LA is home to one of the country’s best public transportation networks, including subways, light-rail, buses and shuttles to just about every corner of the Greater Los Angeles area.
Taxi Cabs
Catching a taxi cab is a great way to navigate Los Angeles from our local airports or around town. From LAX, taxi cab can be found curbside on the lower/arrivals level in front of each terminal under the yellow signs indicating “Taxis.” There are nine franchise taxi operators in the City of Los Angeles who operate more than 2300 taxis in our city. Passengers will be presented with a ticket stating typical fares to major destinations. Be sure before boarding any taxi in the city of Los Angeles that you look for the official City of Los Angeles Taxicab Seal. Taxicabs bearing this seal are insured, have trained drivers and are regularly inspected by the City of Los Angeles. Any cab without the City of Los Angeles seal has no legal authorization to operate in the City.
Taxi cabs can be easily accessed at any of the numerous taxi cab stations around the city, usually near hotels, restaurants or shopping districts. Text-A-Taxi is a convenient service to “hail” a taxi cab and is available throughout Downtown Los Angeles. Passengers simply send a text to 310.574.2228 with the pick-up address. This service will text back later for a status report on your taxi cab. Taxi Magic is a mobile devise application that connects you directly to Los Angeles taxi computer dispatch systems so you can instantly reserve a Los Angeles Yellow Cab. Your LA taxi cab reservation is instant, secure and reliable. Download this application at https://taximagic.com/en_US.
Currently, the flat fare between LAX and downtown Los Angeles is $46.50 plus a $4.00 surcharge for all trips originating at LAX. For a complete listing of taxi cab companies and current taxi fares in Los Angeles, please visit to http://www.taxicabsla.org/.
FlyAway
A fast, affordable ride ($7 each way) between Downtown and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), or between the Van Nuys Flyaway Terminal adjacent to the Van Nuys Airport (VNY) and LAX. Tickets can be purchased from the Union Station FlyAway kiosk in the Patsaouras Transit Plaza or at the Van Nuys FlyAway Terminal with a debit or credit card (only Visa, MasterCard or American Express accepted for ticket or monthly pass purchase at Van Nuys FlyAway. Cash not accepted). Routes between LAX and Westwood are $5 one-way, passengers pay on the bus, exact change required.
Union Station to LAX Schedule
Monday through Friday, early morning bus departures from Union Station to LAX are at: 5 a.m., 5:30 a.m., 5:50 a.m., 6:10 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 6:50 a.m., 7:10 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 8:10 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 8:50 a.m., 9:10 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Between 10 a.m. and 1 a.m., buses will depart every 30 minutes. Between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. service is every hour on the hour.
Saturday through Sunday, buses depart every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. service is every hour on the hour.
LAX to Union Station Schedule
Buses depart daily between 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. from LAX Terminal 1 on the hour and half hour. Early morning buses between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. depart LAX on the hour. Passenger pick-up time is listed for bus arrival at Terminal 1. Allow extra time for pick-ups at Terminals 2, 7.
Van Nuys Airport (VNY) to LAX Schedule
The FlyAway service runs between VNY and LAX 24 hours a day, with departures every 15-minutes between 4:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Buses depart every 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and midnight with hourly service from midnight to 4 a.m.
LAX to Van Nuys Airport (VNY) Schedule
Buses depart LAX terminals to the San Fernando Valley every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour from 5:30 a.m. to midnight. From midnight to 12:30 a.m., buses depart from LAX every 15 minutes. FlyAway early morning bus departures from LAX are at: 1:15 a.m., 2:15 a.m., 2:45 a.m., 3:45 a.m., 4:15 a.m. and 4:45 a.m.
LAX to Westwood Schedule
FlyAway service from LAX to Westwood runs from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Tickets are $5 each way. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday buses depart every hour on the hour. On Friday, buses depart every 30 minutes. On Thursdays and Sundays from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. bus service is scheduled every hour on the hour, while buses depart every 30 minutes from noon to 10 p.m. Passengers have access to free Wi-Fi Internet on the smaller CNG clean fuel buses that are used on the Westwood bus route.
Westwood to LAX Schedule
Service from Westwood to LAX runs hourly from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. On Thursday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. buses depart hourly, and every 30 minutes from noon to 10 p.m. On Friday, buses leave LAX terminals every 30 minutes from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Passengers have access to free Wi-Fi Internet on the smaller CNG clean fuel buses used on the Westwood route.
Holiday Schedule
Services will be hourly on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
For more information, visit www.lawa.org/flyaway.
