Getting from LAX to Hollywood takes roughly 45–90 minutes depending on your method. Rideshare averages $55–80 without surge pricing. The most affordable option is the FlyAway bus to Union Station ($12.75) followed by the Metro B Line to Hollywood/Highland station ($1.75). Driving takes 30–45 minutes outside of rush hour.
Most travelers arriving at LAX have the same question: rideshare, public transit, taxi, or something else? The answer depends on your budget, how much luggage you’re carrying, and what time of day you land. Traffic conditions vary, and some routes that look quick on a map take longer during peak hours, so a little planning goes a long way.
This guide covers the most practical ways to make the trip from LAX to Hollywood — the FlyAway bus, rideshare, taxi, private transfer, and rental car — with current pricing and honest travel times so you can choose the best ride before you leave home.
Once you arrive in Hollywood, our award-winning tours depart right from Hollywood Boulevard, bringing you to the city’s highlights with expert guides who know L.A. inside and out. See all tours and departure times here.
Table of Contents
- How Far Is LAX from Hollywood
- Transportation Options from LAX to Hollywood
- Rideshare from LAX to Hollywood
- FlyAway Bus to Union Station + Metro B Line
- Taxi from LAX to Hollywood
- Private Transfer from LAX to Hollywood
- Renting a Car at LAX
- The Cheapest Way to Get from LAX to Hollywood
- The Fastest Way to Get from LAX to Hollywood
- What to Do Once You Arrive in Hollywood
How Far Is LAX from Hollywood
Los Angeles International Airport sits roughly 18 miles southwest of Hollywood by road. The straight-line distance is closer to 11 miles, but no one drives in a straight line in L.A.
Without traffic, the trip runs 30 to 45 minutes. During peak commute hours — weekday mornings and late afternoons — that can stretch to an hour or more depending on your route and mode of transport. If you’re planning your itinerary around an early arrival, it’s worth factoring in some buffer time rather than booking anything too tight after landing.
The most direct driving route follows the 405 North to the 101 North, exiting near Hollywood Boulevard. La Brea Avenue north is a reliable surface street alternative when the freeways are moving slowly.
Transportation Options from LAX to Hollywood
LAX offers more ways to get to Hollywood than most airports offer to anywhere. The right choice comes down to three things: how much you want to spend, how much you’re carrying, and how much flexibility you need. Below is a breakdown of every option, starting with the most popular.
Rideshare from LAX to Hollywood
Rideshare is the most common choice for travelers arriving at Los Angeles International Airport, and for good reason. The Uber app and Lyft both show a fare estimate before you commit, there’s no negotiating, and pickup is straightforward once you know where to go.
One thing worth knowing before you land: rideshare vehicles no longer pick up curbside at LAX terminals. All pickups happen at the LAX-it lot, a dedicated rideshare center a short distance from the terminals. From the lower level of your terminal, follow the signs to the free LAX shuttle — it runs continuously and drops you directly at the lot.
What to expect:
- Cost: $55–80 for a standard UberX under normal conditions
- Travel time: 35–50 minutes outside rush hour, up to 75 minutes in heavy traffic
- Surge pricing: common during peak hours, late nights, and after major events
- Pro tip: Schedule your ride up to 90 days in advance through the Uber app to lock in a fare estimate before you land
For travelers getting around Los Angeles without a car throughout their trip, rideshare works well for airport transfers even if you plan to use public transit once you’re settled in Hollywood.
FlyAway Bus to Union Station + Metro B Line
The FlyAway bus is LAX’s own dedicated airport shuttle service, and it’s one of the most reliable ways to get out of the airport without dealing with rideshare queues or surge pricing. It runs 24-hour service, seven days a week, and boards directly from the lower level of each terminal at the blue FlyAway columns — no separate lot, no shuttle required.
One important note for trip planners: the direct FlyAway route to Hollywood has been suspended and has not been reinstated as of 2026. The active route runs to Union Station in Downtown L.A., where you transfer to the Metro B Line for the final leg to Hollywood.
The full route:
- Board the FlyAway bus from the lower level of your terminal at LAX
- Ride to Union Station (cards and mobile pay only, no cash accepted)
- Transfer to the Metro B Line (formerly the Red Line) toward North Hollywood
- Exit at Hollywood/Highland station, located inside Ovation Hollywood on Hollywood Boulevard
What to expect:
- Total cost: $14.50 per person (FlyAway $12.75 + Metro B Line $1.75) — verify current fare at flylax.com/flyaway-bus before traveling
- Total travel time: 75–90 minutes
- B Line frequency: every 10 minutes on weekday daytimes, every 20 minutes evenings
- Best for: solo travelers and couples traveling light who want the cheapest ride from LAX
- Not ideal for: heavy luggage, families, or anyone on a tight schedule
Purchase your FlyAway ticket online before you travel — the kiosk at Union Station accepts cards, but buying ahead saves time. A TAP card makes the Metro B Line transfer seamless and can be loaded with credit at any station.
Taxi from LAX to Hollywood
Taxis remain a reliable option at Los Angeles International Airport, particularly for travelers who prefer a regulated fare without relying on an app. Unlike rideshare, there’s no surge pricing — the rate is metered and set by the city, so what you see is what you pay.
Pickup works the same way as rideshare: take the free shuttle from the lower level of your terminal to the LAX-it lot, where the taxi stand is clearly marked. No booking required — join the queue and the next available cab is yours.
