How to get to Griffith Observatory without a car: take the Metro B Line to Vermont/Sunset, then the DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus up the hill for 50 cents. It runs every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you drive, parking at the top costs money and fills up on weekends. We read the Observatory's getting here page and LADOT's fare page on 1 November 2026.
Ways to get to Griffith Observatory at a glance
| Way | Price | When it runs | Where you get on |
|---|---|---|---|
| DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus | 50 cents cash, 35 cents with TAP | Daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., every 20 to 25 minutes | Vermont/Sunset station (B Line) |
| Drive and park at the top | Paid, rate not listed | Pay Mon to Fri noon to 10 p.m., Sat and Sun 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Lot and roadside spaces by the Observatory |
| Park at the Greek Theatre and walk | Free parking | Not after 1 p.m. on concert evenings | Around the Greek Theatre |
| Rideshare or taxi | By the app | Inbound gates close at 10 p.m. | Drop-off past the horseshoe driveway |
| Hike up | Free | Park open 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. | Trailheads near the Greek Theatre and Fern Dell |
The DASH bus from Vermont/Sunset
Getting there: The DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus starts at Vermont/Sunset station on the Metro B Line. It stops in front of the Observatory on the horseshoe driveway every 20 to 25 minutes, daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It runs even on days the building is closed (Griffith Observatory, getting here page, read 1 Nov 2026)
Price: 50 cents cash, exact change only. 35 cents from stored value on a Metro-issued TAP card. Seniors and people with disabilities pay 25 cents cash or 15 cents with a reduced-fare TAP card. Children 4 and under ride free, up to 2 with a paying adult (LADOT fares page, read 1 Nov 2026)
Subway: The B Line to Vermont/Sunset costs $1.75 (Metro Dodger Stadium page, read 1 Nov 2026). The Observatory says there is no parking in, around or near the station
Note: Other stops on the route: Mt. Hollywood Drive for the park trails, the Greek Theatre, and Hillhurst Avenue in Los Feliz Village (getting here page)
DASH is run by the City of Los Angeles (LADOT), not by Metro. So the DASH fare is separate from your Metro train fare, and DASH rides do not count toward Metro's $5 daily cap (our LA Metro guide, checked 25 Oct 2026). Our tip: load a few dollars of stored value on your TAP card before you leave the station. Then you tap on the bus and do not need coins. The buses have a wheelchair lift or ramp.
On Greek Theatre concert nights the bus still runs, but it can be late. The Greek's season is usually April to October, so this matters less in winter.
Driving and parking
Price: Paid. The Observatory's page did not list the hourly rate on 1 November 2026. Pay stations take credit cards only. There is no time limit and no refunds (getting here page)
Hours: You must pay Monday to Friday from 12 noon to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (same page)
Note: On West Observatory Road, the right lane is for roadside parking and buses. The left lane goes to the main lot. Put your receipt on the dashboard (same page)
The Observatory says parking is busiest on evenings, weekends, holidays, spring break and in summer. Accessible spaces are in the south part of the lot, first come, first served. If they are full, park at the Greek Theatre and take the bus up.
Free parking at the Greek Theatre
If you can walk up to a mile uphill, you can park for free around the Greek Theatre and walk up. This is not allowed after 1 p.m. on concert evenings (getting here page). You can also catch the DASH bus at the Greek Theatre stop instead of walking.
Rideshare and taxi
Note: Drivers drop off in a marked area just past the horseshoe driveway, in front of the lawn. Rideshare cars and taxis may not park at the Observatory at any time (getting here page)
Hours: Griffith Park's inbound gates close at 10 p.m. A driver picking you up must enter the park before then (same page)
This is the fastest way up if you are coming from far away, but the price goes up at sunset when everyone wants to leave at once. The DASH bus is the cheaper way down.
Walking and hiking up
Hours: The grounds and roads are open 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. every day, the same as Griffith Park (Griffith Observatory visit page, read 1 Nov 2026)
Note: Hiking trails start near the Greek Theatre and Fern Dell, with public parking near each trailhead. Trails from the Observatory grounds lead to Mount Hollywood, the Greek Theatre area and Fern Dell (getting here and visit pages)
If you ride a bike, use the paved park roads, not the trails. The Observatory says you can no longer bike up East Observatory Road, which is now one-way downhill. Use West Observatory Road.
Hours and price at the Observatory
Address: 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Hours: Tuesday to Friday 12 noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Monday (Griffith Observatory visit page, read 1 Nov 2026)
Price: Free admission. Planetarium shows are $12 for adults 13 to 54 and $8 for ages 5 to 12, sold only at the Observatory on the day (Griffith Observatory planetarium page, read 21 Oct 2026)
The terraces have the best free view of the Hollywood Sign and the city. Sunset is the busiest time. If you come for sunset, come early or take the bus.
Seeing the Hollywood Sign from here
The Hollywood Sign Trust says Griffith Observatory is a common place to start a hike to the sign viewpoints. It lists the Mt. Hollywood Trail as easy, at 5.3 miles. Its trails are open sunrise to sunset (Hollywood Sign Trust hiking page, read 1 Nov 2026). You cannot touch the sign. More views and the other hikes are in our Hollywood guide.
Getting back down at night
The DASH bus runs until 10 p.m., when the building closes. The Observatory's page gives the hours as 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. but not the exact time of the last bus from the top, so get to the stop a little early. If you miss it, book a rideshare, and remember that the inbound gates close at 10 p.m. On Mondays the building is closed but the bus and the grounds are open.
What we checked and what can change
Read on 1 November 2026: Griffith Observatory's visit page and getting here page; LADOT Transit's fares page; the Hollywood Sign Trust's hiking page; and Metro's Dodger Stadium page for the train fare. Read on 21 October 2026: Griffith Observatory's planetarium page.
Not confirmed: the hourly parking rate, the exact time of the last DASH bus down, and how long the bus ride takes. The Observatory's page still calls the B Line by its old name, the Red Line. Our own advice, not an official source: the TAP tip, the rideshare advice and the sunset timing. Bus times change on holidays and concert nights, so check LADOT for your date. We did not visit for this page.
