Editing U.S. Route 101 (section)

===California===
{{Main|U.S. Route 101 in California}}
[[File:Highway 101 at night in Los Angeles.jpg|thumb|upright=0.666|US 101 on the [[Hollywood Freeway]] with [[Downtown Los Angeles]] in the background|alt=Aerial photograph of a freeway at night with car traffic turned into light trails with a long exposure; the skyline of Downtown Los Angeles is seen in the background.]]

US&nbsp;101 travels on several major freeways in the [[Greater Los Angeles area]], including some of the most congested roads in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |author=((FHWA Office of Highway Policy)) |year=2021 |title=The 25 Most Traveled Route Locations by Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/tables/02.pdf |publisher=Federal Highway Administration |accessdate=July 27, 2023 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810193630/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/tables/02.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Laura J. |date=March 15, 2016 |title=Los Angeles area can claim the worst traffic in America. Again |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-la-worst-traffic-20160314-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=July 27, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728051828/https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-la-worst-traffic-20160314-story.html}}</ref> Its southern terminus is in [[Boyle Heights, Los Angeles|Boyle Heights]] at the {{convert|135|acre|ha|adj=mid}} [[East Los Angeles Interchange]], one of the busiest freeway junctions in the United States, where US&nbsp;101 meets I-5, [[Interstate 10|I-10]], and [[California State Route 60|SR&nbsp;60]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dillon |first1=Liam |last2=Poston |first2=Ben |date=November 11, 2021 |title=The racist history of America's interstate highway boom |url=https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2021-11-11/the-racist-history-of-americas-interstate-highway-boom |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=July 27, 2023 |archive-date=July 27, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727020848/https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2021-11-11/the-racist-history-of-americas-interstate-highway-boom}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gamboa |first1=Suzanne |last2=McCausland |first2=Phil |last3=Lederman |first3=Josh |last4=Popken |first4=Ben |date=June 18, 2021 |title=Bulldozed and bisected: Highway construction built a legacy of inequality |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/america-highways-inequality/ |publisher=[[NBC News]] |accessdate=July 27, 2023 |archive-date=June 24, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624054418/https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/america-highways-inequality/}}</ref> The highway travels north on a section of the Santa Ana Freeway and turns west to cross the [[Los Angeles River]] after merging with the [[San Bernardino Freeway]].<ref name="CA-Names"/> The Santa Ana Freeway continues across [[Downtown Los Angeles]] and passes [[Union Station (Los Angeles)|Union Station]], a major transit hub, and government buildings before it reaches a junction with [[California State Route 110|SR&nbsp;110]]. Beyond Downtown Los Angeles, US&nbsp;101 uses the Hollywood Freeway as it travels northwest through the [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|eponymous neighborhood]] towards [[Cahuenga Pass]], where it crosses the [[Hollywood Hills]] and passes [[Universal Studios Hollywood]].<ref name="LATimes-Cahuenga">{{cite news |last=Simon |first=Richard |date=December 19, 1994 |title=Hollywood Freeway spans magic and might of L.A. |page=A1 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-19-mn-10830-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 29, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729032021/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-12-19-mn-10830-story.html}}</ref> The highway leaves the Hollywood Freeway to turn west onto the Ventura Freeway, which travels along the southern edge of the suburban [[San Fernando Valley]] and intersects [[Interstate 405 (California)|I-405]]. US&nbsp;101 continues into [[Ventura County, California|Ventura County]], where it joins [[California State Route 1|SR&nbsp;1]] and serves communities in the [[Conejo Valley]] and [[Oxnard Plain]].<ref name="google">{{google maps |title=U.S. Route 101 |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/34.0289832,-118.2139833/47.0212782,-122.9062948/@40.60196,-131.9325751,3476338m/am=t/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m44!4m43!1m40!3m4!1m2!1d-120.306674!2d34.7703559!3s0x80ec050b5f1c2a1b:0x8db5b9367d4922a!3m4!1m2!1d-122.0784263!2d37.4122168!3s0x808fb7515aece6b5:0xa11d2332b0d5a66!3m4!1m2!1d-122.4406874!2d37.7993101!3s0x808580d6ae5e4089:0xe331014beb67bd6a!3m4!1m2!1d-124.3984596!2d42.2566154!3s0x54dab89732730c53:0x3c794b0c929c2dc1!3m4!1m2!1d-124.0394112!2d44.8584946!3s0x54ea88effd596fe7:0x4847f63f9fd25649!3m4!1m2!1d-124.052869!2d46.3219217!3s0x54936d73ad238135:0x8e193f32a334ca73!3m4!1m2!1d-124.2283092!2d48.0651861!3s0x548e8aa5f56cbe37:0xda64e09042649688!3m4!1m2!1d-123.1315677!2d47.4177499!3s0x5491c6e8d1ae8489:0x5ef4ce81cf98b0e5!1m0!3e0?entry=ttu |accessdate=July 27, 2023}}</ref>

