Interstate 405 - California Travel Information
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Interstate 405 (Northbound)

Interstate 405 is the San Diego Freeway, starting at Interstate 5/Golden State Freeway in northern Los Angeles and paralleling the coast via the vicinity of Santa Monica, Los Angeles International Airport, Long Beach, and Huntington Beach. The freeway returns to Interstate 5 near the former El Toro Marine Corps Station in Irvine. Interstate 405 is arguably the busiest freeway on the West Coast, with traffic a concern at any time during the day or night.

Photo Journey: Go to Southbound Interstate 405 (Part One) or Southbound Interstate 405 (Part Two)

Northbound Interstate 405
Northbound Interstate 405 at its first exit, Exit 1/Irvine Center Road. Photo taken 06/15/03.
After the Irvine Center Drive exit, the next exit along northbound Interstate 405 is Exit 2, Junction California 133/Laguna Freeway. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 2, Junction Southbound California 133/Laguna Freeway, next right. Photo taken 03/30/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 2, Junction Southbound California 133/Laguna Freeway. California 133 is only a freeway briefly south of Interstate 405 before it becomes a rural, two-lane highway (with lots and lots of cars!). Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 3, Shady Canyon Drive and Sand Canyon Avenue. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at at Exit 3, Shady Canyon Drive and Sand Canyon Avenue. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 4, University Drive and Jeffrey Road. This exit provides access to the University of California at Irvine, which is located to the west between Interstate 405 and California 73. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 5, Culver Drive. Note the exit number tab, which was placed in the white space to the right of the overhead guide sign. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 5, Culver Drive. Photo taken 06/15/03.

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Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 5, Culver Drive, next right. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 5, Culver Drive. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 7, Jamboree Road. Jamboree Road is a major route through the city of Irvine, connecting with California 261 toll road as Jamboree Road nearly straddles the border between Irvine and Tustin northeast of Interstate 5. Photo taken 06/15/03.
View of the Irvine skyline as seen from northbound Interstate 405. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 7, Jamboree Road. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 8, MacArthur Boulevard and John Wayne/Orange County Airport. John Wayne Airport is a regional airport with several commercial carriers, but flights originating from or culminating at John Wayne Airport are generally more expensive than Ontario International Airport or Los Angeles International Airport. The next exit is Junction California 55, the Costa Mesa/Newport Freeway. Photos taken 02/15/04.

Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 9A, Junction California 55. Note the new, reflective signage installed as part of the interchange capacity improvements. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Interstate 405 widens out substantially as it approaches the California 55 interchange. Note the provision for a future connector from the high occupancy vehicle lanes of Interstate 405 to California 55. Photo taken 02/15/04.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 9A, Junction California 55. California 55 is a southwest-northeast freeway that travels from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa northeast to Orange and Anaheim via Santa Ana. Photo taken 02/15/04.
Overhead signage for California 55 as seen from the exit only lanes on northbound Interstate 405 to Exit 9A. Photo taken 02/15/04.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 9A, Junction California 55. This reflective sign was placed as part of an ongoing reconstruction of this interchange to increase capacity. Photo taken 02/15/04.
Overhead signage for California 55 as seen on the ramp from northbound Interstate 405 to California 55. Also note the mileage sign for the next three exits. Photo taken 02/15/04.
Cal-Nexus lists this exit as Exit 9B, but it is signed in the field as Exit 9 (Anton Boulevard, Avenue of the Arts, and Bristol Street). Photo taken 06/15/03.
View of the collector-distributor lane signage as seen from the mainlanes at the Interstate 405-California 55 interchange. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 12, Euclid Avenue (next right). Photo taken 03/30/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 12, Euclid Avenue. The next exit is Exit 14, Brookhurst Street/Fountain Valley. Photo taken 03/30/03.
It is almost too embarrassing to show this picture on the Internet, but it demonstrates a feeble attempt by Caltrans District 12 to sign an exit number. Rather than place a tab above an existing sign, a separate standalone sign that reads "Exit 14 Next Right" was erected on the roadside. What a waste. The same effort was used for Exit 15 (see below). Oh yeah, Exit 14 is for Brookhurst Street/Fountain Valley. Photo taken 03/30/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 14, Brookhurst Street/Fountain Valley. Photo taken 03/30/03.
Gore point signage along northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 14, Brookhurst Street/Fountain Valley. Photo taken 03/30/03.
A second helping of the standalone exit number sign. Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 15, Magnolia Street/Warner Avenue. Photo taken 03/30/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 15, Magnolia Street/Warner Avenue. Photo taken 03/30/03.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 405 is Exit 16, Junction California 39/Beach Boulevard to Westminster and Huntington Beach. This picture was taken from the high occupancy vehicle/carpool lane, which generally require at least two occupants per vehicle in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Photo taken 12/12/01.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 16, Junction California 39/Beach Boulevard. Photo taken 03/30/03.
