Las Virgenes Rd - Malibu Canyon Road in LA County

Unless you are super comfortable on winding mountain roads I would definitely avoid both those routes. Malibu tunnel would be a tight drive. Both roads have shear drops and both are heavily traveled by car commuter traffic. Going a bit wide on a turn and crossing the yellow could find you with a sports car (Ferrari) or motorcycle in your lap. Given your size go the long way...take the 405 and exit Sunset, turn right and it is a straight shot to the 101, from there it is not far to Malibu. Even in a car it is our preferred route to the beach.
Happy Trails.

You don't say where you will be coming from or where you are going but if you don't mind going north of Las Virgenes Canyon, it's the same road as Malibu Canyon road, on the 101 about 30 miles there is an easier way than winding through a narrow canyon road.

Take the 101 north to Las Posas Road in Camarillo and go west to Pacific Coast Hwy., which is about 8-10 mile on flat farmland. You will see Point Mugu navy base in front of you and then you can get to you destination from there.

If you are going south on the 101 when you get to Las Posas Road, exit and go west. This will eliminate using the Conejo Grade.

You will have to go over one hill, the Conejo Grade, just past Thousand Oaks, but it is not tricky to navigate. Just remember to slow down on the down hill side and you'll be fine.

Thousands of cars and hundreds of 18 wheelers use this road daily.

skipsor wrote:
You don't say where you will be coming from or where you are going but if you don't mind going north of Las Virgenes Canyon, it's the same road as Malibu Canyon road, on the 101 about 30 miles there is an easier way than winding through a narrow canyon road.

Take the 101 north to Las Posas Road in Camarillo and go west to Pacific Coast Hwy., which is about 8-10 mile on flat farmland. You will see Point Mugu navy base in front of you and then you can get to you destination from there.

If you are going south on the 101 when you get to Las Posas Road, exit and go west. This will eliminate using the Conejo Grade.

You will have to go over one hill, the Conejo Grade, just past Thousand Oaks, but it is not tricky to navigate. Just remember to slow down on the down hill side and you'll be fine.

Thousands of cars and hundreds of 18 wheelers use this road daily.

Unless they haven't finished the work at the Rose exit, wouldn't Rose
be a straight shot to Hwy 1 without the downtown congestion?

JohnG3, Rose has shopping centers on both sides of the street and is very congested. Las Posas is near perfect after the first 1/4 mile and it goes straight to Hwy.1.

Rose goes to Hwy 1 but it's a little trickier to get on to Hwy.1.

If the OP is coming from the south it is a little out of the way for him.

I'm pretty familiar with that road - went to Pepperdine University, where Malibu Canyon meets PCH, and lived at the other end, off the 101. Drove it daily for a couple years.

It really does depend on your comfort level on canyon roads. But there's nothing about Malibu canyon that would prevent you from driving it in your rig. I could take my 5-er or my DP down it no problem.

I just wouldn't do it at rush-hour.

Haven't been on Rose in a couple years but last time I got off and took the construction detour is was a bit of a mess most of the way to 1. I remember it before the construction as a 4 lane (two in each direction) straight shot to 1.

And yes, that would only help if he was going north to south.

We will be coming from the east across the 210 from I-15. Very comfortable on windy mountainous roads having pulled my fiver up and down many Colorado mountain passes. Didn't know there was a tunnel on Malibu Canyon though. Any size restrictions on it? Don't mind driving extra miles for the comfort level though. The Las Posas Road option is appealing. Will be hitting the 210 around 9:00 a.m. on next Sunday morning. Was thinking that a Sunday morning would better for less traffic. Heading to the Malibu Beach RV Park for a week of visiting my son and having him fix Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks for all the feedback.

It's a mild drive... Tunnel is 25 ft plus high... No worries. I've pulled it many times...