The highway follows the Pacific Ocean northwest from [[Ventura, California|Ventura]] through [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]], where it separates the downtown from its beach, and [[Goleta, California|Goleta]]. US&nbsp;101 becomes a [[divided highway]] beyond Goleta as it turns north at [[Gaviota State Park]] to cross the [[Santa Ynez Mountains]] at [[Gaviota Pass]]; SR&nbsp;1 splits to remain closer to the coastline, as it does in several areas of the state. The highway continues inland and travels around the [[Purisima Hills]] to reach [[Santa Maria, California|Santa Maria]], where the freeway resumes as it bypasses the city. US&nbsp;101 briefly returns to the coastline near [[Pismo Beach, California|Pismo Beach]] and turns inland over the [[Irish Hills (California)|Irish Hills]] towards [[San Luis Obispo, California|San Luis Obispo]] alongside SR&nbsp;1.<ref name="google"/> The highway crosses the [[Santa Lucia Range]] through [[Cuesta Pass]] and follows the [[Salinas River (California)|Salinas River]] northwest through [[Atascadero, California|Atascadero]] and the wine-growing region surrounding [[Paso Robles, California|Paso Robles]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Stone |first=Robert |date=March 7, 1993 |title=California's secret heart |at=sec. 6, p. 22 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/07/magazine/california-s-secret-heart.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=July 27, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728065055/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/07/magazine/california-s-secret-heart.html}}</ref> US&nbsp;101 passes near [[Pinnacles National Park]] and travels through the city of [[Salinas, California|Salinas]], where it turns northeast to cross the [[Gabilan Range]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Reynolds |first=Christopher |date=February 10, 2022 |title=Why are so many people heading to California's newest national park? |url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2022-02-10/where-is-pinnacles-national-park-and-why-are-so-many-people-going-there |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=July 27, 2023 |archive-date=July 26, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726215134/https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2022-02-10/where-is-pinnacles-national-park-and-why-are-so-many-people-going-there}}</ref> From there, the highway descends into the [[Santa Clara Valley]] and [[Gilroy, California|Gilroy]], the southernmost city in the [[San Francisco Bay Area]].<ref name="google"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Murphy |first=Katy |date=May 1, 2017 |title=As California grows, Menlo Park and other Bay Area cities see population boom |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/05/01/as-california-grows-menlo-park-and-other-bay-area-cities-see-population-boom/ |work=The Mercury News |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728075939/https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/05/01/as-california-grows-menlo-park-and-other-bay-area-cities-see-population-boom/}}</ref>