Metro Trip Planning: The Basics
The Metro Trip Planner is a great tool to use when planning your way around Los Angeles. The tool generates detailed instructions on how to get to and from your destination. You can also download the Go Metro Los Angeles V2 mobile app to help you get around the city while on the go.
Having the exact cash fare is the simplest way to pay for your trip, as all transit rates start at a base fare of $1.50. However, if you do plan to use Metro public transportation at various times during your visit it might be easier to purchase the Metro TAP card. The TAP card allows you to add money and/or choose from a daily, weekly, or monthly pass to add to your card. Buying a pass is often less expensive than the base fare price per ride. For more information on fares, passes, and TAP visit: http://www.metro.net/riding/fares/.
Metro Rail System
Six fast, easy-to-use and environmentally friendly rail lines offer visitors a desirable and efficient way of getting from one destination to the next. All rail stations are served by Metro bus lines.
- The Metro Expo Line (light rail) provides service that connects the Westside to Downtown LA, Hollywood, South Bay, and Long Beach. The Expo Line features10 new stations including USC, Expo Park, and Culver City. Click Here to Download Metro Expo Line Map & Schedule
- The Metro Red Line (subway) provides service through Downtown LA, the Mid-Wilshire area, Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley, where it meets the Metro Orange Line (bus rapid transit).Click Here to Download Metro Red Line Map & Schedule
- The Metro Purple Line (subway) also serves downtown LA, running along Wilshire Boulevard to Western Avenue. Click Here to Download Metro Purple Line Map & Schedule
- The Metro Gold Line (light rail) runs between Pasadena and East LA, connecting with the Red and Purple Lines at Union Station.Click Here to Download Metro Gold Line Map & Schedule
- The Metro Blue Line (light rail) runs north and south between Long Beach and downtown LA, where it meets the Red and Purple lines. Click Here to Download Metro Blue Line Map & Schedule
- The Metro Green Line (light rail) runs east and west between Norwalk and Redondo Beach, crossing the Blue Line. Click Here to Download Metro Green Line Map & Schedule
For more detailed schedules, fares, interactive maps, multi-language pocket guides and more info, visit www.metro.net.
Metro Bus System
Local, Rapid, Express and BRT (bus rapid transit) services are available throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. With nearly 200 different lines, buses travel all over the region to every major destination including state parks, area attractions and shopping districts. Many Metro Bus lines provide connections to Metro Rail stations.
- Metro Local (painted orange) makes frequent stops along major streets throughout the city.
- Metro Rapid (painted red) offers fewer stops and expedited travel times on the city’s major streets, with the use of special transponders that cause traffic signals to favor the bus.
- Metro Express (painted blue) offers reduced stop service along the city’s freeway systems.
- The Metro Silver Line (bus rapid transit) connects the South Bay and the San Gabriel Valley to Downtown LA.
- The Metro Orange Line (bus rapid transit) runs from North Hollywood to Warner Center in Woodland Hills.
For detailed schedules, interactive maps, multi-language pocket guides and more info, visit www.metro.net.
DASH
The City of Los Angeles Transportation (LADOT) currently operates the second largest fleet in Los Angeles County. LADOT’s transit fleet serves approximately 30 million passenger boardings per year.
DASH Downtown
Six quick bus routes through Downtown depart every five to 10 minutes between 6:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays, and every 15 minutes between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Route A – Little Tokyo to City West
Route B – Chinatown to Financial District
Route C – Financial District to South Park
Route D – Union Station to South Park
Route E – City West to Fashion District
Route F – Financial District to Exposition Park/USC
DASH also Serves:
Beachwood Canyon
Boyle Heights/East LA
Chesterfield Square
Crenshaw
Downtown Los Angeles
El Sereno/City Terrace
Fairfax
Highland Park/Eagle Rock
Hollywood
Hollywood/West Hollywood
Hollywood/Wilshire
King-East
Leimert/Slauson
Lincoln Heights/Chinatown
Los Feliz
Midtown
Northridge
Panorama City/Van Nuys
Pico Union/Echo Park
San Pedro
Southeast Los Angeles
Van Nuys/Studio City
Vermont/Main
Warner Center
Watts
Wilmington
Wilshire Center/Koreatown
Commuter Express
LADOT offers stress-free, reliable bus service to Downtown Los Angeles in the morning and back in the afternoon from communities reaching from the beach cities to the San Fernando Valley.
For more information, visit www.ladottransit.com/dash.