GETTING AROUND LOS ANGELES
Los Angeles is huge. Seriously. Don’t under-estimate how big this place is.
Landmarks are spread out far from each other and it can take hours to get from one place to another.
Our biggest pro-tip for visiting Los Angeles is:
Stay near the places you want to see and the events you want to attend
That means if you want to go surfing in the morning in Santa Monica, stay near Santa Monica.
If you stay farther away in order to save money you may end up spending a lot of time hustling through traffic.
Do your homework and plan ahead. This city is overwhelming and not easy to navigate for newcomers.
Fortunately, you have What’s Good to show you the best ways to get around town!
We are experts in navigating Los Angeles and compiled all our knowledge into this guide to help you get around while visiting.
Read on to get detailed information on available modes of transportation:
Arriving at Los Angeles International Airport
Taking the Metro (train or bus)
Rideshare (Uber / Lyft) and Taxi Cabs from Los Angeles International Airport
Bicycling
eScooters
Arriving at or Departing from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Los Angeles International Airport is likely the airport you’re flying into. It is the best option if you are staying on the West Side, Mid-City, the South Bay, or Downtown.
LAX is the main international airport that serves Los Angeles and the nearby metro areas.
It is the busiest airport in the Los Angeles area, and holds the record for the world’s busiest origin and destination airport. In 2019, over 88 million passengers passed through this airport.
It is not only filled with local travelers departing from or arriving to Los Angeles.
LAX is also the largest hub in the US for international and domestic flight connections, so you can expect to find even more people on the other side of the security line.
Keep that in mind when planning to arrive for your flight, as traffic into LAX can become unwieldy on regular days, let alone holidays.
There is no train access directly to LAX.
Landing at LAX can be a little confusing -> Check out our tips for arriving in LA via LAX and getting to your destination
LAX is open to the public from 5am to Midnight.
Helpful links:
Los Angeles International Airport Website: https://www.flylax.com/
Ground Transportation Info: https://www.flylax.com/lax-traffic-and-ground-transportation
Parking at LAX: https://www.flylax.com/parking-at-lax
Flyaway Bus
Car Rental
Using the Metro Rail and Bus
The LA Metro offers a variety of transportation services to Angelenos, from trains and buses to bikes and vanpools.
Metro bus and rail lines are an excellent way to get to big sporting events like the Rose Bowl, or the Colosseum, while avoiding traffic and hefty fees to park at the stadium.
You can also take the Metro Rail to popular destinations like Hollywood and Universal City.
The Metro Bus network is one of the largest bus networks in the country. It may take ages to get anywhere on the Bus, but you can really get anywhere in LA County with a combination of bus and rail.
In order to pay for a ride on the Metro you will need to buy a TAP card at a Metro Station Kiosk. You can also download the TAP app and use your phone for contactless payment (e.g., Apple Wallet).
TAP is a physical or digital card that you can reload with more money at any time. You simply tap the card at the Metro Station Kiosk and the fare is automatically deducted from your account.
Reduced fares are available for seniors, students and low-income riders (see the website for details).
The LA Metro is constantly under construction, which means that service availability may vary based on when you’re riding and where you’re going. Always make sure you check the route, and make sure the station at your destination is open.
You don’t want to be like me and plan a date in Little Tokyo, only to learn that the Metro Station in Little Tokyo is closed for the next year, and have to find another way to the restaurant at the last minute.
Helpful Links:
METRO BIKE SHARE
Pro Tip: Metro’s Bike Share program is integrated with TAP -- you can use your TAP card to unlock bikes, but make sure you register your TAP card with Metro Bike Share
If you’re visiting LA and want to do some cycling, there are a variety of options to choose from.
Metro operates a Bike Share program where you can rent bikes to explore the city.
Find a bike station and unlock a bike to take it for a cruise.
Bike Passes
To unlock a bike you will need to purchase a ride pass.
You can purchase a ride pass at any station kiosk, but you can save time and money by purchasing passes online ahead of time.
