[1] Over 8 miles (13 km) in length, it connects Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) with Santa Monica.

It then passes through the Los Angeles districts of Westchester, Playa Vista, and Venice before entering Santa Monica.

Major landmarks include Loyola Marymount University, Otis College of Art and Design, and the Ballona Wetlands.

This congestion creates other high levels of traffic on alternate parallel residential streets, such as Walgrove Avenue in Venice.

The portion between its southern terminus at Sepulveda Boulevard and the Santa Monica Freeway (Interstate 10) is signed as part of State Route 1.