Overhead signage along the northbound Interstate 405 collector/ditributor lanes for Exit 16, California 39. California 39 is a major thoroughfare here, with six lanes of near-expressway connecting the coast/Huntington Beach with central Orange County. Photo taken 03/30/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 21, Valley View Street. This exit leads to eastbound California 22/Garden Grove Freeway. Photo taken 03/30/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 21, Valley View Street. This exit also leads to eastbound California 22/Garden Grove Freeway; traffic must stop at one stoplight before proceeding onto the ramp to the Garden Grove Freeway. California 22 west merges onto northbound Interstate 405, and they are cosigned into Long Beach. Photo taken 03/30/03.
Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 405 and westbound California 22 for Exit 22, Seal Beach Boulevard/Los Alamitos Boulevard; Exit 23, Junction Westbound California 22/7th Street; and Exit 24, Junction Interstate 605/San Gabriel River Freeway north. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 and westbound California 22 at Seal Beach Boulevard/Los Alamitos Boulevard. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 405 and westbound California 22 approaching Exit 23, Junction California 22 west. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 23, Junction Northbound Interstate 605/San Gabriel River Freeway and Westbound California 22/7th Street. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 23, Junction Westbound California 22/7th Street. California 22 only continues a short distance along 7th Street before terminating at its junction with California 1/Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach. Photo taken 06/15/03.
After California 22 leaves northbound Interstate 405, the next exit is the southern terminus of Interstate 605/San Gabriel Freeway (Exit 24). Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Junction northbound Interstate 710 (Exit 24). Photo taken 06/15/03.
Now entering Los Angeles County and leaving Orange County, signs like these become more commonplace. This is also the boundary between Caltrans Districts 12 (Orange County) and 7 (Los Angeles County). Interstate 405 is the San Diego Freeway, and these signs remind motorists of this occasionally as it continues north into Los Angeles County. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 25, Palo Verde Avenue. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 405 for Exit 26A, Woodruff Avenue; Exit 26B, Bellflower Boulevard; and Exit 27, Junction California 19/Lakewood Boulevard. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 26A, Woodruff Avenue. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 26B, Bellflower Boulevard. The next exit is Exit 27, Junction California 19/Lakewood Boulevard. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 405 as it approaches Exit 27, Junction California 19/Lakewood Boulevard. Photo taken 06/15/03.
California 19 is a major corridor throughout the Los Angeles Basin. To the north, it serves the Long Beach Airport; to the south, it connects up with the Pacific Coast Highway. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 27, Junction California 19/Lakewood Boulevard. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 29A-B, Cherry Avenue south and north. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 29A, Cherry Avenue South, which leads into Signal Hill, a community nestled between Lakewood and Long Beach. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Exit 29B along northbound Interstate 405 is for northbound Cherry Avenue. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 29C, Orange Avenue. The next exit is Exit 30A, Atlantic Avenue (see the southbound notes for information about the significance of Atlantic Avenue). Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 30A, Atlantic Avenue. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 30B, Long Beach Boulevard and Exit 32A-B, Junction Interstate 710. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 30B, Long Beach Boulevard. Note the use of collector-distributor lanes for the Atlantic Avenue exit. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exits 32A-B, Junction Interstate 710. The Santa Fe Avenue exit is joined with the southbound Interstate 710 exit ramp. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 keeps its left five lanes, while the two right lanes lead to Interstate 710 (Exits 32A-B). Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 32A, Junction Northbound Interstate 710/Long Beach Freeway. Although signed to Pasadena, Interstate 710 remains unconstructed between Interstate 10 and Interstate 210, thus negating direct access to its intended northern destination. Photo taken 06/15/03.
In addition to serving Interstate 710, Exit 32B also connects to Santa Fe Avenue. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 32B, Southbound Interstate 710/Long Beach Freeway. Interstate 710 south leads to the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, as well as downtown Long Beach, the Queen Mary, cruise ship terminal, and aquarium. Photo taken 06/15/03.
The signage on the ramp from northbound Interstate 405 onto southbound Interstate 710 (Exit 32B) indicates that there is a sharp turn on this transition. The Santa Fe Avenue exit is just ahead on the collector-distributor lane. Photo taken 06/15/03.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 42A, Junction California 107/Hawthorne Boulevard in Lawndale, one-half mile. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 43, Rosecrans Avenue. Rosecrans Avenue begins at El Porto Beach within the city of Manhattan Beach, and it leads due east through Hawthorne, Gardena, Los Angeles, Compton, Paramount, Bellflower, Norwalk, La Mirada and Fullerton. Many city streets in the Los Angeles basin are laid out in a grid pattern. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 43, Rosecrans Avenue. Photo taken 06/02/02.
