Itinerary - 2 Options

Question

Hello! We are coming to LA from the East Coast for 3 nights in August and are trying to figure out the best way to travel across the city and avoid as much traffic as possible. We're staying at a friend's place in Highland Park.

Option 1 - Arrive at LAX around 11 and head to Santa Monica. Store luggage at a place like Bounce. Spend the day there and Venice. Dinner in Santa Monica and then head to Highland Park around 8. The next two days are easier if we do this and don't involve getting all the way to Santa Monica from Highland Park.

Option 2 - Arrive at LAX around 11, head to someplace like the Academy Museum or the Paramount Studios tour. Dinner in Koreatown. Head to Highland Park. Next day, leave the house by 5:30 to head to Santa Monica, spend a while in that area, start making our way back to Highland Park in early afternoon before rush hour starts.

Does anyone have any thoughts on which option might work better? In the end, I know there will be traffic, but we're just trying to minimize it if we can.

Answer

Both options have their merits, but the best choice largely depends on your tolerance for traffic and how much you want to see in each area without feeling rushed. Since Highland Park is in Northeast LA, trips to Santa Monica, Venice, or the Westside will involve some longer drives, so minimizing peak-hour travel is key.

Here’s a detailed breakdown:

Option 1 – Santa Monica/Venice first day: Arriving around 11 AM and heading straight to Santa Monica allows you to maximize daylight hours on the coast. Storing luggage at a facility like Bounce is smart, and you can spend the afternoon walking the pier, beach, and Venice canals. Dinner in Santa Monica before heading to Highland Park avoids evening rush-hour driving back across the city. The next two days will be easier because you won’t need to repeatedly cross town to the Westside.
Option 2 – Museum/Studio day first: Visiting the Academy Museum or Paramount Studios first keeps you closer to Highland Park and avoids longer drives immediately after landing. Dinner in Koreatown is convenient from either museum or studio. However, planning Santa Monica for the second day means leaving very early (5:30 AM) to beat traffic and then driving back toward Highland Park before rush hour. While feasible, it’s a long day and the early start may be tiring after travel.

Traffic considerations:

Even outside peak hours, LA traffic can be unpredictable, especially on the I-10, US-101, and the Santa Monica Freeway. Weekend traffic may be lighter than weekday, but plan extra time.
Option 1 reduces long drives after your arrival and keeps your subsequent sightseeing closer to Highland Park, making daily trips less stressful.
Option 2 requires careful timing and an early start for the Santa Monica day, which can be a bit stressful if you are trying to enjoy a relaxed trip.

Recommendation:

Option 1 is generally the smoother choice. You hit the coast first, avoid evening rush-hour stress on day one, and make subsequent days easier by exploring locations nearer to Highland Park.
If your group is energetic and doesn’t mind a very early morning, Option 2 works too, but it adds more risk of traffic frustration and fatigue.

Overall, prioritizing Option 1 will give you a more relaxed first day while still allowing you to see Santa Monica and Venice, leaving closer attractions for the remaining days.

Itinerary - 2 Options

More Los Angeles Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions