Getting Around Palmdale
Palmdale is a suburban city in northern Los Angeles County, sitting in the Antelope Valley and separated from the Los Angeles Basin by the San Gabriel Mountains. It is a sprawling, car-oriented place, and that shapes how visitors get around: most of the practical options are buses, trains, taxis, and rental cars, with walking limited to specific districts rather than a way to cross town.
By Bus
The city's public bus system is operated by the Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA). Buses run on most major thoroughfares throughout the metropolitan area, so they are a realistic way to reach the main commercial corridors without a car.
- Frequency: Buses arrive on average every 15 to 20 minutes.
- Transfer centers: There are two major transfer points in the city for switching bus lines — one at the Antelope Valley Mall and the primary one at the Palmdale Transportation Center.
- Regional connections: Santa Clarita Transit, the public bus system of nearby Santa Clarita, offers connecting service from the Palmdale Transportation Center. Greyhound Bus Lines also serves the Transportation Center.
- Commuter service: AVTA operates daily commuter bus lines linking the Palmdale Transportation Center with various areas of Los Angeles.
By Train
Rail is primarily a way of getting into and out of the Antelope Valley rather than a tool for moving around within Palmdale. The Metrolink commuter rail system runs the Antelope Valley Line between Lancaster and Los Angeles via Palmdale, with service on both weekdays and weekends.
- Palmdale Transportation Center: Located downtown, this is the metropolitan area's mass-transit hub. It is served by Metrolink and by Amtrak, the national passenger rail carrier, through its Thruway Bus service.
- Vincent-Grade/Acton station: Serves southernmost Palmdale and nearby Acton with commuter rail service to and from Los Angeles, on the same Metrolink line as the Transportation Center.
- Practical note: Aside from arriving in or leaving town, rail service is not particularly useful for local travel, since only a small number of stations serve Palmdale and its immediate neighbor Lancaster.
There is no metro or tram network in Palmdale; Metrolink commuter rail is the rail option available.
By Taxi and Ride-Hailing
Several taxi companies operate in Palmdale. The key practical point for visitors is that taxis must always be called ahead of time — they are rarely in a position to be flagged down on the street as they are in New York City or Los Angeles. If you plan to use a taxi after arriving at Palmdale Regional Airport, there is a pay phone in the terminal that can be used to call one.
By Car
Given the city's suburban layout, a car is the most flexible way to get around. Most major rental car companies have a presence in Palmdale.
- Airport arrivals: There is a phone at Palmdale Regional Airport for contacting rental car companies. The companies do not have lots on the airport site, but they will pick you up and take you to the rental facility, and return you to the airport the same way.
- Rental locations: Avis/Budget on East Palmdale Blvd; Dollar on Auto Vista Dr; Enterprise on West Ave K in Lancaster; Hertz on 10th St W in Lancaster.
- Main routes: California State Highway 14, the Antelope Valley Freeway, is the area's principal north–south route and connects Palmdale with Downtown Los Angeles to the south; to the north it links toward Reno, Nevada via US Highway 395. California State Highway 138 is the principal east–west route, connecting the Inland Empire and the Interstate 5 "Grapevine" area. California State Highway 18 connects the Victor Valley area via CA-138.
Walkability
Palmdale is a suburban city, and the source material describes getting around primarily in terms of buses, trains, taxis, and cars. Walking is not presented as a practical way to cover the city as a whole; visitors should plan on a vehicle or public transport for most trips and treat walking as a way to move around within a single destination rather than between them.
Getting There from the Airport
Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) has no scheduled passenger airline service, so arriving visitors will generally fly into another airport and continue by road or rail.
- Bob Hope Airport (BUR), Burbank: The next closest airport, roughly an hour's drive to the south, served by most major carriers.
- Los Angeles International (LAX), Ontario International (ONT), and Bakersfield Meadows Field (BFL): All approximately the same distance away timewise, assuming no traffic. LAX has the most travel options and is generally the least expensive, but is significantly crowded, with long lines and heavy traffic to contend with. Ontario is much less crowded and easier to use, with traffic that can be bad at times but not nearly as bad as LAX. Bakersfield is likewise easy to use and uncrowded, but has fewer flight options and is generally more expensive, though there is little to no traffic trouble reaching it.
- Long Beach Municipal (LGB) and John Wayne International (SNA): Possible alternates if you are willing to drive a long distance.
- Shuttle service: Shuttle buses operate to and from LAX, costing approximately $70 one way, via Antelope Valley Airport Express (+1 661 945-2529).
- Rail connection: Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line links Los Angeles with Palmdale via the Palmdale Transportation Center, and Amtrak serves the same center through its Thruway Bus service.
Practical Summary
For a visitor, the Palmdale Transportation Center is the anchor of the transit system: it is where Metrolink, Amtrak Thruway, Greyhound, AVTA commuter lines, and Santa Clarita Transit connections come together. Local AVTA buses cover the major thoroughfares and meet at the Transportation Center and the Antelope Valley Mall. Taxis exist but must be phoned in advance, and rental cars are widely available, including pickup service from Palmdale Regional Airport. Since the airport itself has no scheduled airline service, most visitors will arrive through Burbank, LAX, Ontario, or Bakersfield and complete the trip by shuttle, car, or Metrolink.