After Rosecrans Avenue (Exit 43), signage is targeted for Junction Interstate 105 (Exit 45A), even though there is another exit (Exit 44 - El Segundo Boulevard) in between these two exits. This picture is taken along northbound, one and one-half miles south of Junction Interstate 105. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 44, El Segundo Boulevard and Exit 45A, Junction Interstate 105. Note that Exit 44 is omitted from this advance sign. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 44, El Segundo Boulevard. The next exit is for Interstate 105, the Century (Glenn Anderson) Freeway. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 45A, Junction Interstate 105, the Century (Glenn Anderson) Freeway. Interstate 105 is the last new Interstate highway built in the Los Angeles area, pending completion of the Interstate 710 extension north to Pasadena. Photo taken 06/02/02.
The Interstate 105/Century (Glenn Anderson) Freeway interchange is located just southeast of Los Angeles International Airport (popularly known as "LAX," which is the three-letter abbreviation for the airport, much as Baltimore-Washington International is abbreviated and popularly known as "BWI"). The segment of Interstate 405 between Interstate 105 and Interstate 10 is almost always very busy, and traffic jams are frequent through this stretch. This sign along northbound points to part of the reason why: LAX. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 45B, Imperial Highway/Los Angeles International Airport. There is no direct freeway connection to the airport. Note that the distant interchange complex is for Interstate 105. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 45B, Imperial Highway/Los Angeles International Airport. The next exit is for Century Boulevard. Note the stack interchange for Interstate 105. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 passing under the Interstate 105 interchange complex at Exit 46, Century Boulevard. To complicate traffic matters here, the carpool/high occupancy vehicle lane ends and does not resume until near Sherman Oaks. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Sure enough, even when producing this photo tour of Interstate 405, traffic slowed to a standstill after the Century Boulevard exit (note the brake lights). This picture shows a plane on final approach to Los Angeles International Airport along northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 47, Junction Former California 42/Manchester Boulevard. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 47, Junction Former California 42/Manchester Boulevard, next right. Note that this is a dual freeway, with local traffic/exits separated from through traffic here. Yes, we were going slowly enough to take two pictures of the same sign. Photos taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 47, Junction Former California 42/Manchester Boulevard. California 42 used to start at California 1 in Los Angeles near Loyola Marymount University, then follow Manchester Avenue and Firestone Boulevard east through Los Angeles, South Gate, and Downey before ending at Junction Interstate 5 in Norwalk. Even though the route has been legislatively decommissioned, signs still remain, including this freeway exit sign along Interstate 405. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 collector/distributor lanes for Exit 47, Junction Former California 42/Manchester Boulevard, as seen from the main lanes during a traffic jam. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Many signs along northbound Interstate 405 are older and are in need of replacement, such as the pull-through signs here. This is along northbound at Exit 48, La Tijera Boulevard. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 49A, Howard Hughes Parkway. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 49B, Slauson Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard, one mile. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 49B, Slauson Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard. Slauson Avenue is an east-west city street that leads through South Central Los Angeles en route to Pico Rivera. Sepulveda Boulevard is a major north-south city street that was the original route of California 7 back when it followed the route of what is now Interstate 405. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 50A, Junction California 90, the Marina Freeway. California 90 was original proposed to be a freeway parallel to Interstate 10 and Interstate 105 through South Central Los Angeles. While this freeway is still on the proposed state route legislation, it is unlikely to be constructed due to community opposition. Another segment of signed California 90 exists in Orange County between California 39 and California 91 via Imperial Highway. The proposed freeway would have connected the Imperial Highway segment with the Marina Freeway segment. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 51, Culver Boulevard. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 52, Washington Boulevard and Venice Boulevard. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 53, Junction Interstate 10. Since Interstate 10 westbound connects to California 1 (Pacific Coast Highway), this sign reminds truckers that California 1 may not be used for through traffic northwest of California 27, except for local deliveries to places like Malibu. The state shields should be green, not white. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 53, Junction Interstate 10, one mile. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 53, Junction Interstate 10, next right. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 53A, National Boulevard. The next exit is for Exit 53B, Interstate 10. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 passing through the Interstate 10 stack interchange. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 55A, Junction California 2/Santa Monica Boulevard, one-half mile. Santa Monica Boulevard used to be part of U.S. 66 prior to 1964. Recently, some sections of California 2, including a portion in Santa Monica, were decommissioned and returned to local control. