Buses, Los Angeles

For $3, you can now take a luxury bus between LAX and Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. From Union Station, you have access to the metrorail, trains and buses. Check the site below for updated schedules & prices.

The first time I was ever at the Los Angeles Greyhound station was August 2003. I prepaid for my ticket at home in Colorado and was told to pick it up at the LA station an hour before departure. I was glad to see a seperate line for will call, as I was a bit late and the regular line had abt 10 ppl in it.

As for the station itself - it was a DUMP. By far the worst one I have been to (I have been to abt 10 stations in Southwestern US.) I highly recommend you NEVER take you eye off your bag. The people in the station were abt as dodgy as the station itself.

*If you are going to/from Union Station (where the metro rail and Amtrak are) you'll need to take a cab. I took the LAX shuttle between the two for $7.

The DASH bus system in Downtown Los Angeles is extremely efficient and a great way to make little hops around the city. It goes to all the major tourist spots (Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Santee Alley, MOCA, etc.) and many major hotels & business places (Bunker Hill, Financial District, etc.). On weekends there is one called "Downtown Discovery" that will take you on a circle tour of the city. It also goes out to USC and the museums at Exposition Park. DASH is extremely clean, mostly frequented by business people & locals, and is completely safe. The drivers are very friendly & will help you find your way.

The best part: it's 25 cents, with a free transfer!

in a jiffy! Well, maybe not rocket fast but somewhat convenient is the Metro bus 460 going from downtown LA to steps away from the main entrance of Disneyland. It is advantageous to catch the 460 by 5th and Grand Ave, close to the Bunker Hill Steps to catch a good seat before the crowd stumbles in.

The cost one way is $2.55* (2011 update- around, may be a little higher. Will have to follow up), a little higher because public transit on the freeway is at a premium in L.A. If you have a $6 Metro pass, you have to pay an extra dollar to board if you want to go on the freeway. However, you can just pay $1.50 or show your pass and ride if staying within L.A. before the freeway (like, for a 5 min trip going to Staples Center by 11th and Figueroa. Warning!: This bus does get packed everyday. Tourists will have to compete with locals on the bus. Often it is standing room only but still the convenience to D-Land or downtown LA (and also to Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park) is worth the jam.

Fares are subject to change! Check MTA website for the latest

*

460 Map: http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bus_overview/images/460.pdf

The relatively recent FlyAway bus offers tremendous convenience for $7 each way.

There are direct buses to either Union Station, Van Nuys and Westwood.

Drivers were not only courteous but, in the case of one character, very entertaining! What a great way to get into an entertainment mood in fantasy L.A.-L.A. land.

I used the Union Station line since it allowed me to travel from LAX and transfer to subway, bus and Metro Rail lines. This line also operates later than the other two.

***This is a good option if there is construction work being done on the Metro Rail lines on a weekend, disrupting normal service***

If going from LAX to Union Station you pay after the ride. Just disembark and turn towards the ticket booth.

If you are a sports fan, one of the musts of a stay in Los Angeles is to visit Chavez Ravine and see a baseball game or concert at Dodger Stadium but that is much easier said than done.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Metro Bus Service will offer Dodger Stadium Express bus service from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to Dodger Stadium beginning today (April 1) and throughout the 2010 regular season under a grant from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC).
Service will be provided starting 90 minutes prior to the beginning of the games and will end 45 minutes after the end of the game.
Service will be provided every 10 minutes prior to the start of the game and run approximately every 30 minutes throughout the game.
Dodger tickets will be honored as fare payment to ride the service. Those without a ticket will pay regular one way fare of $1.25.
Metrolink and Amtrak trains are available and Metro operates many bus lines that serve Union Station where patrons can easily transfer to the Dodger Stadium Express.

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Located on the East end of Union Station is a huge area where there is bus system to pick up and drop off called Patsaouras Transit Plaza at the MTA Gateway Center. It is a very lovely area with many wonderful architeture features. It's nice to see such a pleasing area.

Union Station
800 N. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245)

Buses
LADOT Transit (213, 310, 323, 818) 808-2273
Commuter Express (West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Fernando Valley, Simi Valley, South Beach, San Pedro and other surrounding communities)
DASH 1-213-808-2273 (Downtown Los Angeles and surrounding areas)
City Hall Shuttle, San Pedro Electric Trolley and Bunker
Hill Trolley (Provide various employee sponsored shuttles in the downtown LA)
Antelope Valley Transit Authority 1-661-945-9445 ext.200 (LA/Palmdale/Lancaster)
Foothill Transit 1-800-RIDE-INFO (743-3463) (San Gabriel/Pomona Valleys)
Metro Buses 1-800-COMMUTE (266-6883) (L.A. area)
1-213-626-4455 (Outside Los Angeles area)
Orange County Transportation Authority 1-714-636-RIDE (7433)
(San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Irvine, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach)
Santa Clarita Transit 1-661-294-1287 (Santa Clarita)
Santa Monica Transit (Big Blue Bus) 1-310-451-5444 (Santa Monica Freeway Express)
Torrance Transit 1-310-618-6266 (Long Beach)

Airport Shuttle Buses
New FlyAway fares become effective January 1, 2009, and include a new lower rate for seniors 65 years and older. Children under age 2 ride for free.

Metropolitan Express 1-800-266-6883 (1-800-COMMUTE)
Primetime Shuttle 1-800-733-8267 $14.00/person*
Super Shuttle 1-310-782-6600 $13.75/person*

*Above fares are approximate from Union Station to LAX. These shuttles also serve other regional airports and destinations.

Most definitely rent a car when visiting L.A.! There are many places and things to see and they are very far apart. My daughter was visiting my sister there a while back and she waited an hour for a bus at a designated bus stop and finally someone walking by told her that the bus never shows up - ever!