Los Angeles Airport Transfers: Getting from the Airport to the City

Airports serving Los Angeles

• Los Angeles International (LAX) — 27 km from the centre

  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) — 20 km from the centre

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

• Long Beach (LGB) — 32 km from the centre

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

Arriving by train

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner reaches Santa Barbara (2h30), San Diego (3h) — scenic coast route. Coast Starlight to San Francisco (12h) and Seattle (35h).

Entry and arrival formalities

US CBP handles immigration. Global Entry / Mobile Passport Control cuts wait to 5 min; expect 30–60 min queues without.

VWP nationals (UK, EU, Japan, Korea, Australia, NZ, Singapore + others) need ESTA US$21 before boarding — 72h+ ahead. Canadians enter with passport only. Everyone else needs B-1/B-2 visa — apply months ahead at US embassy.

Getting into the city

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.

• 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.