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 55A, Junction California 2/Santa Monica Boulevard, next right. Westbound California 2 leads to Santa Monica, while eastbound leads to Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and Hollywood. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 55A, Junction California 2/Santa Monica Boulevard. The next exit is Exit 55B, Wilshire Boulevard. Note the non-standard signage used for Exit 55B. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 55B, Wilshire Boulevard, one-half mile. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 55B, Wilshire Boulevard. Note the use of a green rather than yellow "exit only" tab. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 56, Montana Avenue, one-half mile. Sunset Boulevard (Exit 57A) is one mile and Moraga Drive (Exit 57B) is one and one-half miles north of here. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 56, Montana Avenue, approaching Sunset Boulevard (Exit 57A). Compare the clarity of these signs to the newer reflective sign in the previous photo: These signs have graced this freeway for over 30 years. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Sunset Boulevard (Exit 57A), one-quarter mile. Sunset Boulevard roughly parallels Santa Monica Boulevard (California 2) between California 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) and U.S. 101 (Hollywood Freeway). It is internationally known as the Sunset Strip as it passes through the community of Hollywood in the city of Los Angeles. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Sunset Boulevard (Exit 57A). Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 57B, Moraga Boulevard. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 57B, Moraga Boulevard. Even though both signs are button copy, the sign on the right is clearly much older. The next exit, Getty Center Drive, leads to the Getty Center, a public art museum for Los Angeles. Ironically, even though there is a freeway exit from Interstate 405 that leads to the Getty Center, obtaining reservations to park in the Getty Center's small parking area requires several months' notice. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 61, Skirball Center Drive and Mulholland Drive. Between Exits 57 and 63A, Interstate 405 passes through the Hollywood Hills/Santa Monica Mountains, providing a brief respite from the urbanscape that dominates Interstate 405 in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 63A, Junction Business U.S. 101/Ventura Boulevard and Sherman Oaks, a community of Los Angeles. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Very old mileage sign along northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 63B, Junction U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway. It is very likely that this sign has been replaced since this photo was taken, considering that many mileage signs were replaced with reflective signs south of this point along northbound. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 63A, Junction Business U.S. 101/Ventura Boulevard, approaching Exit 63B, Junction U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway. The Interstate 405 shield is missing from the pull-through signage. Note that the control city is now Sacramento, several hundred miles north of here. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 63B, Junction U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway. U.S. 101 northbound actually heads due west from here, leading into Ventura County destinations as well as Santa Barbara. Southbound U.S. 101 leads east to connect to California 134 to Pasadena and the Hollywood Freeway to downtown Los Angeles. Photo taken 06/02/02.
View of the collector/distributor lanes as seen from the northbound Interstate 405 main lanes at Exit 63B. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 64, Burbank Boulevard. Note the auxiliary signage that reminds motorists that Interstate 405 is the San Diego Freeway (even though the freeway is actually leading away from San Diego at this point). Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 65, Victory Boulevard, one and one-quarter miles. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 65, Victory Boulevard, one-half mile. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 66, Sherman Way, one-half mile. Note that the carpool lane has returned, appearing again north of U.S. 101 for the first time since south of Interstate 105. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 68, Roscoe Boulevard, one-half mile. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 69, Nordhoff Street, one-quarter mile. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 69, Nordhoff Street. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 70, Devonshire Street (one-half mile, unsigned on this overhead sign bridge) and Exit 71, Junction California 118/Ronald Reagan Freeway/Simi Valley Freeway (one mile). Photo taken 06/02/02.
Mileage sign along northbound Interstate 405 just after the sign bridge featured in the previous photobox, approaching Exit 70, Devonshire Street (one-half mile) and Exit 71, Junction California 118/Ronald Reagan Freeway/Simi Valley Freeway (one mile). Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 at Exit 70, Devonshire Street, approaching Exit 71, Junction California 118/Ronald Reagan Freeway/Simi Valley Freeway (one-half mile). Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 approaching Exit 71, Junction California 118/Ronald Reagan Freeway/Simi Valley Freeway. Along the northbound side of Interstate 405, the interchange with California 118 is not the last exit before the merge with Interstate 5, as there is a half interchange with San Fernando Mission Boulevard and a full interchange with Rinaldi Street. Thanks to Laurence Maller for clarifying this. Photo taken 06/02/02.
Northbound Interstate 405 transition ramp signage for California 118/Ronald Reagan Freeway/Simi Valley Freeway. Photo taken 06/02/02.
View of westbound California 118/Ronald Reagan Freeway/Simi Valley Freeway as seen from the transition ramp from northbound Interstate 405 onto westbound California 118. Photo taken 06/02/02.

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Page Updated October 2, 2004.