There are 4 different bike passes available:
1 Ride Pass
This pass is good for 30 minutes
24-Hour Access
All rides 30 minutes or less are free
You have to pay a fee to use the bike after the first 30 minutes
30-Day Pass
All rides 30 minutes or less are free
You have to pay a fee to use the bike after the first 30 minutes
This is the best value for money if you want to use the bikes for 4 days but not more than 1 month
365-Day Pass
All rides 30 minutes or less are free
You have to pay a fee to use the bike after the first 30 minutes
This is the best value for your money, hands down
Check the Metro Bike Share website for the latest fares
Pro tip: If you are enrolled in CalFresh you are qualified for reduced fare passes
Types of Bikes
Metro Bike Share offers bike rentals in areas all over the city, including Downtown, Central LA, the Westside, and North Hollywood.
The type of bike available to rent will vary based on what part of the city you are in.
The 3 types of Bikes Available:
Classic
Smart
Electric
Classic Bike Rentals
The classic bike can be found in Downtown LA, Central LA or on the Westside. This bike is black and green in color with a big black M on the front, with 3 speeds available.
It has nice wide tires and adjustable seats for comfort. There is a basket in the front where you can store cargo.
You can use your TAP card to unlock a classic bike. When your ride ends you just have to dock it at a Classic Metro Bike station dock.
You can find Classic Metro Bike stations on the Metro Bike app. You should check the app for the nearest station and also bike availability.
Smart Bike Rentals
The Smart Bike can be found in North Hollywood. The main difference between Smart Bikes and Classic Bikes is that you can lock the bike to any public bike rack, in addition to the Smart Metro Bike Share station (for an additional convenience fee).
This feature gives you the ability to access destinations a little farther off the beaten track.
Unlock the Smart Bike with your TAP card. Just make sure you’re enrolled in the Metro Bike Share program on your TAP card.
Electric Bike Rentals
Metro Electric Bikes can be rented from stations located in Downtown, Central LA, and the Westside.
The Metro Electric Bike gives the rider assistance when pedaling, making this a perfect option for casual bikers not looking to work up a sweat in the LA heat.
Riders can also go farther for less effort up to a top speed of 17 miles per hour.
Press the power button on the display found on the handlebars. Make sure the bike is at a complete stop before pressing the button or it won’t work.
The motor is only assisting when you’re pedaling but be careful of your speed because it is a serious boost. Always wear a helmet.
You can return Metro Electric Bikes to any Classic Metro Bike station.
Check the Metro Bike Share station map or app to find bike stations with a pink lightning bolt displayed above the point on the map -- this indicates the station is compatible with Electric Bikes.
eScooters
eScooters were growing in popularity before the COVID19 pandemic struck. In fact, some communities labeled them nuisances and banned them altogether. They are banned in popular areas such as Santa Monica, Pasadena, and Burbank.
Fortunately, the City of Los Angeles has not taken any direct action to ban the scooters within the city limits. Just make sure you do your research and only ride in legally permitted areas.
eScooters can be a cheap and quick way to get across a short distance. And they’re pretty fun to ride too!
There are 3 main eScooter rental apps available to Angelenos:
Lyft
Lime (Uber)
Link
We recommend downloading all of them if you’re planning on riding eScooters in Los Angeles.
The availability and service areas for each app are different and you want to make sure you can access them for transportation if you need it.
Traffic in Los Angeles
Ahh yes, traffic. It’s what LA is known for, right?
While LA may have had the worst traffic for the last 30 years, there are signs of improvement!
Los Angeles lost the top spot for worst traffic in the USA In the 2021 Urban Mobility Report, down to #4th worst.
New York, Boston, and Houston all rank worse for traffic than the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
The freeways are amazing when there is no congestion. It really does feel like you can get anywhere in LA in 20 minutes when there’s no traffic.
You’ll find the freeways the emptiest on Thanksgiving Day, and the busiest a few days before.
You can’t beat the traffic, so pack a snack, podcast or audio book. Or tune into one of the many amazing radio stations in town.
The best thing you can do to avoid traffic is to stay or live near where you’re visiting or working.
Sometimes you just can’t beat it, so just learn to be zen and go with the flow.
Check Sigalert before you leave and use GPS mapping software to re-route yourself around accidents. A sigalert is defined as any unplanned closure of a lane of traffic for over 30 minutes -- typically related to car accidents.
Helpful Links: