Best car photo spots in Los Angeles

Hand-picked spots in Los Angeles

Sixth Street Viaduct

Bridges · Best: Blue hour

LA's lit arches over the river. Shoot from Mission Rd or Santa Fe Ave below; never stop on the bridge (and no takeovers).

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Griffith Observatory

Skyline & city lights · Best: Blue hour

Hollywood sign on one side, downtown on the other. The lot fills up; go early on a weekday.

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Mulholland Drive overlook

Scenic & lakeside · Best: Night

The Universal City Overlook lot on Mulholland: valley lights below. Park only in the lot.

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Arts District murals

Murals & street art · Best: Early morning

Blocks of murals and warehouse walls east of downtown. Sunday mornings are quiet.

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Petersen Automotive Museum

Skyline & city lights · Best: Night

The red-and-steel ribbon facade on Wilshire is made for car photos.

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Randy's Donuts

Neon & retro · Best: Morning

The giant donut in Inglewood with its own lot.

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Santa Monica Pier

Scenic & lakeside · Best: Sunset

You can park on the pier deck itself, with the Ferris wheel lit behind you.

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Queen Mary, Long Beach

Scenic & lakeside · Best: Blue hour

Classic ocean liner with the Long Beach skyline across the water; big lot.

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Vincent Thomas Bridge

Bridges · Best: Night

Green-lit suspension bridge; shoot from the San Pedro waterfront lots.

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Dodger Stadium skyline

Skyline & city lights · Best: Sunset

Elysian Park lots look over downtown on non-game days.

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Bob's Big Boy Burbank

Neon & retro · Best: Friday night

1949 Googie diner with a famous Friday-night classic car meet.

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Walt Disney Concert Hall

Skyline & city lights · Best: Golden hour

Steel curves that glow at sunset, on Grand Ave downtown.

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Murals and street art in Los Angeles

Murals are the most popular car photo backdrop. Pull up alongside the wall, keep the car parallel to it and shoot from a low angle so the art fills the frame behind the car.

More spots in Los Angeles

• Pasadena Playhouse Neon & retro
• Starlight Cinemas Neon & retro
• Fox Theatre Neon & retro
• United Artists Long Beach 6 Neon & retro
• Saint Rocke Neon & retro
• Yost Theater Neon & retro
• Pacific Theatres Sherman Oaks 5 Neon & retro
• Long Beach Playhouse Neon & retro
• The Colony Theatre Company Neon & retro
• Ivy Substation Neon & retro
• Nimoy Theater Neon & retro
• Acme Comedy Neon & retro
• Little Fish Theatre Neon & retro
• Art Theatre Neon & retro
• Upright Citizens Brigade Neon & retro
• Henry Fonda Theater Neon & retro
• The Vista Theatre Neon & retro
• Ivar Theatre Neon & retro
• Ricardo Montalban Theatre Neon & retro
• Egyptian Theater Neon & retro
• ACME Comedy Theatre Neon & retro
• El Capitan Theatre Neon & retro
• TCL Chinese Theatre Neon & retro
• CinemaWest Beach Cities Neon & retro
• Norris Theater / Palos Verdes Performing Arts Neon & retro
• Bootleg Theater Neon & retro
• El Rey Theatre Neon & retro
• Teragram Ballroom Neon & retro
• Olympic Auditorium Neon & retro
• Highland Theatre Neon & retro

Tips for car photos in Los Angeles

• Shoot at golden hour or blue hour. The hour after sunrise and around sunset gives soft light without harsh reflections; blue hour is best for skylines and neon.
• Go early on weekends. Popular mural walls and downtown streets are quiet before 9 AM, so you can park right in front.
• Respect the spot. Stay off private lots when asked, don't block traffic and keep the engine noise down in neighborhoods.
• Hide your plate if you want. Check your shot before you post it.