Want to find out how to get from LAX to Downtown Los Angeles? In this post, I’ll give you full details on all transportation options from the airport to Downtown L.A. with prices and timings.

Once a business district with little to do after dusk, Downtown Los Angeles is becoming a popular area for visitors to stay.

Despite being located only 18 miles (29 kilometers) from LAX, it’s not that simple to get to Downtown L.A.

Unless you rent a car or book a private car transfer, you’re likely to spend a long time getting to Los Angeles City Center.

What makes it particularly inconvenient is that, unless you pre-book a private shuttle or rent a car, you’ll always need to take an airport shuttle to get to your departure point. No, you cannot just leave the arrivals terminal and jump on a cab or the metro.

If you’re still considering which part of L.A. you’ll be staying to, check out our transportation guide to getting to Malibu, Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach and how to get from the airport to Long Beach. before deciding in which area to stay.

For the sake of clarity, whenever we refer to Downtown Los Angeles, we are using L.A. Union Station as a point of reference.

Los Angeles Quick Links

If you’re flying from abroad and need to stay connected, you can get eSIM and have internet for the whole trip.

Want to get to Downtown Los Angeles from LAX hassle-free?

Here you have the best airport transfer option!

The Best Tours in L.A.:
  1. 1-Hour Private Helicopter Flight: A bucket-list helicopter tour of Downtown L.A., Hollywood Sign, Malibu and more
  2. Go City: Los Angeles Explorer Pass: Save money and see more with the L.A. pass
  3. Warner Bros. Studios Tour: Guided tour of one of Hollywood’s most iconic studios
  4. More tours are available GYG and Viator.
Want total freedom in Los Angeles?
The best way to explore the city is by car.

See here for the best car rental options in the city!

Accommodation in Downtown LA
  1. Hotel Per La, Autograph Collection: A luxury hotel with an outdoor pool and affordable prices
  2. CitizenM Los Angeles Downtown: A cool lifestyle hotel with a young vibe and great prices
  3. The Hoxton, Downtown LA: Another lifestyle hotel with a pool and prices from $150

LAX to Downtown Los Angeles Quick Info

  • The cheapest way to get from LAX Airport to Downtown L.A. is by public transportation, with the metro costing $1.75, or the FlyAway bus to Union Station at $9.75 per person.
  • The fastest and most convenient way to get to Downtown L.A. is by private transfer, from $88 one way.
  • The most flexible way is by Uber/Lyft with prices between $50 and $95.
  • The best way to get around Los Angeles is by car. Click here to check car rental options and prices.

About Los Angeles International Airport

LAX is one of the busiest airports in the US and the largest airport in California. In 2023 alone, it served over 75 million passengers, making it the 6th busiest airport in the country.

As you land, you’ll find all the conveniences you’d expect from a world-class airport, including restaurants, ATMs, money exchange and SIM card shops.

The airport does offer free wi-fi and it’s easy to connect. But if you’re flying from outside the US and don’t have free roaming, you may want to get an eSIM to stay online.

The benefit of an eSIM over a physical SIM card is that you can buy and activate it before catching your flight and won’t need to line up at a shop and can still keep your home country SIM card on the phone.

Read Also:

– 3 Days San Diego Itinerary

LAX to Downtown Los Angeles, from Los Angeles Airport to Union Station, bus from LAX to Downtown LA
The LAX sign at Los Angeles International Airport

How To Get From LAX To Downtown Los Angeles

Taxi From Los Angeles Airport To Downtown

It’s not possible to just get out of the terminal and jump on a taxi at LAX. To get to the taxi-designated area, known as LAXit, you must take a shuttle bus.

Follow the LAXit signs and you’ll get to a bus stop painted green that reads “Taxi Ride App”.

The shuttles from the airport to LAXit are free of charge. They depart every 7 minutes, 24 hours a day, will take you to LAXit in less than 10 minutes.

The travel time from LAX to Downtown L.A. is round 50 minutes, depending on traffic.