What to expect:
- Cost: $60–90 including airport fees, depending on traffic conditions and exact drop-off location
- Travel time: 35–50 minutes outside rush hour
- No surge pricing: fare is metered and city-regulated
- Best for: travelers who prefer a predictable, no-app option or are sharing the cost across a group
- Note: confirm the estimated fare with your driver before departing
For groups splitting the cost, a taxi can work out comparably priced to rideshare without the variability of surge pricing. For solo travelers, rideshare will generally come in slightly cheaper under normal conditions.
Private Transfer and Car Services
A pre-booked private car service is the most seamless way to get from Los Angeles International Airport to Hollywood, particularly for travelers arriving after a long flight who want zero friction at pickup.
Unlike rideshare, licensed private car services can meet you curbside at the arrivals level of your terminal — no LAX-it lot, no waiting for a driver to find you in a busy pickup zone. Most services include flight tracking, so your driver adjusts automatically if your arrival is delayed.
What to expect:
- Cost: typically $95–150+ for a standard sedan — confirm pricing directly with your provider at booking
- Travel time: 35–50 minutes outside rush hour
- Pickup: curbside at your terminal’s arrivals level
- Fixed pricing: no surge, no surprises — your rate is confirmed at booking
- Best for: families, travelers with heavy luggage, late-night arrivals, or anyone who wants a guaranteed stress-free start to their trip
If you’re planning to explore Hollywood and L.A. in style, our VIP Private SUV Experience takes that same level of service and extends it into a full guided tour of the city — with hotel pickup, a chauffeur-guide, and a Cadillac Escalade for up to five guests.
Renting a Car at LAX
Renting a car makes the most sense for visitors planning to spend several days in Los Angeles and want the flexibility to get around without relying on rideshare or public transit. For a single trip from LAX to Hollywood, it’s rarely the most practical choice.
At LAX, rental car companies are housed in a consolidated facility roughly 2.5 miles from the terminals. After collecting your bags, follow the purple Rental Car Shuttles signs on the lower arrivals level. Free shuttles run 24 hours a day and arrive every 5–10 minutes. Allow 20–40 minutes from baggage claim to being on the road, depending on wait times and how busy the counter is.
From the rental car center, the most direct route to Hollywood follows the 405 North to the 101 North, exiting near Hollywood Boulevard. In light traffic the drive runs 30–45 minutes. La Brea Avenue north is a reliable surface street alternative when the freeway is slow.
What to expect:
- Cost: varies by company, vehicle class, and booking window — pre-booking online almost always gets a better rate than counter pricing
- Travel time to Hollywood: 30–45 minutes outside rush hour
- Best for: visitors staying multiple days who plan to explore beyond Hollywood — Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, day trips from Los Angeles and beyond
- Parking reality: street parking on Hollywood Boulevard is metered at $3.50–$4.50 per hour with a 2-hour maximum. Nearby garages run $11–$36 for a few hours depending on location and time of day. For a full breakdown of your options, see our guide to parking near the Hollywood Walk of Fame
If you’re planning to spend your first day in Hollywood before venturing further, leaving the car at the hotel and joining one of our guided tours departing from Hollywood Boulevard is a smarter way to cover the highlights without adding parking costs or traffic stress to your first day in the city.
Cheapest Way to Get from LAX to Hollywood
If keeping costs down is the priority, the FlyAway bus to Union Station combined with the Metro B Line is the most affordable way to make the trip. The FlyAway fare is $12.75 and the B Line costs $1.75, bringing the total to around $14.50 per person — a significant difference compared to rideshare or taxi, especially for a group where each person pays individually.
The trade-off is time and convenience. The full journey runs 75–90 minutes and involves one transfer at Union Station. It works well for solo travelers and couples traveling light, but becomes less practical with heavy luggage, young children, or a tight arrival schedule.
To compare ride options across all transportation methods, see the full breakdown above — the right choice depends as much on your travel style as your budget.
Fastest Way to Get from LAX to Hollywood
Outside of rush hour, rideshare and private transfer are the fastest ways to get from LAX to Hollywood, with typical travel times of 35–50 minutes from the LAX-it lot to Hollywood Boulevard.
The difference between the two comes down to pickup process. Rideshare requires the LAX-it shuttle, which adds 15–20 minutes to your journey. A pre-booked private transfer picks you up curbside at your terminal, cutting that wait entirely.
Both options are subject to traffic conditions on the 101 Freeway. During weekday rush hours — roughly 7–9 AM and 4–7 PM — travel time can climb to 60–90 minutes regardless of which service you use. If your flight lands during peak hours, build that into your planning rather than booking anything time-sensitive too soon after arrival.
What to Do Once You Arrive in Hollywood
Hollywood Boulevard is where most first-time visitors get their bearings, and for good reason. The Walk of Fame stretches along Hollywood Blvd through the heart of the neighborhood, with the TCL Chinese Theatre, Ovation Hollywood, and the Dolby Theatre all within easy walking distance of each other.
Getting oriented is straightforward — most hotels and transport drop-offs put you within a few blocks of the main action. The challenge for most visitors is figuring out how to see everything efficiently without spending half the day navigating traffic or searching for parking.
Our award-winning Hollywood tours depart directly from Hollywood Boulevard and cover the city’s highlights — from celebrity homes in Beverly Hills to the Santa Monica Pier — with expert guides who know L.A. inside and out. If you’re visiting for the first time and want to make the most of your time, it’s the most efficient way to see the city from day one.
