Getting Around Long Beach
Long Beach sits on the coast in southeastern Los Angeles County, roughly 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, and it is served by a mix of local buses, a light rail line into Los Angeles, seasonal water transit, taxis, and ride-hailing. A car is the most convenient way to reach the widest range of places, but several compact districts — especially downtown and the waterfront — are easy to explore on foot, by bike, or by bus.
Rail and Metro
The backbone of rail travel in Long Beach is the Metro A Line, formerly known as the Blue Line. It is Los Angeles's first light rail line and runs between 7th Street in Downtown Los Angeles and Downtown Long Beach, with onward connections from the Los Angeles end to Hollywood, Union Station, Universal Studios, Pasadena, and East L.A., among other destinations. Amtrak and Metrolink serve Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles, so the A Line is the link between Long Beach and the wider regional rail network.
To ride, you need a TAP card, a rechargeable electronic card usable across the different transit systems. TAP cards can be purchased at any Metro station. The A Line runs from early morning until late at night, with trains arriving frequently through the day. Bicycles are allowed on Metro Rail with restrictions during peak hours. Note that the A Line passes through some inner-city neighborhoods such as Watts and Compton, and not all trains have dedicated security guards, so some visitors may find it uncomfortable to ride late at night.
Buses and Local Transit
Long Beach Transit (LBT) is the main local bus network, covering Long Beach and nearby areas, with service to destinations including Belmont Shore, Alamitos Bay, and Cal State Long Beach. Buses generally run from around 5 AM to 1 AM, with headways ranging from about every 15 minutes to every hour depending on the route. The one-way cash fare is $1.25, and a day pass costs $5.00. Buses are fully accessible and carry bike racks on a first-come, first-served basis.
Downtown, the Passport is a free shuttle serving the core downtown area — a handy option for short hops between downtown hotels and attractions. Real-time tracking is available through Google Maps or the official LBT and Metro apps.
- Long Beach Transit — local buses across the city and nearby areas; $1.25 cash fare, $5.00 day pass.
- Metro A Line — light rail linking Downtown Long Beach with Downtown Los Angeles and beyond; requires a TAP card.
- Passport — free downtown shuttle.
- TAP card — rechargeable card usable across systems, sold at Metro stations.
Water Transit and Ferries
In summer, water taxis and the AquaLink/AquaBus operate between the Queen Mary and Alamitos Bay Landing, connecting waterfront attractions such as Shoreline Village, the Queen Mary, and Alamitos Bay. These seasonal services run on daytime schedules and cost $5.00. All shuttles and water taxis are bicycle-friendly.
For a longer trip on the water, the Catalina Express offers year-round ferry service to Catalina Island from the Downtown Long Beach Landing.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis can be hailed on the street, though this is uncommon; more often you will find them at taxi stands or order one by dispatch. Typical short trips run about $10–$25 on the meter, tip excluded. Uber and Lyft are widely available throughout the city and are generally the easiest on-demand option for visitors.
Walking and Cycling
Long Beach is a bike-friendly city with dedicated lanes and paths, including Shoreline Aquatic Park and the Long Beach Beach Path. Bike share stations are available city-wide, and private rentals can be found as well. Kayaks and paddleboards can be rented in Alamitos Bay and the Naples Canals. Motorcycle and scooter rentals are uncommon and often require license endorsements.
The most pedestrian-friendly areas are Downtown — including the Promenade, Pine Avenue, and Shoreline Village — along with Belmont Shore, Naples Island, and Bluff Park. These districts reward exploring on foot, and the free downtown Passport shuttle helps connect them.
Driving and Parking
If you plan to cover a lot of ground, a car is the most convenient way to get around. Most areas of Long Beach have free parking, but much of Downtown Long Beach and the shoreline use pay parking lots. Metered street parking is handled through kiosks or the ParkMobile app, and there are multi-story garages downtown; watch for street-sweeping restrictions. Rush-hour congestion is heaviest on weekday mornings and late afternoons.
Car rentals are available at Long Beach Airport from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, and National, and Enterprise, Avis, and Thrifty also have non-airport locations around the city. Renters generally must be at least 21 (with a surcharge under 25), hold a valid license and a major credit card, and are advised to book in advance.
Major east–west streets include Ocean Blvd, 2nd Street, Broadway, 4th Street, 7th Street, Anaheim Street, Pacific Coast Highway, Willow Street, Spring Street, Wardlow Road, Carson Street, Del Amo Blvd, South Street, and Artesia Blvd. Major north–south streets include Santa Fe Avenue, Pacific Avenue, Long Beach Blvd, Atlantic Avenue, Orange Avenue, Cherry Avenue, Redondo Avenue, Lakewood Blvd, Ximeno Avenue, Bellflower Blvd, and Studebaker Road. One of the trickier traffic points is the Los Alamitos Traffic Circle, where Pacific Coast Highway and Lakewood Blvd meet.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Long Beach can be reached from three of the five airports in the Los Angeles metropolitan area: Long Beach Airport (LGB), which is within the city; Los Angeles International (LAX), about 22 miles away; and John Wayne (SNA) in Santa Ana, about 23 miles away. All three sit adjacent to Interstate 405. Burbank (BUR) and Ontario (ONT) are farther out and less convenient.
Long Beach Airport (LGB) is the most convenient location-wise and, being a smaller airport, involves less hassle; it is primarily served by Southwest Airlines, with additional service from Delta Connection and Hawaiian. Rental cars are available at the airport, which is best for local and regional travel around Southern California. Long Beach Yellow Cab is another option, with approximate fares to downtown hotels of $30–$40 one-way. Long Beach Transit Route 111 (Broadway/Lakewood) connects the airport to Downtown Long Beach and to the Metro A Line at the downtown Transit Mall, running south to downtown hourly. To find the bus stop, follow the taxi signs, walk one block beyond the taxi lineup, and turn right — and be sure to ask whether the bus goes downtown, since both northbound and southbound Route 111 buses use the same stop at LGB.
Los Angeles International (LAX) offers more frequent service, more destinations, and often better fares, but it is farther away. To reach Long Beach by transit, take the 111 bus from LGB to the Downtown Long Beach Transit Center, then the Metro A Line to the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station, transfer to the westbound C Line to the LAX/Aviation Station, and connect to the airline terminals via the shuttle bus. Note that the LAX Flyaway bus no longer runs to Long Beach.
John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County is about the same distance from Long Beach as LAX, though in the opposite direction, and is somewhat less busy. City buses are limited for longer trips into Orange County and require multiple transfers, so renting a car — which you will probably need anyway — or booking a shuttle service are better options for getting into Orange County.
Practical Tips
- Allow buffer time at the airport: about three hours before departure at LAX, and 1.5–2 hours at LGB or SNA.
- Use Google Maps or the official LBT and Metro apps for real-time transit tracking.
- In an emergency, call 911. Major hospitals include Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and St. Mary Medical Center.
- Long Beach is earthquake country: if the ground shakes, drop, cover, and hold on. There is a low tsunami risk with coastal warning systems in place, and wildfire smoke is sometimes possible.