?I will be in the LAX for about 7 hours. Can I get out of LAX and check out part of the City (Bakersfield: car rental)

[joseanto071]

I will be in LAX at around 5pm, but my plane won't actually take off till 1am the next day. Long story, I will be taking a bus from Bakersfield to LA and well the latest bus will drop me off at around 5pm. It's cheaper to fly from LAX than bakersfield even taking a bus ride down to LA.

I really wanted to check out places like Koreatown and Little Tokyo, however I know just about nothing about LA and public transportation or the taxis or buses available. Also I am guessing maybe the city wouldn't be so safe to be in and going around these places would be a drag since I would have to carry my luggage.

Well also the other part to this question, is it a good idea to venture to other parts of the city or check out the city while waiting for your flight? I would like to check it out, but if it's really unsafe or really inconvenient, I can just stay inside the airport and read, or play my Nintendo 3DS or something.

[afdinatl]

The airport has a shuttle that will take you to the nearest subway

[saybanana]

You said you are coming from Bakersfield but didnt say where it drops you off. It if is at Union Station you can easily take the Metro subway Purple line/Red line into Koreatown (10-15 minute ride). There isnt much to sightsee there. A few old buildings but it is mostly known for eating/drinking. From Union Station you can take the Gold Line into Little Tokyo (1 Stop) or Chinatown 1 stop (2 minute ride). Both the places are safe. Koreatown if you stay on Wilshire. Little Tokyo is safe. So are many parts of Downtown so you can walk around and check it out like Grand Park or Walt Disney concert Hall. Down Broadway/Spring Street or LA Live/Staples center or the outside wall art of the Arts District. Or even Hollywood Blvd on Red line (25 minutes). Just outside of Union Station is historic Olvera Street and oldest part of LA city I think. Very nice to see. All these places are safe, have lots of people walking around. You just have to be aware of your surroundings and people trying to scam. If someone gives you a CD, dont take it. Or needs your phone to make a call, dont give it. There are some mentally ill homeless and those on drugs around but especially downtown in/nearer Skid Row, so just be aware. Not so much a problem in Little Tokyo or parts of Koreatown.

LA Metro bus and rail system is easy to get around (not sure with a lot of big luggage on the bus since it is crowded and thin aisles but have done it with just a carry on and a backpack). You will need to get a reusable TAP card ($1 sold at machines when buying ticket). $1.75 more for a one way trip with 2 hrs free transfers to other bus/rail in system but NO free reverse trips meaning you cant take #2 bus exit and return on same # bus thinking it is free transfer. Same goes for the subway. It will likely charge you again so thats $1.75 plus $1.75. I only say that cuz I see it all the time with people enter and exit same system and say I have 2 free hours. They get mad and just go back to machine and pay again for 1 way trip.

You can take the LAX flyaway shuttle from Union Station leaves every 30 minutes (check out their website to see times and prices.)

I see people walk around with luggage getting on/off the subway. Subways have escalators and elevators to get your luggage up and down. Hope it helps.

[RollyMop]

I think you can easy to see the Santa Monica with Uber too, it is not so far

[I_Play_Poker]

I don't know why we have this question to answer ... it is from 2015???

[Marieleia]

The airport has an available shuttle service that will take you to the nearest subway station.

[westminster88]

Originally Posted by I_Play_Poker

I don't know why we have this question to answer ... it is from 2015???

because you topped it, duh

[VLWH]

Originally Posted by I_Play_Poker

I don't know why we have this question to answer ... it is from 2015???

Originally Posted by Marieleia

The airport has an available shuttle service that will take you to the nearest subway station.

Well the post is 7 years ago. But we are talking about LAX so the OP may still be stuck on the 405 or TSA screening.

[atler8]

Originally Posted by saybanana

You said you are coming from Bakersfield but didnt say where it drops you off. It if is at Union Station you can easily take the Metro subway Purple line/Red line into Koreatown (10-15 minute ride). There isnt much to sightsee there. A few old buildings but it is mostly known for eating/drinking. From Union Station you can take the Gold Line into Little Tokyo (1 Stop) or Chinatown 1 stop (2 minute ride). Both the places are safe. Koreatown if you stay on Wilshire. Little Tokyo is safe. So are many parts of Downtown so you can walk around and check it out like Grand Park or Walt Disney concert Hall. Down Broadway/Spring Street or LA Live/Staples center or the outside wall art of the Arts District. Or even Hollywood Blvd on Red line (25 minutes). Just outside of Union Station is historic Olvera Street and oldest part of LA city I think. Very nice to see. All these places are safe, have lots of people walking around. You just have to be aware of your surroundings and people trying to scam. If someone gives you a CD, dont take it. Or needs your phone to make a call, dont give it. There are some mentally ill homeless and those on drugs around but especially downtown in/nearer Skid Row, so just be aware. Not so much a problem in Little Tokyo or parts of Koreatown.

LA Metro bus and rail system is easy to get around (not sure with a lot of big luggage on the bus since it is crowded and thin aisles but have done it with just a carry on and a backpack). You will need to get a reusable TAP card ($1 sold at machines when buying ticket). $1.75 more for a one way trip with 2 hrs free transfers to other bus/rail in system but NO free reverse trips meaning you cant take #2 bus exit and return on same # bus thinking it is free transfer. Same goes for the subway. It will likely charge you again so thats $1.75 plus $1.75. I only say that cuz I see it all the time with people enter and exit same system and say I have 2 free hours. They get mad and just go back to machine and pay again for 1 way trip.

You can take the LAX flyaway shuttle from Union Station leaves every 30 minutes (check out their website to see times and prices.)

I see people walk around with luggage getting on/off the subway. Subways have escalators and elevators to get your luggage up and down. Hope it helps.

You seem to be well up on lot's of aspects of info which is helpful.

My thought for the op is that what he does with his baggage has got to be of concern. Dragging it around on sidewalks is not a cool way to explore.

Our memories of Union Station are fuzzy because we were last there in 2017 as we returned an LAX car rental to a drop of location there (very well hidden underground and difficult to figure out, by the way! We then headed up the coast via Amtrak.

I don't recall the left luggage locker situation in the station for someone who may want to stash their bags for a few hours. We have wondered about that as we've considered more Amtrak travel out of Union in the future.

[Pro1000]

This thread is from 2015 but in general if anyone has a layover that's five hours or more can grab a taxi or Uber to Manhattan Beach that's just south of LAX.