US&nbsp;101 continues northwest into [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] on the South Valley Freeway and later the Bayshore Freeway, which travels around the east and north sides of downtown San Jose. The ten-lane freeway generally follows the west side of [[San Francisco Bay]] as it traverses several [[Silicon Valley]] communities, including [[Palo Alto, California|Palo Alto]], [[Redwood City, California|Redwood City]], and [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], and passes offices for high-tech companies.<ref name="SPUR-Bayshore">{{cite web |last1=Amin |first1=Ratna |last2=Pugh |first2=Graham |date=October 28, 2015 |title=Will rail rule the Bay Area Peninsula corridor again? |url=https://www.spur.org/news/2015-10-28/will-rail-rule-bay-area-peninsula-corridor-again |publisher=[[SPUR (San Francisco organization)|SPUR]] |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728075938/https://www.spur.org/news/2015-10-28/will-rail-rule-bay-area-peninsula-corridor-again}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Budman |first=Scott |date=August 4, 2009 |title=Highway 101: The tech industry's Madison Avenue |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/the-tech-industrys-madison-avenue/1842759/ |publisher=[[KNTV|NBC Bay Area]] |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728075937/https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/the-tech-industrys-madison-avenue/1842759/}}</ref> It parallels [[Interstate 280 (California)|I-280]], which travels along the foothills of the [[Santa Cruz Mountains]] to the west, as the two continue up the [[San Francisco Peninsula]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Egusa |first=Christopher |date=February 6, 2020 |title=Why does Highway 101 have so many billboards and 280 has almost none? |url=https://www.kalw.org/show/crosscurrents/2020-02-06/why-does-highway-101-have-so-many-billboards-and-280-has-almost-none |publisher=[[KALW]] |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728075936/https://www.kalw.org/show/crosscurrents/2020-02-06/why-does-highway-101-have-so-many-billboards-and-280-has-almost-none}}</ref> US&nbsp;101 passes [[San Francisco International Airport]] and briefly turns northeast to rejoin the coastline before it enters the city of San Francisco near [[Candlestick Point]]. The Bayshore Freeway intersects I-280 and terminates at an interchange with [[Interstate 80|I-80]] near the [[South of Market, San Francisco|SoMa]] neighborhood in the city center.<ref name="google"/> US&nbsp;101 then uses city streets to continue through San Francisco; it travels north on [[Van Ness Avenue]], a wide boulevard with [[bus lane]]s, and west on [[Lombard Street (San Francisco)|Lombard Street]] to the [[Presidio of San Francisco]], a historic landmark and city park.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nolte |first=Carl |date=June 30, 2018 |title=Streets of San Francisco are always being dug up |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/nativeson/article/Streets-of-San-Francisco-are-always-being-dug-up-13039269.php |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728075939/https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/nativeson/article/Streets-of-San-Francisco-are-always-being-dug-up-13039269.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |last1=Bunse |first1=Meta |last2=Allen |first2=Polly |date=December 2009 |title=Van Ness Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project: Historic Resources Inventory and Evaluation Report |pages=29–32 |url=https://www.sfcta.org/sites/default/files/content/Planning/VanNess_BRT_EIR/FEIR-FEIS/Tech%20Memos/Cultural%20Resources%20Reports/Historic%20Resources%20Evaluation%20and%20Inventory%20Report/Final_HRIER_Van_Ness_December%202009.pdf |publisher=[[San Francisco County Transportation Authority]] |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728075937/https://www.sfcta.org/sites/default/files/content/Planning/VanNess_BRT_EIR/FEIR-FEIS/Tech%20Memos/Cultural%20Resources%20Reports/Historic%20Resources%20Evaluation%20and%20Inventory%20Report/Final_HRIER_Van_Ness_December%202009.pdf}}</ref>

[[File:Golden Gate Bridge as seen from Marshall's Beach, March 2018.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Golden Gate Bridge]] connects sections of US&nbsp;101 between [[San Francisco]] and [[Marin County, California|Marin County]].|alt=The Golden Gate Bridge, a two-tower suspension bridge painted a dull orange, seen on a sunny day from a beach with mist over the water.]]

