LAX airport transportation starts with choosing between a road pickup and a public-transit connection. Los Angeles International Airport directs taxi and ride-app passengers to LAX-it, while LA Metro connects the airport terminals with the LAX/Metro Transit Center.
- Taxis and ride-app pickups at LAX use LAX-it, next to Terminal 1.
- The C Line and K Line serve the LAX/Metro Transit Center.
- A free shuttle connects the transit center with all LAX terminals.
What to know before leaving LAX
LAX-it is the airport’s designated central pickup lot for taxis and ride-app services. It is next to Terminal 1, so follow the airport’s LAX-it directions rather than waiting at a terminal curb for a taxi or app pickup.
You can walk to LAX-it or take the free shuttle from the lower, arrivals level. The shuttle boards at the inner curb outside baggage claim, at green LAX-it signs. For other shuttle services, LAX identifies pink zones on the lower level as pickup and drop-off locations.
Before you go, check the official site for LAX pickup instructions and current service details.
Driving, taxi and rideshare options
A taxi or rideshare gives you a direct road-transfer option from the airport. For taxis, LAX permits airport pickups only by vehicles bearing an official seal issued by the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation.
LAX names Lyft, Opoli, Uber and Wingz among its ride-app providers. Once you have your ride arranged, follow the LAX-it signs to the pickup lot beside Terminal 1. LAX is about a 20-minute drive from Mid City Inn motel; traffic and the airport pickup process can affect your total trip time.
Public-transit connections
The LAX/Metro Transit Center is served by the C Line and K Line, and a free, frequent shuttle links it to every LAX terminal. The shuttle boards at bus bays 1 and 2 at the transit center; from the airport, it connects the terminals with the transit center.
Metro’s online line-schedule listing identifies Line 102 as running from the LAX/Metro Transit Center to South Gate via La Tijera Boulevard and Exposition Boulevard.
Line 210 runs between South Bay/Redondo Beach Transit Center and Hollywood/Vine Station via Crenshaw Boulevard. These route descriptions can help you understand the network, but they do not by themselves establish a complete itinerary to the motel.
If you are comparing local rail and bus connections, the Los Angeles Metro stations and routes are relevant to your planning.
Choosing a route to the hotel
For the simplest airport pickup, use LAX-it for a taxi or ride-app vehicle, then travel by road to the motel. If you prefer public transit, first use the free terminal shuttle to the LAX/Metro Transit Center, then plan the onward connection to your destination.
Metro’s C Line, K Line and bus routes provide useful pieces of the local network, but the route details here do not establish a complete trip from the transit center to the motel.
Check current service information and your full route before setting out. For broader advice on getting around the city without a car, Los Angeles public transportation and car-free travel can help frame your options.
FAQs
Where do taxis and rideshares pick up at LAX?
They pick up at LAX-it, the central lot next to Terminal 1. You can walk there or use the free shuttle from the lower arrivals level.
How do you reach the LAX/Metro Transit Center from the terminals?
Take the free, frequent shuttle connecting the transit center with all LAX terminals. At the transit center, the shuttle uses bus bays 1 and 2.
How long is the drive from LAX to the motel?
LAX is about a 20-minute drive from the motel.