As a local living in Los Angeles, I take the Hollywood sign for granted.
Usually I don’t notice it unless I’m stuck in traffic on the 101 freeway.
But if there’s a symbol that defines the grandeur and boldness of Los Angeles, it would have to be the iconic Hollywood sign.
Originally named Hollywoodland in 1923, the iconic 45 foot high by 33 foot wide white bold letters were placed on top of the Santa Monica mountains to advertise to potential owners about the availability of land for sale.
The letters eventually got moved to Griffith Park in the 1940s.
This sign has evolved to become a symbol of the world-famous Hollywood film industry.
It seems that getting that awesome selfie would be difficult, but it’s actually not as hard as you think.
Here are 7 easy ways to see and take a picture with the Hollywood Sign.
And by “easy”, I mean if you can find decent parking, the rest is a piece of cake!
Here is a cheat sheet ranking from easy to hard in terms of access to the sign:
The following map shows the locations of every place you can see the Hollywood Sign mentioned in this post:
Hollywood and Highland Center
If you want to go souvenir shopping, get a selfie with a hand print or shoe print of Marilyn Monroe, Tom Hanks, or Leonardo DiCaprio at the TCL Chinese Theater, visit the world-famous Dolby theater where the Oscars are hosted, or get a picture with the Hollywood sign, then look no further then at the Northwest corner of Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave.
Located across the street from where Jimmy Kimmel Live has their live-tapings, this tourist attraction also has many other picture taking opportunities.
- Address: 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028
- Parking: Hollywood and Highland Parking structure (6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028)
- Other Parking: Meter parking can be found, but be sure to read the sign carefully because parking enforcement is extremely strict in this area.
- Note: Once you park, take the stairs or elevators to the top floors and walk to the outside of the mall facing the hills until you see the Hollywood sign. It should be very visible.
Lake Hollywood Park
It’s a bit surreal to have a picnic or sit on the grass with the Hollywood sign right above you.
This park also overlooks the Mulholland Dam, which has many beautiful views below.
It’s a big tourist destination in a residential area, so please be mindful of the local residents and keep the noise low.
- Address: 3160 Canyon Lake Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068
- Parking: limited free street parking, but this is popular tourist destination, so be sure to come early to avoid crowds.
Griffith Observatory
You can hike or take the DASH bus up to the observatory and see the famous sign.
If you’re in a rush and want a quick shot of the Hollywood sign from far away, this will also do.
Walk around to see how close you can get to the Hollywood sign.
- Address: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
- Parking: Various
- Park for free (when there’s no show) around the Greek Theatre: 2700 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
- Meter parking close by the Observatory
Bronson Cave
This is a great and easy hike for families with young children because the original Bat-Cave from the iconic 60s Batman TV series is located here and is great for exploration.
- Address: Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA 90068
- You can find exact details of where the trailhead here.
- Parking: There are no parking available at the trail head of the hike, so be sure to look at the signs in the street for parking availability to avoid tickets
Mount Hollywood Drive
If you want a closer shot of the sign while at the Griffith Observatory, you can walk further north to this street.
- Address: Mt Hollywood Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
- Parking: Various
- Park for free (when there’s no show) around the Greek Theatre: 2700 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
- Meter parking close by the Observatory
Mulholland Dam/Hollywood Reservoir
This Hollywood sign view offers a nice relaxing stroll around the reservoir and some deer sightings.
Driving to it requires a bit of navigating your way in the small hilly streets of the Hollywood Hills.
Be sure to use the below address instead of using the default address on Google.
The reservoir closes at sunset.
- Address: 2600 Lake Hollywood Dr, Hollywood, CA 90068
- Parking: Lots of street parking along Lake Hollywood Dr.
Hollywood sign via Innsdale Trail and Mt. Lee Drive
If you want to hike to get as close as possible to the front and back of the Hollywood sign, this would be it.
By taking on this hike, you’ll be as close to this iconic sign as you legally can.
Here’s how you can get there and follow this great guide of the details on how to navigate this hike.
Although this is one of the longer hikes that I recommend, it’s also one of the most unforgettable experiences to see one of Los Angeles’ greatest panoramic views while being the closest you can get to the Hollywood Sign.
It’s well worth the effort!
- Address: Innsdale Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068
- Parking: Various
- Along Lake Hollywood Dr.
- Park for free (when there’s no show) around the Greek Theatre: 2700 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
- Meter parking close by the Observatory
