U.S. 101 is the longest route in the state of California, starting amidst the chaos of the Los Angeles freeway system, then heading almost due west to leave the metropolitan area, reaching open space west of Thousand Oaks. Coming within sight of the Pacific Ocean, U.S. 101 hugs the coast as it serves Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Goleta. At Gaviota, U.S. 101 leaves the coast, turning due north toward Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo, two major Central California cities.

Beginning its northerly journey officially in downtown Los Angeles, Historic U.S. 101 enters the county via California 72 (Whittier Boulevard), then somehow ended up connecting to Ventura Boulevard (Former Business U.S. 101) northwest of downtown. Now that U.S. 101 is on a freeway, it begins right at Interstate 5 just south of downtown, and U.S. 101 is born as a major freeway. In Los Angeles, the routes get confusing. The following map shows not only the routing of U.S. 101 and its exits (Exits 1A-E) but also the former routings of the original Interstates 105 and 110, which were decommissioned several years prior. Interstate 110 used to connect U.S. 101 and eastbound Interstate 10/San Bernardino Freeway via a glorified exit ramp, and Interstate 105 was U.S. 101 between Interstate 5/Santa Ana Freeway and Interstate 110/San Bernardino Freeway. Today, Interstate 110 is part of state route 110, and Interstate 105 is part of U.S. 101.

Leaving downtown, U.S. 101 follows the Santa Ana Freeway north, then turns west along the Ventura Freeway near Universal Studio and Studio City. The Santa Ana Freeway terminates at the Four-Level Interchange; U.S. 101 continues from that point as the Hollywood Freeway. U.S. 101 parallels the coast, leaving the county just before Thousand Oaks.

Northbound U.S. 101 (California 170 to Ventura County Line)
	The next exit along northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway is Exit 14, Laurel Canyon Road/Studio City. U.S. 101 is now in the San Fernando Valley, which has made news recently in its effort to secede from the city of Los Angeles. The outcome of this battle has not yet been decided. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway reaches Exit 15, Coldwater Canyon Avenue. The next exit is for Exit 16, Woodman Avenue, one mile. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Even though the previous sign shows that Woodman Avenue is one mile away, this mileage sign also says one mile. Clearly, one of them is lying. This sign is located on northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway after Exit 15, Coldwater Canyon Avenue, and it shows the mileage to Woodman Avenue (Exit 16). Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway reaches Exit 17, Van Nuys Avenue. The next exit is for Sepulveda boulevard, which is an old alignment of former California 7 prior to the construction of Interstate 405, the San Diego Freeway. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	The next exit along northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway is Exit 18, Sepulveda Boulevard. Interstate 405 is the next exit after Sepulveda Boulevard. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway approaches Junction Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway. This is the first standalone guide sign for Interstate 405. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway approaches Junction Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway. The two right lanes are exit only for Interstate 405, while the four left lanes continue north (west) along U.S. 101. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway reaches Exit 19A, Junction 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 12/23/01.
	View of the Interstate 405/San Diego Freeway signage along the collector-distributor ramps as seen from the northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway main lanes. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway reaches Exit 20, Hayvenhurst Avenue. Balboa Boulevard is Exit 21. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	The next exit along northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway is Exit 21, Balboa Boulevard, one-quarter of a mile. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway reaches Exit 24, Tampa Avenue. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway reaches Exit 25, Winnetka Boulevard in Woodland Hills, a community of Los Angeles. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway reaches Exit 26B, Canoga Avenue. Canoga Avenue northbound leads into the Canoga Park community of Los Angeles. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	The next exit along northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway is Exits 27 A-B, Junction California 27/Topanga Canyon Road, one-half mile. 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. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway reaches Exits 27 A-B, Junction California 27/Topanga Canyon Road. Northbound is Exit 27A, and southbound California 27 is Exit 27B. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway reaches Exit 28, Woodlake Avenue. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway reaches Exit 29, Mulholland Drive/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 Los Angeles exit along northbound. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	The next exit along northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway is Exit 32, Los Angeles County Route N-1/Las Virgenes Road/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 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway reaches Exit 32, Los Angeles County Route N-1/Las Virgenes Road/Malibu Canyon. There are no shields for County Route N-1 either on the overhead signs or as a trailblazer on the side of the road. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	The next exit along northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway is Exit 34, Liberty Canyon Road. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway reaches Exit 34, Liberty Canyon Road. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	The next exit along northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway is Exit 35, Cheesebro Road. This is the first exit for Agoura Hills along northbound. Photo taken 12/23/01.
	Continuing north, the next exit along northbound U.S. 101/Ventura Freeway is Exit 39, Lindero Canyon Road, one-half mile. This exit leads 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 12/23/01.

Page Updated July 30, 2004.