How to Get Around Los Angeles

How transport works in Los Angeles

A rental car (or Uber) is the practical way to see LA — freeways connect everything, though rush hour (7–10am, 3–7pm) is brutal. Metro Rail's E Line reaches Santa Monica from Downtown in 50 min; the K Line now connects LAX to the network via the LAX/Metro Transit Center (opened 2024). LAX Automated People Mover to airline terminals opens 2026. Between neighbourhoods, Uber/Lyft averages US$15–30.

Your options compared

• Rental car

  Practical for most itineraries — freeways connect everything; avoid 7–10am and 3–7pm rush.

• Metro Rail

  B, D, A, E, K lines cover Hollywood, Santa Monica, DTLA, LAX. US$1.75 per ride.

• Uber/Lyft

  US$15–30 between neighbourhoods; airport rides US$35–60 to South Bay/Beverly Hills.

• Big Blue Bus / Metro Bus

  Santa Monica Big Blue Bus US$1.25; extensive network.

Passes and tickets

TAP card (US$2 + credit) taps Metro Rail + Bus + Big Blue Bus. Day Pass US$5 unlimited.

Local transport tips

Google Maps + Waze both work — Waze better for real-time freeway rerouting. Beach parking fills by 10am on weekends.

Arriving from the airport

• Los Angeles International (LAX)

  K Line rail to Downtown 40 min for US$1.75 via LAX/Metro Transit Center (2024); FlyAway bus to Union Station US$9.75; Uber/Lyft US$35–60 from LAX-it lot.

• Hollywood Burbank (BUR)

  Easier for Valley/Hollywood — Uber US$30, Metrolink to LA Union Station US$8.

• Long Beach (LGB)

  Small friendly airport — Uber US$40 to Downtown LA.

Do you need a rental car?

Inside Los Angeles a car is usually a liability — parking and traffic cost more than transit. A rental earns its keep for day trips and regional drives, so compare rates only for the days you actually leave the city.