The Hollywood Bowl, nestled amidst the hills of Los Angeles, is not just a venue; it's an iconic experience that has been enchanting audiences for decades.

I recently had the pleasure of attending a concert at this legendary amphitheater, and I've come back with 10 tips and tricks to ensure that your visit to the Hollywood Bowl is nothing short of unforgettable.

Attending your first show at the Hollywood Bowl can be confusing, overwhelming, and anxiety inducing (and EXPENSIVE!). 

This post has all the info you need to have an amazing Hollywood Bowl experience every time you go. 

We’ll also take an aerial view of the Hollywood Bowl, and surrounding area, so you can figure out your strategy for arrival and departure.

You’ll definitely want to stick around for tips 8 and 9 (unless you enjoy getting ripped off).

1. Arrive 1 Hour Before Showtime

Timing is everything when it comes to the Hollywood Bowl and arriving early is key.

In the hours leading up to the show, the roads surrounding the Hollywood Bowl become clogged with traffic. 

Arriving early gives you more time to get through the bad traffic and the long security line.

2. Expect Long Security Lines at The Hollywood Bowl

In order to access the venue you first need to pass through metal detectors and have your bag searched.

Due to the picnic policy of the Hollywood Bowl, almost everyone brings a big backpack or cooler, which requires a thorough search by the security staff.

This extra search can take a very long time. Especially if the security staff take their job seriously (they do).

I would estimate at least a 20-30 minute wait in line to pass through security.

3. Enter at the North Gate Instead

When you are walking up the hill you will see the very long security line.

However, there is a not-so-secret alternate entrance gate, north beyond the south gate.

There will still be a line but it may be significantly shorter. Consider checking out that line instead of waiting in the super long one at the south.

4. The Show Starts On Time

The show will almost always start on time. If the show starts at 7pm you should try to arrive at least an hour early. 

The Hollywood Bowl is located in a residential area and they have noise ordinances to abide by.

There’s a time and place for being fashionably late- a show at the Hollywood Bowl is not one of them.

5. Park Nearby and Take an Uber, or Ride the Metro

My recommendation is DO NOT DRIVE to the Hollywood Bowl. Parking at the Hollywood Bowl will test your patience.

If you park at the Hollywood Bowl, you might miss the first act because you’re stuck in traffic trying to get to the parking lot. It can take FOR-EVER to get through the mess.

Instead, find free street parking nearby (like East Hollywood) and call an Uber from there, or take the Metro. 

The metro station at Hollywood & Highland is a short walk to the Hollywood Bowl. This is your best option if you live near a metro station.

There’s usually plenty of free street parking on Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd, east of Western Ave.

This plan works great on Sundays when the meters are free. Meters run til 8pm on weekdays, so arrive early, feed the meter til 8pm and call your ride.

And then after the show you will be stuck in stand-still traffic on your way out, potentially for an hour or more.

Sure, you can buy parking and park at the official Hollywood Bowl parking lot, but is it worth it?

Take the Metro, or Uber/Lyft to the Hollywood Bowl instead. 

6. Take the Hollywood Bowl Shuttle or Park & Ride

Another option is to take the Bowl Shuttle/Park & Ride from the Park and Ride lots around the city.

Costs vary for a round trip ticket, depending on if you take the Bowl Shuttle or the Park & Ride.

You can park at nearby locations like the LA Zoo but you’ll still be stuck sitting in pre-show traffic.

It’s better than parking at the Hollywood Bowl, but your patience will probably be tested.

7. Avoid Traffic Hotspots

The Cahuenga Blvd exit off the 101 Freeway North and the intersection of Cahuenga Blvd and Odin St are notorious traffic bottlenecks.

Have your driver drop you as close as possible and walk the rest of the way.

Cahuenga Blvd north of the 101 Freeway exit will be slammed with traffic trying to get to the Hollywood Bowl.

Take a look at this map - you can expect traffic along the whole stretch showing the red arrows. (There will be tons of traffic on Highland Ave as well)

The biggest bottleneck is at the X on the map - the intersection of Cahuenga Blvd and Odin St. The traffic light at this intersection has a green turn arrow that allows about 1-2 cars to turn left, per light. It’s insane. Don’t do it!!

