Hollywood to Malibu and back

Question

I want to go to Nobu Malibu either on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday next month.

I'm worried about the traffic since it sounds intense. I don't especially mind if it's an early lunch/dinner etc just want to make it work with the traffic.

When's the best hour to go and return if I'm staying in Hollywood?

Answer

Driving from Hollywood to Malibu—especially to Nobu Malibu—can definitely involve heavy traffic, but with the right timing it can be smooth and enjoyable. The drive itself is beautiful once you’re on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), and planning around LA rush hours is the key.

Below is a detailed guide for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday timing, plus the best strategies for both directions.

Typical travel time

Hollywood → Malibu: 35–60 minutes (can be 75 on Friday afternoons)
Malibu → Hollywood: 40–70 minutes depending on traffic toward I-10 / 101

Traffic varies dramatically depending on time of day and day of the week, so here’s how to plan it.

Best times to go from Hollywood to Malibu

Good news: going west toward the coast is usually easier than returning east. The worst congestion is eastbound later in the day. For your outbound trip toward Malibu:

Ideal times (smoothest)
- 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
- 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Times to avoid
- 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM (Hollywood local congestion + West LA bottlenecks)
- 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Thursdays and Fridays (the worst westbound traffic of the week)
If you're going for lunch
- Aim for a 12:00 PM or 1:00 PM reservation → leave Hollywood around 10:45–11:15 AM.
If you're going for dinner
- Early dinner (4:30–5:30 PM) is excellent → minimal westbound traffic.
- Peak dinner (6:00–7:30 PM) requires leaving Hollywood no later than 4:30 PM on a Friday.

Best times to return from Malibu to Hollywood

This direction (eastbound) is where you need to be careful, especially Thursdays and Fridays. Traffic back into the city gets heavy in the afternoon and early evening.

Ideal return windows
- Before 3:00 PM (lightest)
- After 7:30 PM (traffic dies down considerably)
- After 8:30 PM on Fridays (much smoother)
Times to avoid
- 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM Thursday & Friday — the absolute worst.
- PCH can slow to 15–20 mph near Santa Monica during these hours.
If doing a lunch reservation
- Return 2:30–3:00 PM → avoids the late-afternoon jam.
If doing a dinner reservation
- Return after 8:00 PM for the smoothest drive.

Day-by-day notes

Thursday
- Moderate traffic. Dinner return at 7 PM will be slow, after 8 PM is better.
- Lunch plans are easiest.
Friday
- Worst traffic of the week heading into and out of Santa Monica.
- If going Friday, early dinner (4:30–5:00 PM) is ideal.
- After 8:30 PM for the return is strongly recommended.
Saturday
- Most flexible day — no weekday rush hour.
- Still busy midday, but predictable and not gridlock-level.
- Return between 2–4 PM is slower; after 7 PM is easy.

Practical recommended schedule for least stress

For lunch
- Leave Hollywood: 10:45–11:15 AM
- Return to Hollywood: 2:30–3:00 PM
For dinner (best overall)
- Leave Hollywood: 3:00–4:00 PM (earlier on Friday)
- Return to Hollywood: after 8:00 PM

Final recommendation

If you want the easiest traffic and the most relaxed experience, choose Saturday or Thursday. Avoid Friday dinner return between 5–7 PM at all costs. For a completely stress-free day, book an early dinner and aim to enjoy the coast until later in the evening before driving back.

Hollywood to Malibu and back

More Los Angeles Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions