Traveling through Los Angeles can feel like a whirlwind, especially when you're navigating the bustling crowds and sprawling cityscape. But if you're looking for an affordable and relatively easy way to get from Los Angeles International Airport to the cruise port of San Pedro, consider hopping on the local bus! On a recent trip, I had the chance to experience this budget-friendly route.
I scheduled my flight to Los Angeles to arrive in LAX the day prior to my cruise embarkation date. I was to board the Grand Princess for my 33-day South Pacific cruise on Thursday October 31, 2024. My Alaska Airlines flight landed on Wednesday October 30th. We taxied to terminal 6 and docked at gate 63. Luggage retrieval was efficient with my small roller bag awaiting my pickup on carousel 63. As soon as I collected my luggage and left the baggage claim area, I made a turn to the right and walked a few feet to the "G" shuttle stop to catch my local bus to San Pedro.
Note:
I do not recommend the local bus if you are traveling with more than a
small roller bag and/or a backpack.
One of the easiest ways to travel from LAX to San Pedro and other parts of Los Angeles is by using the LAX FlyAway Shuttle, a convenient service that operates every five minutes.
I had pre-planned my journey using the CityMapper app, a great resource for public transit routes.
Note: CityMapper is limited to mostly large cities so a good option would be the Rome2Rio app for cities not found in CityMapper.
First you will catch the complimentary shuttle in front of Terminal 6 at the "G" post. This takes you directly to the Aviation Blvd Green Line Station, taking just six minutes. The shuttle is a popular service so you won’t have to wait long, usually 5 minutes.
Once I arrived at the Aviation Blvd Green Line Station I then transferred to a Metro bus.
The bus I was now looking for was the Metro Los Angeles Bus #120, which I took from Aviation Blvd Green Line Station to the Figueroa/Harbor Fwy Station. The bus was scheduled to leave at 12:14 PM. The adult fare is listed at just $2 for a one-way ticket but my Senior Fare was $0.35, a most affordable option for the 23 stop/30-minute ride and a great way to see different parts of Los Angeles.
I arrived at the Figueroa/Harbor Fwy Station around 12:45 PM, where I encountered a small hiccup. A “temporary” bus stop sign was posted ourside of the terminal and even though it was no longer in effect, it caused me some confusion. Luckily a very friendly frequent bus rider pointed me in the right direction. With a quick visit inside the terminal to purchase my TAP card I was ready for the next leg of my journey. A TAP card will run $2 and is reusable for 1 year.
From the Harbor Transitway/Harbor Fwy Station, I transferred to the Metro J Line (Bus 910/950). The 910 bus came first so I opted to take it. It runs every 30 minutes, makes 6 stops and takes 25 minutes. The cost for the senior fare was another $0.35. In retrospect I should have waited for the 950 bus as I ended up making an unexpected second transfer to board the Metro 950 to get to San Pedro.
Note: Take the direct Metro 950 bus from Harbor Transitway/Harbor Fwy Station.
I stepped off the bus at the Beacon/1st Street stop around 1:49 PM and walked a short 7-minute distance (0.4 miles) to my hotel, the Crowne Plaza Hotel LAX Harbor San Pedro. The hotel had my room ready, assigning me room 525.
After settling in I decided to stretch my legs and explore the local area. San Pedro is a charming, lesser-known part of Los Angeles, filled with great dining spots and a relaxed atmosphere.
My first stop was the San Pedro Brewing Company, located at 331 W 6th Street, where I sampled craft beer and enjoyed the cozy ambiance.
Then, I wandered over to Kalaveras San Pedro, a lively Mexican restaurant at 383 West 5th Street, known for its great food and fun vibe. It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon before heading back to the hotel.
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| BBQ Chicken Wrap |
By 4:00 PM, I was back in the room. I ended up staying in, enjoying some snacks I had packed from home, making tea in the room, and unwinding after a long day of travel.
Though it took a few twists and turns along the way, the local bus route from LAX to San Pedro was a smooth and cost-effective journey. If you’re traveling to San Pedro and have minimal luggage, I highly recommend using this method to get there—it’s easy to navigate and gives you a true sense of local life in Los Angeles.
Whether you're visiting the harbor, checking out the dining scene, or just enjoying the laid-back atmosphere, San Pedro is definitely worth the visit.
#TAHITI 2024 #Grand Princess #Nawiliwili Kauai #Honolulu #Pago Pago American Samoa #Apia Samoa #Suva Fiji #Dravuni Island Fiji #Papeete Tahiti #Moorea Society Islands #Raiatea Society Islands
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