04: Hollywood to Silverlake 101

Cruising east from Hollywood to Silverlake along the 101 Freeway is a short but iconic Los Angeles drive that blends history, geography, and unforgettable city views. The Hollywood Freeway (US-101) first opened in the 1940s as part of America’s great freeway boom, linking the entertainment capital to the neighborhoods that became hubs for artists, musicians, and trendsetters. As you curve past the Cahuenga Pass and glide through the stretch bordering Echo Park, the road opens to a sweeping panorama of Downtown Los Angeles, with its towers rising against the San Gabriel Mountains. Nestled just beyond, Silverlake unfolds—once a working-class enclave built around its namesake reservoir, now a cultural hotbed known for indie music, coffeehouses, and hillside streets with unbeatable skyline vistas. It’s more than a commute; it’s a postcard view of how L.A. connects its creative corners.