Right in the middle of Los Angeles, I reside in a two-bedroom home. I’m aware that if I moved to the suburbs, I could have a bigger house for my family, but I’m just not interested.
World-class museums, parks, restaurants, and shopping centers are all within walking distance of my house; driving there in congested traffic would be agonizing.
All of this serves to emphasize that the LA traffic problem is real. Because of how dispersed the city is and how it sometimes seems like it’s always rush hour, your trip can quickly become ruined if you don’t have a strategic plan for getting around. Using scale Even though the distance from the beach to a concert in the city is only about 15 miles, frustrating traffic can make the trip take up to 90 minutes.
I advise travelers to make reasonable itineraries based on travel time and to plan ahead. The majority of people who want to be nimble should plan to travel by car. The best ways to travel to and through Los Angeles are listed below.
Airport of Los Angeles International (LAX)
Large international airport LAX is serviced by 69 airlines, including all major carriers. It is simple to enter and exit the city in this way. But getting to, from, and through LAX can be frustrating due to the ongoing construction and congested traffic.
My advice: If you’re willing to go the additional step, the LAX ride-hailing lot for Ubers and Lyfts now needs a shuttle trip. However, I advise calling an Alto if you’re arriving after a taxing journey, traveling with young children, or have accessibility needs. You may be picked up at the curbside or at the baggage claim by this carrier and other black-car services.
Various nearby airports
Given its size and scope, LAX is probably the greatest option for most passengers, but for others, smaller regional airports might improve the journey.
A new ultra-low-cost airline called Avelo is also served by Southwest and JetBlue at the Hollywood Burbank airport. Southwest, American Eagle, Delta, JetBlue, and Long Beach Airport are all served. Depending on your itinerary, using John Wayne Airport in Orange County may save you money or time. I recently traveled there to catch a flight since it had nonstop service to Missoula, Montana, whereas LAX did not.
Transportation in general
Although Los Angeles has a robust public transit system that includes buses, trains, and subways, travelers should be aware that given the size and expanse of the city, it may not get them wherever they need to go. Like myself, the majority of people rely on a vehicle to travel about town more conveniently.
If you decide to use public transportation, you may plan your route using the Metro Trip Planner tool. I also suggest downloading the Move Metro Los Angeles smartphone app for assistance using the system while on the go.
The basic fare for all transport services is $1.75. Additionally, day admissions cost $7, and weekly permits cost $25. Keep in mind that you must load your ticket onto a reusable Metro TAP card, which you can purchase at any station, in order to ride the Metro Rail and Metro Orange Line.
car lease
I don’t necessarily suggest that everyone traveling to LA hire a vehicle. However, I do advise everyone to have access to a vehicle in order to make certain trips more possible – ride-hailing will often work, but if you want to travel any significant distance, it may rapidly add up to hundreds of dollars over many days.
If you do decide to hire a vehicle, all the main car rental companies have sites in Los Angeles, including Hertz, Enterprise, Sixt, and more. As a result, you can pick up and return your vehicle at the airport or a number of other places across the city. I advise renting a vehicle that connects to the map app on your phone so you can easily navigate new motorways and streets.
ride-hailing with an app
In the past, finding an Uber or Lyft in Los Angeles has been simple. However, pandemic conditions have made this a somewhat more costly and less dependable proposition; as a result, give yourself extra time if you utilize a ride-hailing service.
Although more costly, car services like Alto, which hires its own drivers and manages its own fleet, may provide a more dependable and pleasant app-based choice.