The cheapest way from LAX to Santa Monica is Big Blue Bus Route 3 for $1.25. Take the free Metro Connector shuttle from your terminal to the LAX/Metro Transit Center, then ride Route 3 to Downtown Santa Monica in 35 to 56 minutes on a weekday. We read the LAX, Big Blue Bus and Metro pages on 27 October 2026.
LAX to Santa Monica at a glance
| Option | Price | Time from the transit center or lot | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Blue Bus Route 3 | $1.25 | 35 to 56 minutes on weekdays | About every 10 minutes on weekdays |
| Metro K Line + E Line | $1.75 | About 47 minutes on the trains, plus a change | E Line about every 8 minutes on weekdays |
| Rideshare or taxi | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Any time |
| FlyAway bus | Does not go to Santa Monica |
Step 1: the free shuttle to the LAX/Metro Transit Center
The bus and the trains do not stop at the terminals. Everyone starts with a free shuttle.
Getting there: At your terminal, go to the lower arrivals level and wait at a pink LAX Shuttle sign for the Metro Connector shuttle. It runs every day from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m., on average every 10 minutes, to the LAX/Metro Transit Center (LAX, Getting To, From and Around LAX page, read 27 Oct 2026)
Note: Shuttle stops can move during construction at the terminals. LAX says new stop spots are marked with signs
Big Blue Bus Route 3: the cheapest way
Big Blue Bus is Santa Monica's city bus. Route 3 runs up Lincoln Boulevard from the LAX/Metro Transit Center, through Westchester and Venice, to Downtown Santa Monica.
Getting there: Board at the LAX/Metro Transit Center, bays 4 and 5. The bus ends in Downtown Santa Monica at Arizona Avenue and 5th Street (Route 3 timetable, effective 9 August 2026, read 27 Oct 2026)
Hours: Weekdays: first bus 4:45 a.m., last bus 11:10 p.m. from the transit center, about every 10 minutes most of the day. Weekends: first bus 5:30 a.m., last bus 11:10 p.m., about every 15 minutes (same timetable)
Getting there: Weekday trips take 35 to 56 minutes. The early morning and late evening trips are the fastest. Trips around 7 to 9 a.m. take about 56 minutes. Weekend trips take 38 to 51 minutes (same timetable)
Price: $1.25 with a contactless credit or debit card, a phone wallet or a TAP card. $1.50 in exact cash. One free Big Blue Bus transfer within two hours. Children 5 and under ride free (Big Blue Bus fares page, read 27 Oct 2026)
Note: Metro passes are not accepted on Big Blue Bus, says its fares page. Big Blue Bus rides also do not count toward Metro's $5 daily cap (TAP fare capping page, read 25 Oct 2026)
We did not ride Route 3 for this page and found no luggage rule on the Big Blue Bus fares page. Our guess is that a carry-on and one suitcase are fine. With more bags, take a rideshare.
Going back to LAX
Getting there: Board Route 3 at 4th Street and Santa Monica Place, by Downtown Santa Monica station. Weekdays the first bus leaves at 4:50 a.m. and reaches the transit center at 5:25 a.m. Trips take 35 to 68 minutes, and buses leaving around 5 p.m. take the longest. Weekends the first bus leaves at 5:35 a.m. (Route 3 timetable, effective 9 August 2026)
Add the shuttle ride to your terminal and time for security. This is our own advice: leave Santa Monica at least 2 hours 30 minutes before a domestic flight.
Metro rail: the K Line and the E Line
Rail costs a little more and needs one change, but it ends right at Downtown Santa Monica station. Use it if your hotel is near the E Line.
Subway: From the LAX/Metro Transit Center, take the K Line north to Expo/Crenshaw, about 21 minutes (K Line timetable effective 7 June 2026). Change to the E Line west to Downtown Santa Monica, about 26 minutes (E Line timetable effective 14 December 2025)
Price: $1.75 for the whole trip if you finish within two hours, because Metro transfers are free for two hours. Tap the same card or phone each time (Metro fares page, read 25 Oct 2026)
Address: Downtown Santa Monica station is at 4th Street and Colorado Avenue (Santa Monica Pier, directions page, read 27 Oct 2026)
The two train rides add up to about 47 minutes. That number is ours, from the two timetables. It does not include the shuttle or the wait for each train. How to pay, the hours and safety tips are in our LA Metro guide.
Rideshare or taxi: the LAX-it lot
Getting there: Uber, Lyft and taxis pick up at the LAX-it lot next to Terminal 1. Walk there, or take the free LAX-it shuttle from the green LAX-it signs on the lower arrivals level. LAX says the shuttle comes every 3 to 5 minutes (LAX, Taxis section, read 27 Oct 2026)
Price: Not confirmed. LAX's page lists no taxi fare to Santa Monica, and rideshare prices change with demand. Check the price in your app before you book
Rideshare is the easy choice late at night, with a lot of bags, or for a group of three or four. We did not take a rideshare or taxi for this page.
The FlyAway does not go to Santa Monica
Note: The FlyAway bus runs from LAX only to Union Station and Van Nuys, for $12.75 one way. LAX says the Hollywood and Long Beach routes are suspended. Board at the blue FlyAway signs on the lower arrivals level (LAX, Getting To, From and Around LAX page, read 27 Oct 2026)
Union Station is in Downtown LA, the wrong direction for Santa Monica. Skip the FlyAway for this trip.
From LAX to Santa Monica Pier
Route 3 ends at Arizona Avenue and 5th Street in Downtown Santa Monica. From there, walk west to Ocean Avenue and south to the top of the pier. The pier's site says the walk from Downtown Santa Monica station takes about 10 minutes. You can also change to Big Blue Bus 8, which stops at Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue at the pier. The change is free within two hours.
The pier bridge is being rebuilt until the end of 2027. The city says people on foot can still reach the pier, so follow the posted signs. More on the pier, Pacific Park and the beach path is in our Santa Monica guide.
What we checked and what can change
Read on 27 October 2026: LAX's Getting To, From and Around LAX page (shuttles, FlyAway, public transit and taxis sections); the Big Blue Bus Route 3 page and timetable effective 9 August 2026; the Big Blue Bus fares page; Metro's K Line timetable effective 7 June 2026 and E Line timetable effective 14 December 2025; and the Santa Monica Pier directions page. Read on 25 October 2026: Metro's fares page and the TAP fare capping page.
Not confirmed: any rideshare or taxi fare, the Metro Connector shuttle ride time, a Big Blue Bus luggage rule, and drive times. Our own advice, not an official source: the luggage tip and when to leave for a flight. Timetables change, and LAX moves pickup spots during construction. Check the operator's page for your date. We did not take this trip for this page.
