How do I get from the airport to Los Angeles?

LAX is 18 miles southwest of Downtown Los Angeles, but in this city that number tells you nothing useful. A 15-mile ride to Santa Monica takes 25 minutes at 10am or 90 minutes at 5pm on the 405. The 65-minute gap between off-peak and rush hour matters more than any fare comparison. If you're staying in Downtown, Hollywood, or Koreatown, take the FlyAway bus to Union Station. It costs $9.75, departs every 30 minutes from the lower arrivals level, and makes the 50-minute trip on the 110 in air-conditioned comfort. From Union Station, Metro B Line trains reach Hollywood/Highland in 16 minutes. Buy a TAP card at the vending machines for $2 and load rides at $1.75 each. The Metro K Line also connects to LAX through the Automated People Mover, which is useful if you're staying along the Expo corridor near Culver City or Mid-Wilshire.

For Santa Monica, Venice, or anywhere on the Westside, a rideshare is the practical choice. Uber and Lyft pickups at LAX leave from a designated area on the arrivals level. Follow the pickup signs from baggage claim, or take the free shuttle from your terminal. Wait times tend to run 5-15 minutes, though Friday evenings and holiday weekends push past 20. Budget $30-45 to Santa Monica, $35-50 to Beverly Hills, $45-60 to Hollywood. Taxis at LAX use flat-rate fares set by city ordinance, not meters. $50 to Downtown, $42 to Beverly Hills, $35 to Santa Monica. The rates are posted at every taxi stand outside arrivals, and they're non-negotiable. If a driver quotes higher, walk to the next cab. You'll step into the dry warmth of the LAX curb, catch the smell of jet fuel and hot concrete, and within 10 minutes on Lincoln Boulevard the salt air off the Pacific replaces all of it.

Do not rent a car at LAX on your first day. The rental center sits 3 miles from the terminals, the shuttle adds 20-30 minutes, and then you're merging onto the 405 in an unfamiliar vehicle during the heaviest freeway traffic in North America. Rent on day 2 from a neighborhood location after you've slept. If your flight arrives between midnight and 5am, the FlyAway still runs hourly to Union Station, but a $40-55 rideshare is worth it to avoid World Way at 2am, where overhead departures shake the air every few minutes. Mind you, LAX is not your only option. Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) sits 14 miles closer to Hollywood than LAX does. If your airline offers BUR, you can be at the North Hollywood Metro B Line station within 20 minutes of landing, for under $20 by rideshare.