How to Get Around Los Angeles Without a Car

Metro rail and local buses give you a way to cross Los Angeles without relying on a car for every trip. Metro’s rail network has 115 stations, and each station connects with Metro bus service.

The rail lines span a range of city destinations: the A Line runs between Pomona and Long Beach; the B Line between Union Station and North Hollywood; the C Line between Norwalk and LAX/Metro Transit Center; the D Line between Union Station and Wilshire/La Cienega; the E Line between East Los Angeles and Santa Monica; and the K Line between Expo/Crenshaw and Redondo Beach.

Bus routes can fill in journeys between rail stations and neighborhoods. Line 4 runs between Santa Monica and Downtown LA via Santa Monica Boulevard, while Line 20 makes the same endpoints via Wilshire Boulevard. Line 2 runs between Westwood and Exposition Park via Sunset Boulevard.

For trips through West Hollywood, Line 10 runs to Downtown LA via Temple Street and Melrose Avenue, and Line 16 runs to Downtown LA via West 3rd Street. Check current route and service details before choosing a connection; the Los Angeles Metro stations and routes near Mid City Inn include station context for the area.

Metro riders can pay with a TAP card, the TAP app, or supported contactless bank cards and mobile wallets. The regular one-way fare is $1.75, and tap-to-ride fare capping limits the total to $5 per day or $18 over a 7-day period; after you pay for 3 rides in one day, additional rides are free.

When you tap to pay, transfers within 2 hours are free, but round trips are not included. Metro accepts physical or digital Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB and UnionPay cards, as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay, at bus validators and rail stations.

A physical TAP card costs $2 at TAP vendor locations and at vending machines at Metro Rail, J and G Line stations. You can also use the TAP app.

Metro buses accept cash, but buses without all-door boarding require exact change; cash transfers are not included, and Metro Rail requires a credit, debit or TAP card. Children under age 6 may ride free with a fare-paying adult.

Metro’s official app provides real-time arrivals, step-by-step directions and service alerts, while online line schedules and maps can help you compare routes. Fares, payment rules and service can change, so check the official site before you go.

Walking can connect this area to rail stations, though the available walk times are longer than the corresponding car trips. Farmdale takes about 28 minutes to reach on foot, and Wilshire/La Brea takes about 31 minutes.

Some cultural destinations have substantial walking times from the area: the Los Angeles County Museum of Art takes about 43 minutes on foot, while the Petersen Automotive Museum takes about 44 minutes. The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures each take about 45 minutes on foot.

For longer trips, use Metro lines and buses to connect neighborhoods, and compare the full journey in the official app or online maps. The route options include rail links to Santa Monica, North Hollywood and Downtown LA, alongside bus services that travel between major areas.

Los Angeles city centre is about 11 minutes by car from the area. Los Angeles International Airport is about 20 minutes by car, while Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport is about 19 minutes by car. The LAX-to-Mid City Inn journey is another trip to plan.

Metro says all buses and rail lines are wheelchair accessible, and each rail station has a ramp, walkway or elevator to the platform. Buses and trains make automated stop announcements; stations have Braille and tactile signage, and platforms have textured edges and yellow warning poles.

Metro recommends arriving 10 minutes early for a train and tapping a TAP, credit or debit card at a validator or turnstile to enter the platform or waiting area.

If an elevator is out of service, Metro says riders may take a bus to the next station at no cost; its accessibility guide points riders to service alerts for elevator outages.

Can you get around Los Angeles by Metro?

Yes. Metro rail connects 115 stations, and Metro bus service connects each station. Rail and bus routes serve destinations across the city, including Santa Monica, Downtown LA and West Hollywood.

How much is a Metro ride?

The regular one-way fare is $1.75. Tap-to-ride fare capping limits charges to $5 per day or $18 in a 7-day period.

Does Metro offer free transfers?

Yes. Transfers within 2 hours are free when you tap to pay, but round trips are not included.