LAX to Santa Monica

Your options from LAX Airport to Santa Monica

LAX to Santa Monica: options compared
Option	Duration	Price	Frequency	Luggage
🚌 Big Blue Bus (Rapid 3 / R3)	~40-60 min	from $1.25	Every 12–20 min, ~05:00–23:00	🧳🧳🧳 3/5
🚈 Metro rail (via People Mover)	~50-70 min	from $1.75	APM continuous; Metro rail every ~10 min, 04:00–00:30	🧳🧳🧳 3/5
🚕 Taxi / Uber / Lyft	~20-45 min	from $35-$60	On demand, 24h	🧳🧳🧳🧳🧳 5/5

🚌Big Blue Bus (Rapid 3 / R3)

⏱ ~40-60 min 💷 from $1.25 Luggage: 🧳🧳🧳 3/5

💷 Cheapest

🚈Metro rail (via People Mover)

⏱ ~50-70 min 💷 from $1.75 Luggage: 🧳🧳🧳 3/5

💷 Cheapest

🚕Taxi / Uber / Lyft

⏱ ~20-45 min 💷 from $35-$60 Luggage: 🧳🧳🧳🧳🧳 5/5

⚡ Fastest👨‍👩‍👧 Best for families🌙 Late night

💡 Santa Monica is one of the closer LA destinations to LAX — a taxi/rideshare is quick off-peak.

💡 The Big Blue Bus is a cheap local option if you're travelling light.

💡 Rideshare pickups are at the LAX-it lot.

✈️ Download CityNav before you fly — Los Angeles's transit maps work fully offline, so you can route from the airport with no roaming data.

How much is LAX to Santa Monica?

From $1.25 (Big Blue Bus) or $1.75 (Metro rail); $35-$60 by taxi/rideshare.

How long does it take?

About 20-45 min by road; 40-70 min by bus/rail.

Cheapest way?

The Big Blue Bus, from $1.25.

Best with luggage?

A taxi or rideshare door-to-door — Santa Monica is close.

Late-night?

Rideshare and taxis are 24/7; bus/rail service thins out late.

How do I pay for transit?

TAP card or cash on the Big Blue Bus; TAP/contactless on Metro rail.