things can't be avoided, unfortunately), one of the many spectacular views on Mulholland Drive is a prime vista of Fryman Canyon. This 122-acre park is abundant with wooded canyons and springs, making it one of the area's best nature spots. To get the optimum view of this park, head to the Nancy Hoover Pohl Overlook on the north side of Mulholland; this vantage point at night is spectacular. The overlook is named after a famed environmentalist who fought for decades to preserve the nature of Fryman Canyon. During the day, this spot is also great for visitors who have enough free time to take a hike in the Hollywood Hills, as this is where the five-mile Betty D. Dearing Mountain trail starts. 

Another can't-miss view accessible from Mulholland Drive is from the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook. Built in 1984 ahead of the Summer Olympics, the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook sits atop the Hollywood Bowl, allowing for incredible views of the Hollywood Sign Griffith Observatory, downtown Los Angeles, and — if you're lucky to be exploring on a rainless night — the Pacific Ocean.

No matter which way you drive on Mulholland Drive, you're steeped in the history of Los Angeles, a city that's as much a character as any movie star. However, be careful while driving at night as the road on Mulholland is extremely curvy and can be hard to navigate in the dark. For daytime drivers, visit the Virginia Robinson Gardens, where Robinson Mansion — one of Beverly Hills' first luxury homes — still welcomes visitors. Once a home that played host to the likes of Elvis Presley and Charlie Chaplin, the estate now offers numerous tours that take visitors through the house and its 6.2 acres of opulent gardens. 

Towards the end of your drive beyond the 405 Freeway, the tarmac will fade, and you'll eventually reach a gravel track leading to San Vicente Mountain Park. During the Cold War, it was a missile launch site, and the original radar tower used to observe the launches still stands as a glimpse into the era's military history. Here, you can access stunning 360-degree views of the Santa Monica Mountains, the Encino Reservoir, the San Fernando Valley, and the Los Angeles Basin. Not only is this an incredible place to watch the sunset or the stars, but it's also a reminder that Los Angeles, though not famed for its nature, is more than just a concrete metropolis.