Los Angeles Metro: How to Use LAX/Metro Transit Center

The LAX/Metro Transit Center is in Los Angeles. For broader trip planning, the guide to getting around Los Angeles without a car covers the wider car-free travel question.

The connection between LAX and the transit center depends on current airport and transit arrangements, so confirm the route before you travel. Metro’s rail and bus fare rules can help you plan the payment side of a trip, but they don’t establish an airport-to-station route.

For the separate journey from the airport, the LAX-to-hotel guide focuses on that transfer.

Metro says the E Line runs between East Los Angeles and Santa Monica, while the D Line runs between Union Station and Wilshire/La Cienega. The rail network has six train lines and 115 stations.

Culver City is an E Line station, with bus lines 33 and 617 as connections there. La Cienega/Jefferson connects with bus lines 38, 105 and 217, and has parking. These are useful connection points to consider when planning a wider Los Angeles journey; confirm current routes before you go.

Metro’s regular one-way fare is $1.75. Its daily fare cap is $5: after you pay for three rides in one day, additional rides are free under the cap. The seven-day fare cap is $18.

You can pay with a TAP card, a physical or digital credit or debit card, or Apple Pay or Google Pay on buses and at rail stations. Metro accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB and UnionPay for tap payment.

Metro says riders who tap to pay receive free transfers within two hours, but round trips aren’t included. Use the same physical or digital credit or debit card throughout the trip to receive that transfer benefit.

Discounted interagency transfers are available within 2.5 hours of the first tap, and children under age six may ride free with a fare-paying adult.

At rail stations, Metro advises arriving 10 minutes early and tapping at a validator or turnstile to enter the platform or waiting area. Check the official site before you go for current fares, payment rules and service details.

Use the transit center as a starting point for checking a route, rather than assuming it serves a particular line or airport connection. Metro’s published line and connection details include stations such as Culver City and La Cienega/Jefferson, while the center’s specific connections should be confirmed directly before travel.

From Skyways Hotel, the transit center is about an 11-minute walk. For station access, fares and connections, verify the current details with Metro before you set out.