Getting Around Los Angeles: Transport Apps & Your First 48 Hours
Los Angeles is famously built for cars — but it's changed. The new LAX people mover finally links the airport to Metro rail, and rideshare covers the rest. The one quirk to know: you can't tap a bank card on Metro, you need a TAP card. Here's what actually works.
The reality: rideshare plus rail
LA is enormous and spread out, so Uber and Lyft are the practical default for door-to-door trips, especially at night. But Metro rail is genuinely useful along its lines — and now reaches the airport — so the smart move is mixing the two.
You need a TAP card — bank cards don't work
Unlike New York or London, LA Metro gates don't accept a direct contactless bank-card tap. Get a TAP card (physical, or in Apple Wallet) and load value onto it via the TAP app or station machines. One fare covers transfers within the window.
Getting in from LAX
The new people mover finally connects LAX to rail
The LAX Automated People Mover links all terminals to the LAX/Metro Transit Center, where you change to the Metro K Line and onward rail — roughly 25–30 minutes to downtown on a single TAP fare. It's a big upgrade over the old shuttle-and-bus routine.
Apps you can reuse
- Uber / Lyft — the default for LA's distances and late nights
- Transit / Google Maps — reliable Metro rail and bus routing
- TAP — stores your transit card and loads value on your phone
Arrived launches soon. Get the right transport setup the moment you land.
Join the waitlistYour first 48 hours
- From LAX, take the people mover to the LAX/Metro Transit Center and the K Line into the city — or grab an Uber/Lyft if it's late or door-to-door is easier.
- Get a TAP card (or add one to Apple Wallet) and load value — bank cards won't work at the gates.
- Keep Transit or Google Maps for routing, and Uber/Lyft for the gaps.
- Mix rail and rideshare by route — rail for long, traffic-heavy hops; rideshare for the rest.
Do those four things and LA's sprawl stops being a problem from the moment you land.
Frequently asked questions
- Which transport app is best in Los Angeles?
- Uber and Lyft are the practical default in such a spread-out, car-centric city. For the rail and bus network, the Transit app and Google Maps both do LA Metro routing well, and the TAP app stores your transit card on your phone.
- Do I need a TAP card for LA Metro?
- Yes — unlike New York or London, you can't tap a contactless bank card directly at LA Metro gates. You need a TAP card (physical, or added to Apple Wallet) and load value onto it. One TAP fare covers transfers within the window.
- How do I get from LAX to the city on transit?
- The new LAX Automated People Mover connects all terminals to the LAX/Metro Transit Center, where you transfer to the Metro K Line and onward rail — roughly 25–30 minutes to downtown, all on one TAP fare. It's a major upgrade over the old shuttle-and-bus shuffle.
- Is Los Angeles easy to get around without a car?
- More than it used to be, but it's still a sprawling, car-first city. Rideshare fills the gaps, and Metro rail is genuinely useful along its lines (and now to LAX). Plan to mix Uber/Lyft with rail rather than relying on transit alone.
- How much is LA Metro?
- A single Metro fare is a few dollars on a TAP card, with free transfers within a time window and daily/weekly fare caps that stop you overpaying. Load value via the TAP app or at station machines.
- Should I just use Uber and Lyft in LA?
- For door-to-door convenience across LA's distances, often yes — especially at night or away from rail lines. But pairing rideshare with the Metro rail (now including the LAX connection) can save real money on longer, traffic-heavy routes.
- What is the FlyAway bus at LAX?
- FlyAway is a long-running express coach service connecting LAX with regional hubs like Union Station and Van Nuys. It's a comfortable, luggage-friendly option, though the new people mover plus Metro rail is now the more flexible transit route into the city.