US-101: The Ventura Freeway Through the Valley and Coast
US-101 through the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County is one of Southern California's most heavily traveled commuter corridors. Running northwest from downtown Los Angeles through the Valley — Sherman Oaks, Encino, Woodland Hills, Calabasas — then into Ventura County through Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, and Oxnard before reaching Ventura, this stretch of the 101 serves hundreds of thousands of commuters daily.
It's also one of the most narrow-bottleneck freeways in LA. The stretch between the Valley and Ventura County crosses over the Santa Monica Mountains and through the Conejo Grade — a steep mountain pass with limited lanes where traffic can transition from flowing to stopped in minutes. Live cameras are the only way to know what you're heading into.
US-101 Key Segments: Valley to Ventura
Sherman Oaks to Woodland Hills (The Valley Core)
From the I-405/US-101 interchange at Sherman Oaks — commonly called "The Interchange" and one of the busiest in the world — the 101 runs west through Encino and Tarzana to Woodland Hills. The Sherman Oaks interchange itself is the most critical camera check on this corridor: it feeds traffic from the I-405 in both directions, and when it backs up, it backs up both the 101 and the 405 simultaneously.
Morning pattern: Eastbound 101 from Woodland Hills into Sherman Oaks and toward downtown is the primary direction, with backup often starting as far west as the 101/I-405 area. Check US-101 Los Angeles cameras for the full Valley corridor.
Calabasas and the 101/101 Interchange
Past Woodland Hills, US-101 climbs into Calabasas and reaches the junction where the Ventura Freeway (US-101) and the Simi Valley Freeway (SR-118) split. This interchange is a consistent congestion point — westbound in the evenings as Valley commuters spread toward Calabasas, Agoura Hills, and Simi Valley.
The Conejo Grade (Thousand Oaks/Ventura County Line)
The Conejo Grade is the mountain pass between Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks — a steep, winding climb where US-101 narrows from four to three lanes. This is the most unpredictable segment on the entire Valley-to-Ventura corridor. A single incident, truck breakdown, or heavy rain can cause backup that extends 10+ miles in either direction within 20 minutes.
This is the camera to check. If the Conejo Grade is stopped when you check, the alternate is either SR-23 (the Moorpark Freeway) or waiting it out — there's no quick surface street option over the Santa Monica Mountains here.
Thousand Oaks to Ventura
West of the Conejo Grade, US-101 descends into the Conejo Valley and continues through Newbury Park, Camarillo, Oxnard, and into Ventura. This segment is generally lighter than the Valley core — Camarillo in particular benefits from the SR-1 (Pacific Coast Highway) as a coastal alternative — but the 101/SR-23 interchange in Thousand Oaks and the 101/SR-126 interchange near Ventura County line can slow things down during peak hours.
US-101 Commute Windows
| Direction | Worst Window | Primary Bottleneck |
|---|---|---|
| Eastbound (toward LA) | 7–9:30 AM weekdays | Conejo Grade, Sherman Oaks Interchange |
| Westbound (toward Ventura) | 4–7:30 PM weekdays | Sherman Oaks → Calabasas, Conejo Grade |
| Both directions | Holiday weekends | Camarillo/Oxnard beach traffic |
Alternatives When the 101 Is Jammed
SR-23 (Moorpark Freeway) — Connects Thousand Oaks to Moorpark and Simi Valley. Useful bypass for the Conejo Grade if heading to the Simi Valley or the 118 corridor.
Kanan Dume / Mulholland Hwy — Surface street over the Santa Monica Mountains between Agoura Hills and Malibu/PCH. Scenic but slow — only worth it if the 101 is completely stopped and your destination is coastal.
I-405 southbound — For trips from the Valley toward West LA or the South Bay, I-405 may be faster when the 101 core through Sherman Oaks is gridlocked. Check I-405 Los Angeles cameras before switching.
How to Check 101 Cameras Before Your Commute
The FreewayFeed US-101 camera page shows every Caltrans camera on the 101 through the San Fernando Valley. For the full Valley-to-Ventura corridor — including the Conejo Grade cameras — use the FreewayFeed route planner. Enter your starting point in the Valley and your Ventura County destination, and see every camera along your route in one grid updated every 30 seconds.
The Conejo Grade is the wildcard on this drive. Check it every time — it's where 5-minute delays become 45-minute ones.