As one of the most-visited destinations in the world, Los Angeles boasts numerous transportation options. Thanks to an abundance of airports, freeways and other options, planning your Los Angeles transportation isn’t difficult, although getting to and around Los Angeles without traffic might be! Hop aboard, as we explore the transportation options for Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.
Transportation To Los Angeles
Whether you drive or fly depends largely, of course, on where you’re coming from and how many passengers you will have with you in your frog squad. Larger families with a lot of tadpoles may find it’s more economical to drive, but you should always factor in the additional cost of gas and food while on the road. And leapin’ lily pads, you should know that California has some of the highest gas prices in the country. Once you get over the shock at the pump, the Los Angeles area does have a massive freeway system. That makes Los Angeles fairly easy to get to and more car-based than other cities, so bringing your own car can help you save on flights and a rental car.
Los Angeles Area Airports
Courtesy of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
If you’re flying to LA, you have an abundance of options. The two biggest airports are Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or John Wayne Airport (SNA), although depending on your origin, you may find the smaller airports to have more competitive rates or to be more convenient from your departing airport. At 12 miles away, John Wayne is just a hop, skip and jump away from Disneyland, although Long Beach is only a bit longer jump at 18 miles away. Burbank is closer to downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood than LAX.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Courtesy of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
John Wayne Airport (SNA)
Long Beach Airport (LGB)
LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)
Traveling Between Los Angeles and San Diego
Courtesy of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
For travelers planning to visit both Los Angeles and San Diego (about 120 miles away), it is usually much cheaper and easier to rent a car or hop on a train rather than fly between the two cities. All aboard! Amtrak operates from the historic Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles, and makes stops in several Orange County cities (including Anaheim) before making it to San Diego’s Santa Fe Depot (also historic), a journey of about three hours. If you’ll be hopping in a car, it can take two to four hours to travel between the two cities, depending on traffic.
Transportation Around Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a very large city that covers about 469 square miles, so the most popular way of getting about is by car. Residents of Los Angeles are very attached to their cars and the immense freeway system for traveling around Los Angeles and neighboring Orange County. If you’re taking a trip to Los Angeles, you