If I say Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles, what comes to mind? If you immediately think of Club Silencio and the distressing story of Betty and Rita, then you are a fan of David Lynch and Mulholland Drive, one of his most famous movies, which is set entirely in Los Angeles.
If you aren’t familiar with Lynch’s movie, maybe I should tell you a bit about Mulholland Drive, a hillside street famous for its viewpoints over the town of Los Angeles and for the mansions of Hollywood stars who have decided to settle in this quiet and exclusive area. Celebrities such as Madonna, Jack Nicholson, John Lennon, Roman Polanski, Marlon Brando, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, and David Lynch himself live or have lived on Mulholland Drive. In other words, in this area, you have a high chance to meet famous stars!
If you have never heard about this illustrious road, the article you are reading is right for you. I will give you tips to plan a drive along Mulholland Drive and tell you where to stop to enjoy its beautiful views.
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Where Is Mulholland Drive? How Do You Get There?
In its entirety, Mulholland Drive is a 55-mile long winding road that connects the Hollywood Hills to Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu. Along the way, more precisely at Calabasas, Mulholland Drive becomes Mulholland Highway (not to be confused with the road with the same name on the slopes of Mount Lee, where the Hollywood Sign is located) and arrives at Leo Carrillo Beach State Park through the Santa Monica Mountains. However, to drive the entire length of Mulholland Drive is very difficult and not at all common, especially because a long stretch of Mulholland Drive (from the junction with I-405 to Calabasas) is a mountain dirt road.
By Car
Therefore, in this article, we will limit ourselves to describing the classic route on Mulholland Drive, the one most travelers choose and that offers the most interesting views. This segment of Mulholland Drive climbs up the Hollywood Hills from US-101 via Cahuenga Blvd, then it crosses the hills to the intersection with I-405, for a 20- mile drive that will take at least one hour, not counting the scenic stops.
Take a Tour
The area is not accessible by public transportation, but those who do not have a car can join a guided tour to see the houses of celebrities on Mulholland Drive (and beyond).
Mulholland Drive View: Recommended Overlooks
Just driving down this road is an experience unique to Los Angeles, which I didn’t want to give up. You will realize this right away, when before your eyes you will see the opulent villas of Hollywood stars surrounded by greenery, among flowering gardens and shady woods. There is no lack of views of the ocean, mountain landscapes and canyons, but one thing is certain: fans of the Mulholland Drive movie will drive with great caution, since they will bear the memory of the car accident that the initial protagonist (then Rita) had at the beginning of the movie, which happened right on this winding road (as we will see later).
Here are the viewpoints to stop at, in order from east to west.
Jerome C. Daniel Overlook
After a little more than half a mile from the beginning of the road, you will find the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook, the most famous and frequented one on Mulholland Drive. The overlook has a small parking lot and is located right above the Hollywood Bowl, so it offers a beautiful view of the amphitheater of the same name and of Downtown Los Angeles. If you go on a clear day, you can see all the way to the ocean and Catalina Island. But the main reason to stop here is that this overlook gives you the opportunity to see not only the Griffith Observatory, but also the legendary Hollywood Sign. If you click on the link for the Hollywood Sign, you will find information about this overlook and many others in Los Angeles that allow you to see the Hollywood Sign.
Universal City Overlook
While the previous viewpoint overlooks the south side of the road towards Los Angeles, the Universal City Overlook will direct your gaze north towards Universal City. What is amazing about this overlook is that from up here – as well as enjoying some great views of the San Fernando Valley – you can also see Universal Studios in the distance (they financed the construction of the overlook in 1984). It’s not every day you get to see Universal Studio’s Hogwarts Castle from above! This observation point is located 2 miles from Jerome C. Daniel Overlook. In this case, there are a few parking spaces available where you can park.
Nancy Hoover Pohl Overlook
This observation point also overlooks the north side of the road to the San Fernando Valley, but this time it also offers a spectacular view of Fryman Canyon. While it is a fantastic scenic spot, the Nancy Hoover Pohl Overlook is also ideal for those who want to take a hike through the hills above Los Angeles. The Betty B. Dearing Mountain Trail (5 miles) starts from here. The Nancy Hoover Pohl Overlook has an on-site parking lot and is located 2 miles after Universal City Overlook.
A few yards further, you will find another vista point, the Mulholland Scenic Overlook, which offers a similar view of the canyon and the entire valley.