The cost of a taxi ride from LAX Airport to Downtown LA starts from $60, based on the local taxi fare calculator. But bad traffic could raise the total fare even more.

Before taking a cab at the airport, don’t forget to ask the driver if there are any additional costs, such as luggage or extra passengers.

 

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Private Shuttle from LAX Downtown L.A.

Unless you rent a car, the most convenient way to get to Downtown Los Angeles from the airport is by booking a private transfer or black car service.

By doing so, your driver will be waiting for you after you come out of the baggage claim area holding a sign with your name on it.

You’ll save time and energy since you won’t have to walk to the airport shuttle and ride for 10 minutes to get to the taxi area.

Your hotel can book it for you at an additional cost, or you can also book your private shuttle online. The driver will usually contact you the day before your arrival to reconfirm your pick-up details.

Another benefit is that it has a flat rate and there won’t be any financial transaction between you and the driver after you land. Most companies also allow you to cancel your transfer 24 hours before arrival time, so you can have peace of mind.

I have used the town car services below on a few occasions and highly recommend both.

This convenience and peace of mind does come at a small extra cost, compared to taxis. But it’s in line with their fare fluctuations.

You can book your airport transfer online and the prices vary as follows:

The travel time is around 50 minutes, subject to traffic situation.

Lyft/Uber From LAX To Downtown Los Angeles

If you prefer to use one of the many ride-hailing services, you’ll also have to make your way to the LAXit area to meet your driver.

The rideshare price varies depending on the exact drop-off location, the time of the day and the type of service you request.

That said, the cost of an Uber from LAX to Downtown costs anything between $50 and $95.

The travel time will be around 1h15m, depending on the traffic and your exact drop-off location (in addition to the time to get to LAXit).

Union Station from LAX, How to get from LAX to Downtown Los Angeles
Union Station, Los Angeles

Public Transportation From LAX To Union Station

If you’re traveling on a budget, the cheapest way from LAX to Downtown/Union Station is by public transportation. You have the option to take either a bus or the local metro.

These are very affordable options, but it’ll also take you much longer to get to your final destination.

FlyAway Bus LAX To Union Station

The FlyAway bus from LAX has two lines: one to Union Station and Van Nuys Airport, so you need to check the destination before boarding.

To take the bus from LAX to Union Station, just get out of the terminal on the Arrivals Level. The bus departs from each terminal in front of the blue FlyAway columns.

You can purchase your tickets at the ticket machine or pay directly by card (cash is not accepted). The FlyAway bus price is $9.75 per person.

The journey time is around 50 minutes, and the bus runs every 30 minutes between 5:40am and 1:10am. You can see the exact schedule both ways here.

Metro To Union Station/Downtown Los Angeles

The cheapest way to get to Downtown Los Angeles from the airport is by metro, costing only $1.75 per person or 3.75 if you need to buy a transport card. It’ll also take you the longest time, since you have to change lines once.

When you leave the terminal, follow the LAX Shuttles sign and wait for the bus M – Metro Connector. This free shuttle service will take you to Aviation Station on the metro C Line.

Once you get to the station, you must buy a TAP card, the local transportation card used in L.A., and then load it with the number of journeys you need. The card costs $2 and a one-way journey costs $1.75.

You must tap your card before going to the platform. If you don’t, you’re liable to pay a fine if you’re caught by an inspector.

On the green line metro, take the train towards Norwalk, getting off at Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station. There, change to Line A going north, towards Azusa/APU-Citrus College.

The Line A metro has several stops in Downtown Los Angeles, including 7th Street Metro Center, Historic Broadway, Little Tokyo and Union Station.

The journey time from LAX to Union Station is around 1h10m.

I hope you found this detailed guide on getting from Los Angeles Airport to Downtown L.A. helpful!

Pedro has travelled to almost 120 countries and has made his nest in London. He has also lived in Spain, Australia, the US, Georgia and Turkey. A former hotel management professional, he loves exploring local cultures, is now learning his 8th language and has a soft spot for the Middle East and the CIS countries.