The divided highway travels through the north side of the Presidio and tunnels under a portion of the park as it approaches the [[Golden Gate Bridge]],<ref>{{cite news |last=King |first=John |date=July 16, 2022 |title=S.F.'s Tunnel Tops park is open. But it might not be the best new park at the Presidio |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/presidio-park-tunnel-tops-open-17308693.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728075937/https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/presidio-park-tunnel-tops-open-17308693.php}}</ref> a [[toll bridge|tolled]] [[suspension bridge]] across the [[Golden Gate]] at the entrance to San Francisco Bay.<ref>{{cite news |last=Swan |first=Rachel |date=December 18, 2018 |title=Golden Gate Bridge toll may climb near $10 by 2023 |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Golden-Gate-Bridge-toll-may-climb-near-10-by-2023-13476526.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728075939/https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Golden-Gate-Bridge-toll-may-climb-near-10-by-2023-13476526.php}}</ref><ref name="NPR-Bridge">{{cite news |last=Stamberg |first=Susan |date=April 26, 2011 |title=The Golden Gate Bridge's accidental color |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/04/26/135150942/the-golden-gate-bridges-accidental-color |work=[[Morning Edition]] |publisher=[[NPR]] |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=May 24, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524000236/https://www.npr.org/2011/04/26/135150942/the-golden-gate-bridges-accidental-color}}</ref> It is operated by the [[Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District]] and is not legally defined as part of US&nbsp;101 and SR&nbsp;1.<ref>{{cite web |title=FAQs |url=https://www.goldengate.org/bridge/history-research/statistics-data/faqs/ |publisher=[[Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District]] |accessdate=April 24, 2024}}</ref> The orange-colored bridge, considered an icon of the city,<ref name="NPR-Bridge"/> has six lanes with a [[reversible lane|movable barrier]] and walkways on both sides for pedestrians and cyclists.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 11, 2015 |title=Golden Gate Bridge closes for safety improvements |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/01/11/gaolden-gate-bridge-closure/21589661/ |work=[[USA Today]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728075936/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/01/11/gaolden-gate-bridge-closure/21589661/}}</ref> North of the bridge, US&nbsp;101 is designated as the Redwood Highway.<ref name="CA-Names"/> It splits from SR&nbsp;1 and continues as an eight-lane freeway through suburban communities in [[Marin County, California|Marin County]], including an elevated viaduct in downtown [[San Rafael, California|San Rafael]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Graff |first=Amy |date=July 7, 2022 |title=Major closure coming to Highway 101 in Marin, delays up to 1 hour expected |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/highway-101-marin-lanes-closing-17288546.php |work=[[SFGate]] |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728082149/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/highway-101-marin-lanes-closing-17288546.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Harrison |first=Robert L. |date=September 14, 2020 |title=Super-highway on viaduct to break San Rafael bottleneck |url=https://medium.com/anne-t-kent-california-room-community-newsletter/super-highway-on-viaduct-to-break-san-rafael-bottleneck-3006dd4482e |publisher=Anne T. Kent California Room at [[Marin County Free Library]] |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728082149/https://medium.com/anne-t-kent-california-room-community-newsletter/super-highway-on-viaduct-to-break-san-rafael-bottleneck-3006dd4482e}}</ref> The highway continues along the west side of [[San Pablo Bay]] into [[Sonoma County, California|Sonoma County]], where it turns northwest to head inland through [[Petaluma, California|Petaluma]] and [[Santa Rosa, California|Santa Rosa]] in the [[North Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|North Bay]]'s [[Wine Country]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Sachs |first=Andrea |date=February 16, 2018 |title=After the October wildfires, California Wine Country is ready to pop some corks |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/after-the-october-wildfires-california-wine-country-is-ready-to-pop-some-corks/2018/02/15/9b17cf26-0c2f-11e8-8890-372e2047c935_story.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=November 27, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127072036/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/after-the-october-wildfires-california-wine-country-is-ready-to-pop-some-corks/2018/02/15/9b17cf26-0c2f-11e8-8890-372e2047c935_story.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Swan |first=Rachel |date=August 25, 2019 |title=North Bay's SMART train, beloved but not bustling, looks to extend sales tax |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/North-Bay-s-SMART-train-beloved-but-not-14376250.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728082149/https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/North-Bay-s-SMART-train-beloved-but-not-14376250.php}}</ref> US&nbsp;101 follows the [[Russian River (California)|Russian River]] upstream through wineries and vineyards into [[Mendocino County, California|Mendocino County]] as the freeway narrows to four lanes and eventually ends.<ref name="google"/>

Beyond the San Francisco Bay Area, US&nbsp;101 is primarily an undivided highway with some short freeway sections and serves as the primary route in the rugged [[North Coast (California)|North Coast]] region.<ref>{{cite news |last=Riley |first=Frank |date=July 14, 1985 |title=Adventure awaits visitors on the Redwood Trail |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-14-tr-6575-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728085943/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-07-14-tr-6575-story.html}}</ref> It traverses the [[Mendocino Range]] and reaches the northern terminus of SR&nbsp;1 at [[Leggett, California|Leggett]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Wall |first=Jonathan |date=May 2, 2004 |title=Long and winding road |page=50 |work=[[South China Morning Post]]}}</ref> The Redwood Highway then follows the [[South Fork Eel River]] north into [[Humboldt Redwoods State Park]], where it runs parallel to the [[Avenue of the Giants]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Steigerwald |first=Bill |date=October 31, 2010 |title=Travels without Charley: Riding the Oregon-California coast truly mesmerizing |page=E5 |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/life/travel/2010/10/31/Travels-Without-Charley-Riding-the-Oregon-California-coast-truly-mesmerizing/stories/201010310301 |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |url-access=subscription |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728085943/https://www.post-gazette.com/life/travel/2010/10/31/Travels-Without-Charley-Riding-the-Oregon-California-coast-truly-mesmerizing/stories/201010310301}}</ref> US&nbsp;101 continues northwest along the [[Eel River (California)|Eel River]] to reach the coastline near [[Eureka, California|Eureka]], which it travels through on city streets before becoming a divided highway around [[Humboldt Bay]]. The highway travels north along the coast through the [[Redwood National and State Parks]], where it passes through old-growth [[coast redwood]] forests, and reaches [[Crescent City, California|Crescent City]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Dixon |first=Chris |date=April 29, 2005 |title=A coast less traveled |page=F1 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/29/travel/escapes/a-coast-less-traveled.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=July 28, 2023 |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728085943/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/29/travel/escapes/a-coast-less-traveled.html}}</ref> US&nbsp;101 intersects [[U.S. Route 199|US&nbsp;199]] north of the city and continues northwest along the coast to the Oregon state line.<ref name="google"/>