LAX to Sunset Blvd Transfer options - help please?
 

Hi all,

Going in circles a bit looking at ground transport from LAX to The Roxy Theater on Sunset Blvd.

Flight lands at 5:15PM and trying to get there by 8-8:30pm-ish on a Thursday night.

Also trying to avoid the cost of a Taxi.

Supershuttle/Blue Van/Shared ride thing is an option, but worried it will make too many stops/take too long.

Would a Flyaway bus to either Westwood or Union station then cab be worth it? Looks like I might save $20-30 over a cab the whole way, but what would it mean in terms of time?

Don't know LA at all, so I'm a little lost, but I'm sure the FT braintrust will have the answers at the tip of your fingers.

Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks!

R

You can take Flyaway to Westwood and take the local bus to Sunset. It's a bit of a schlep but you'll get there in about 2 hours.

Assuming you don't have luggage, you can be at curb side LAX by about 5:30. Take the Flyaway bus to Westwood (leaves every 30 minutes): http://www.lawa.org/welcome_LAX.aspx?id=292

Traffic will be bad at that time so you'll get the Westwood in about 75 minutes... maybe more.

From the Flyway station at Westwood (an UCLA garage), walk a few block north to catch the Metro #2 or #302 bus (whichever comes first). Get off right in front of Roxy... I'll let Google tell you the details:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...h&z=14&start=0

Bus #2 and #302 are the same... #2 stops every stop. #302 at at only intersections and doesn't stop mid-block. Take whichever one shows up first... they are not that different in terms of speed. Also the buses are orange.

Also, print out this time table: http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bu...es/002-302.pdf

Very good info - much appreciated.

Would a Taxi be any better in terms of speed?
Any idea how much it might cost?

(And while I"m at it, do you hail taxis on the street or have to call them?)

Thanks again!

Definitely a taxi will be a faster option. I live just south of the Roxy in West Holllywood and I take La Cienega Blvd going or coming from LAX - without traffic it takes about 30 minutes. At 5:30PM on a weeknight I would definitely avoid the freeway and take La Cienega - I guess that it would take about an hour in very heavy traffic.

At LAX there's a taxi stand. (And in town you have to call one, as opposed to hailing one).

Regarding cost, with little traffic the fare usually costs me about $45. I'm not sure how much more will be added for wait time in traffic.

I'd definitely tell the driver "take La Cienega". Google Map showing route on La Cienega It's an interesting drive in the beginning, you pass through hills with oil wells - it's where they shot some of "LA Confidential". Then it's just an ugly surface street with lots of traffic lights - but infinitely better than taking the 405 frwy.

If you can spare the $45, the taxi is the best option.

And if you pronounce La Cienega right, they won't know you are a tourist!

Say it all like one word with no accented syllables - lah see ehnah gah

It took my wife and me about an hour to get from an LAX hotel to Westwood (UCLA campus) at rush hour, leaving about 5 p.m. I think we paid about $50 (the theatre is further, I believe). The FlyAway bus takes a bit longer, once you finally leave LAX (remember, you have to wait for the bus to arrive-- make sure you don't get on a FlyAway bus to Van Nuys or Union Station), stop at other terminals, and then take Sepulveda Blvd. a ways before getting onto the freeway. It stops at a UCLA parking garage on the edge of Westwood Village. It does have a set departure schedule you can find on the FlyAway Web site, http://www.lawa.org/welcome_LAX.aspx?id=292. If you take the FlyAway bus as far as Westwood, I'd take a taxi from there to the theatre.

Google Maps says 1 hr. 20 mins. in rush hourj to get from LAX to the theatre.

I did see a Web site you could use to estimate taxi fares. You might do an Internet search. I would not rely on a shuttle (Supershuttle or Primetime) in this situation, since you don't know how many other stops it will have to make until you get to your destination.

Taxi from LAX to Roxy is about $45+. You might get there in about 1.5 hour during rush hour. Here is a handy rate guide for you: http://www.beverlyhillscabco.com/?page=3

If you take the Flyaway bus to Westwood as I suggested, you can take a taxi from Westwood to Roxy, instead of local bus. That will probably run you about $30. There are taxi stands in Westwood Village so you don't need to phone one. Also, there will be taxi waiting at the W Hotel just one block east as well... it's not difficult to find taxi waiting at Westwood.

Catching a taxi on Sunset Blvd after hours is not that difficult either. There will be plenty of them circling looking for people coming out of bars. And of course, the best place to catch a taxi in LA (in general) is to walk up to a hotel. There is always taxi waiting there. But in case you are stuck somewhere far from a hotel, you could always call for a taxi. I recommend Beverly Hills Cab: 1-800-273-6611

A word of warning about the Flyaway bus. It runs pretty much on schedule, but, sometimes it fills up and won't take any more passengers so you are left to wait for the next bus.

That could be a problem for you. And no way to predict--but, it you are arriving at one of the terminals after, say Tom Bradley Int. in the loop might be better to cab it.

Thanks very much everyone!

Very good info to throw into the hopper.

I guess I'll see how long it take to get out of the terminal and decide.

I'm also looking at a SuperShuttle too. I kind of hate them in NY with all the extra stops and potential waits, but it might be a good balance between time and cost.

Thanks again!

Just to ask the obvious (to an Angeleno) question....

Why not Priceline an econo car (which would be cheaper than *any* cab option) and drive yourself?

Then take La Cienga Blvd. North to San Vicente Blvd. North, hang a left at Sunset and the Roxy's two blocks or so.

Is there something magic about public transit that I'm missing?

I think the OP is a New Yorker so that's what he is used to. For what it is worth, I'm a local and I would definitely take the 302 bus to Sunset rather than drive and try to find parking. But I'm one of those "weird" people in LA that actually has a bus pass in my wallet... The only thing that will sway me towards driving from LAX to Sunset is if I have a lot of luggage, even then, the decision comes down to whether or not I'll need a car for the rest of my visit as opposed to just trying to get to Sunset. If the OP has a short trip, taxi is better than driving. You can easily triple your rental car expenses in valet parking in LA.

Or upgrade your $16 PL econo car for $10-15 at the counter for a Cadillac?

I love that you're a public transportation supporter - seriously.

But just wanted to add - I just drove past the Roxy and this time paid attention to those guys who wave the neon flashlights in front of the parking lots - and saw that the cost was $5. (It's been years since I saw a show there. Alright... it's been decades since I was there).

And may I just take this opportunity to say.... it was FREAKING HOT TODAY!!!! The news said that the temperature downtown broke a record, at a whopping 113F. (Think of the poor souls in the Valley!). And right now, at 10:30 at night it's still very warm, 88F. MAN!