I cannot in good faith recommend that you have your driver drop you at the rideshare drop-off point. It’s way too congested to even get in there. 

Instead, have your driver drop you as close as they can and walk the rest of the way.

Take care of your driver- they will be stuck in this traffic jam after they drop you off, and trying to get out and catch another ride will suck for them. 

Look at this aerial image of the same roads. There wasn't even an event at the Hollywood Bowl when this photo was taken, but there was a line of almost 10 cars trying to turn left on Odin St. 

This left turn is bad in general. Imagine how bad it gets when there’s an event!

8. The Hollywood Bowl Picnic Policy

One of the best parts of the Hollywood Bowl is its picnic-friendly policy. 

You can bring your own food and drinks (including alcohol!) to enjoy before or during the show. 

It's a great way to make your experience more personal and budget-friendly.

Last time I was at the Hollywood Bowl, I ran into a bunch of guys who literally brought 24 Modelos in a cooler. Hell yeah boys.

The one caveat to this BYOB policy is the ‘Lease Event’ status. Due to the way the venue is managed, some events will not allow outside drinks.

Check on the website to see if your event is listed as a ‘Lease Event’ (click here for a calendar of Lease Events that do not allow outside booze.)

The event website should say something like “Special House Rules Apply” but feel free to contact the venue if you’re still not positive on the policy for your event.

I asked the Modelo guys about it and they just told me to call the venue if I was unsure about the policy. 

You can call the ticketing line (323 850 2000) or send them an email (information@laphil.org).

However, if you prefer not to carry a picnic basket, there are plenty of dining options within the Bowl, ranging from gourmet to casual fare. Just be prepared to pay a premium for the convenience. 

You’ll pay a little under $20 per 24oz beer.

The food prices are insane… $39 for 7 pieces of fried chicken. Yikes!

9. Smoking Rules at the Hollywood Bowl

It's important to note that the Hollywood Bowl is a smoke-free venue and smoking is only allowed in designated areas outside the amphitheater.

If you're a smoker, plan your smoke breaks accordingly, and be respectful of the rules to ensure you don’t attract security’s attention.

It’s a little confusing when they say ‘smoking is only allowed in designated areas outside the amphitheater’ - I initially interpreted this as no smoking is allowed inside the property altogether. 

However, last time I was there, I went to the bathroom and noticed a hundred people smoking on the walkways just outside the theater.

You don’t need to completely leave the Hollywood Bowl grounds to smoke, you just need to leave the seating area and head to the paths behind the venue.

The red line following the path seems to be OK for smoking. 

My ultimate advice is to just read the room- if you see other people lighting up then you can feel comfortable doing the same. 

10. Leaving the Hollywood Bowl

After the show there will be pedestrian traffic jams and vehicle traffic jams. Try to avoid both.

Consider staying back, enjoying the view, or having a snack to avoid the initial rush.

The best move is to either leave right before the band’s last song, or hang out in the seats for 20-30 minutes while the crowd slowly trickles out of the amphitheater. 

Last time I was there we stayed through the Pixies’ last song and ended up stuck in a pedestrian traffic jam for 30 minutes. It sucked - don’t let it happen to you!

The rideshare prices will be surging if you’re in close proximity to the bowl.

To get cheaper fares, I recommend walking south along Highland Ave until you get to Hollywood Blvd. 

The metro station at Hollywood and Highland can also connect you to North Hollywood or Union Station.

Walk a few blocks down the street to get away from what remains of the crowd and then call your ride. You’ll find that it’s significantly cheaper than calling the ride from the venue itself.

Grab a street taco while you wait.

The Hollywood Bowl is an enchanting destination for music lovers, offering a unique blend of natural beauty and world-class entertainment.

After reading this post you now are equipped to make the most of your visit to this iconic venue.

Whether you're a seasoned Bowl-goer or a first-time visitor, use these tips to enhance your Hollywood Bowl experience and create lasting memories.

Do you have any extra tips to share for a great trip the Hollywood Bowl? Let us know in the comments!