- Los Angeles' transit system isn't very reliable, so most people drive cars around the expansive city.
- Here are tips from a local on ways to get around LA, as well as to and from LAX airport.
I live in a two-bedroom house smack dab in the center of LA. I'm aware that I could have a larger home for my family if I moved to the 'burbs, but I'm just not interested. From my home, I can walk to world-class museums, parks, restaurants, and shopping centers — places that would be agonizing to reach by car in heavy traffic.
All of that is to say: The LA-traffic struggle is real. The city is so spread out and it can feel like it's always rush hour, so if you don't make a strategic plan for getting around, it can ruin your trip fast. For scale: The distance from the beach to a concert downtown might be just under 15 miles, but that could add up to a frustrating 90 minutes in bad traffic.
I advise travelers to plan ahead and create reasonable itineraries based on transportation time, and most people who want to be nimble should plan on getting around by car. Here are the best options for getting to and around LA.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX is a huge international airport, served by all major carriers — 69 airlines in all. In that sense, it's easy to get in and out of town. But with ongoing construction and gridlock traffic, traveling through, to, and from LAX can require patience.
My pro tip: The LAX ride-hailing lot for Ubers and Lyfts currently requires a shuttle ride, which is fine if you're prepared for the extra step. But if you're coming in after an arduous journey, traveling with young kids, or have accessibility needs, I recommend calling an Alto. This carrier — and other black-car services — can pick you up curbside or at baggage claim.
Other local airports
While LAX is likely to be the best bet for many travelers given its size and scale, other smaller local airports can streamline the experience for certain visitors.
The Hollywood Burbank airport hosts carriers including Southwest and JetBlue, as well as Avelo, a new ultra-low-cost airline. American Eagle, Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest all serve Long Beach Airport. Traveling through John Wayne Airport in Orange County might also be a cost- or time-saving option depending on your route — I recently made the trek to fly out of this airport as it offered a nonstop flight to Missoula, Montana, while LAX did not.
Public transportation
Los Angeles does have a vast public transportation network including buses, railways, and subways, but visitors should be warned that it may not take you everywhere you want to go, given the city's size and sprawl. Most locals like me depend on a car to get around town more easily.
If you do choose to take public transit, the Metro Trip Planner tool can help you figure out your route, and I recommend downloading the Go Metro Los Angeles mobile app for help navigating the system on the go.
All transit rates start at a base fare of $1.75. Day passes are also available for $7, and weekly passes for $25. Note that on the Metro Rail and the Metro Orange Line, you must load your fare into a reusable Metro TAP card, which you can buy at any station.
Car rental
I don't necessarily recommend that all visitors to LA rent a car. But I do recommend everyone have access to a car to make certain outings more feasible — ride-hailing will typically do, but it can quickly add up to hundreds of dollars over several days if you want to cover any real ground.
If you do plan on renting, all the major players in the car rental business — Hertz, Enterprise, Sixt, and more — have outposts in Los Angeles, so you can pick up and drop off your rental at the airport or various other locations in town. I recommend renting a car that interfaces with your phone's map tool so you can navigate unfamiliar freeways and streets with ease.
App-based ride-hailing
Historically, it's been easy to get an Uber or Lyft in Los Angeles. But pandemic circumstances have made this a somewhat more expensive and less reliable proposition — so if you do use a ride-hailing service, allow more time.
Car services like Alto, which employs its own drivers and owns its own fleet, can make for a more comfortable and more reliable app-based option, but it's also more expensive.
View Insider's comprehensive guide to visiting Los Angeles, California.