Barbara A. End Overlook at the Summit
Located further west than the two previous overlooks, the Barbara A. Fine Overlook features a short trail that gives you yet another perspective on Fryman Canyon, framed in the distance by the San Gabriel Mountains. Looking west, you can see the Simi Hills and the expanse of the San Fernando Valley. This viewpoint is located 1 mile away from the Mulholland Scenic Overlook. There are spaces where you can park at the overlook.
Stone Canyon Overlook
The last stop I recommend is the Stone Canyon Overlook which, unlike the last ones mentioned, faces south. You will see the Santa Monica Mountains, the Stone Canyon Reservoir, and, on clear days, you will also see Catalina Island and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The distance between the previous observation point and the Stone Canyon Overlook is 3.7 miles.
Runyon Canyon Park
If you have more time and would like to go on one or more trails in the Hollywood Hills to enjoy the views of Los Angeles, I recommend visiting Runyon Canyon Park, which stretches from Mulholland Drive to the base of the hills in the northern part of Hollywood. The 3 trails of the canyon can be hiked both upstream and downstream. If you begin the trails from Mulholland Drive, you will need to reach the north entrance to the canyon at 7317 Mulholland Dr, just over a mile after Jerome C. Daniel Overlook.
The three main trails are Runyon Canyon Fire Road, East Ridge Trail and Western High Way Trail. Starting from the entrance on Mulholland Drive you can reach the highest point of the canyon with a 0.8-mile trail to see a beautiful view. However, it is good to know that the most popular viewpoints (Inspiration Point and Clouds Rest) are along the East Ridge Trail, and the quickest way to reach them is to start the trail from the base of the ridge in Hollywood (entrance on North Fuller Avenue). The trail to the two observation points from the south is almost 2 miles long (round trip).
Mulholland Drive: The Locations Where the Movie was Filmed
When explaining the reason why he chose Mulholland Drive as the setting for his film, David Lynch said, “It’s a beautiful road […], a mysterious road with many curves in it. It’s really dark at night and, unlike so many other spots in LA, it has remained pretty much the same over the years.” After all, the visionary director knows this area well, since his house is practically under Jerome C. Daniel Overlook, at 7035 Senalda Rd.
Due to the fact that it’s a night scene, it’s not easy to figure out the exact spot where Rita’s accident happened, but there are those who spotted him at 6980 Mulholland Drive. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that the path that Rita follows down from Hollywood Hills is in the aforementioned Runyon Canyon Park. This clue, combined with the fact that Lynch lives nearby, allows us to speculate that the initial scenes in the movie were shot right at 6980 Mulholland Drive, between Jerome C. Daniel Overlook and the northern entrance to the canyon.
Those of you (as I have done) who will gaze across the hilltops on Mulholland Drive in search of the rich home of director Adam Kesher (Justin Theroux) will be interested to know that it is not on Mulholland Drive, but actually in Studio City (3760 Eureka Dr). Some even speculate that Adam’s mansion is Lynch’s own home!
Finally, here are some addresses for the most famous locations of the movie besides Mulholland Drive:
- Club Silencio: The interior of the eerie theater where the words “No hay banda!” resonate are those of the Tower Theatre (802 South Broadway). The exterior facade of the theater can be seen at this address: Joe’s Auto Parks, 640 South Spring Street.
- Sierra Bonita Apartments: The apartment where Rita and Betty look for Diane Selwyn and find the body in the bed is at 2900 Griffith Park Boulevard.
- Winkie’s: The interior and exterior of the diner where the two men talk about the horrible being that then appears behind the diner are those of Caesar’s Restaurant (1016 West El Segundo Boulevard).
- 1612 Havenhurst Drive: Betty’s house is located at this address. Actually, this address does not exist. The mansion should be at 450 North Sycamore Avenue.
- Paramount Studios: Betty’s audition was held here.
- Cowboy’s Corral: The nighttime encounter between Adam, the director, and the mysterious cowboy takes place at Sunset Ranch (3400 N Beachwood Drive), just below the Hollywood Sign, not far from Mulholland Drive.
Where to Stay
I must say that it is quite complicated and expensive to find accommodations on Mulholland Drive. Obviously, there are no hotels, but only prestigious houses and villas that can be rented. If you want to take a look at what is available in the area, follow this link, but I suggest you look for accommodations in the surrounding neighborhoods, such as West Hollywood, Pasadena, Beverly Hills and Bel Air, some of which are no less prestigious (as you read in our guide on where to stay in Los Angeles).
Our tips on where to stay in Los Angeles
