How Far Is It From Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood?
Want to know how far it is from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!
So how far is it from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood?
If you’re driving, it’s about a 35 mile drive as long as your GPS doesn’t take you a round-about route due to traffic delays or street closures.
With no traffic at all, I’ve done this drive in about 45 minutes, but that’s pretty rare.
You’d have to be driving late at night or in the very early hours of the morning.
During normal day time driving hours, it should take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half.
I would personally always plan on it taking about an hour and a half because traffic is very unpredictable here.
I also recommend using a GPS even if you know the route because there are so many freeways here that it can optimize the best route based on the current traffic.
We’ve used Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze, etc., and we rarely ever take the same route twice and we’ve been living here for 8 years, so that says a lot.
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How Far Is It From Disneyland To Universal Studios Hollywood?
If you’re driving the most direct route, it is a 35 mile from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood.
Timing wise, it’s usually about an hour and a half, but can be as short as 45 minutes if there is zero traffic at all.
Conveniently, both theme parks are right off the freeway, so you don’t have much added time of waiting at stoplights on the surface streets.
Definitely factor in an extra 15 minutes or so if you’re going to the main parking garages because it can be backed up while entering or exiting.
Best Ways To Get From Disneyland To Universal Studios Hollywood
There are a few ways you can get from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood.
These are the ones we recommend.
1. Driving
The easiest way to get from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood is to just drive.
There’s a map above that shows the optimal route.
In general, you’ll want to take the 5 North to the 101 North and get off at the Universal Studios Hollywood exit, which leads straight into the parking garage.
2. Rideshare
If you don’t have your own vehicle, then taking a ride share service is also a great option.
Since it’s a bit of a drive it’s not going to be the cheapest Uber, Lyft, or taxi ride you’ve ever taken, but it’s cheaper than a rental car and paying for parking (considering you’ll spend about $35 minimum at each parking garage).
Plus if you’re riding with friends, you can all split the cost and it becomes very affordable.
A bonus perk is that you get dropped off much closer to the entrance of the theme parks than if you have to park in the parking garages.
Doing a quick search in the middle of the day on a Tuesday in Winter, I can see that through Lyft, the pricing starts at $54.
Some other options include Lyft XL (a larger vehicle that holds up to 6 passengers), which starts at $80 or the Lyft Black (VIP style), which starts at $160.
Then you have to consider how much you would leave for a tip.
So I would use these numbers as the absolute minimum that it might cost to do this option and keep in mind that during peak hours these numbers could easily double.
3. Public Transportation
I’m putting this option last for a reason, but it’s still an option.
If it were me and I had to take public transportation, this is what I would do:
I would take the Amtrak train from ARTIC (the Anaheim station just down the street from Disneyland) to Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles.
Disneyland has ART buses (Anaheim Resort Transportation) that pick up right outside the park that will take you to ARTIC in about 15 minutes or less.
A one day pass for the ART bus is $6 for adults and $2.50 for children and seniors.
One way tickets on Amtrak are $16 for coach and $26 for business, which takes a little over 45 minutes.
Then, once I’m at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles I would take the Metro B Line to the Universal/Studio City station.
As of now, that’s 12 stops and takes just under 30 minutes.
Metro B Line fares are $1.75 per person and it’s good for unlimited use for 2 hours.
From there, you’ll take the pedestrian bridge across the freeway and walk right up to the entrance of the park.
It’s about a half mile walk, but that’s just how long the entrance to Universal is.
All in all, this option should cost about $25 per person and take a little over 2 hours depending on route times lining up with your arrival times.
If you’d rather take a bus for a portion of the route, then you can use this Metro Trip Planner to map out your route.
It’ll also map out the times for Amtrak and the Metro lines for you too.
Where To Stay Near Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a much smaller property overall than the Orlando location, so there is not an official hotel district.
However, there are a couple hotels that are in the perfect location just outside the front gate.
✅ Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City
This Hilton property is the perfect vacation stay.
There are even rooms with views directly overlooking Universal Studios Hollywood.
👉 Click Here To Book Your Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City Stay Now!
✅ Sheraton Universal Hotel
We personally try to prioritize brand loyalty, when choosing hotels, so if you’re not a Hilton Honors member, consider this Sheraton!
It’s only a 2 minute walk from Universal Studios Hollywood.
👉 Click Here To Book Your Sheraton Universal Hotel Stay Now!
Fun Things To Do Near Disneyland
In addition to visiting the theme parks, you can also visit Downtown Disney and each of the 3 Disneyland hotels.
Interested in visiting other iconic theme parks in Southern California?
Check out our Knott’s Berry Farm One Day Itinerary, located just a few minutes down the road in Buena Park.
If you’re looking to venture out into Anaheim, here are some of our favorite suggestions as locals that have been living here for nearly a decade.
- Best Things To Do In Anaheim (From A Local)
- Fun Things To Do In September
- Fun Things To Do In October
- Fun Things To Do In November
If you’re looking to try some of our local restaurants outside of Disney, here are some of our favorites in Anaheim.
Fun Things To Do Near Universal Studios Hollywood
Other popular activities around LA include Secret Spots In Los Angeles, Winery Day Trips, Hikes, and activities in South Bay.
You can also explore popular restaurants in Los Angeles including the Best Romantic Restaurants, Best Birthday Restaurants, and Best Rooftop Restaurants.
If you’re visiting in the Fall, check out all the Fun Things To Do In Los Angeles In September and October.
Since the pandemic there are a few events that haven’t yet returned like Malibu Wine Safari and Pumpkin Nights, but there’s still plenty to do.
Our favorite yearly activities include Nights of the Jack, Carved at Descanso Gardens, LIGHTS OUT at Pomona Fairplex, and Oktoberfest at Pomona Fairplex.
Lastly, if you’re visiting in the Winter, we highly recommend the LA Zoo Holiday Lights.
There are some Winter favorites that haven’t returned since the pandemic either like Malibu Lights: Winter Nights and Snow Day LA at Elysian Park, but again, there’s still plenty to do that time of year.
Just be sure to check the forecast for snow in Los Angeles because we actually had some recently!
Conclusion: How Far Is It From Disneyland To Universal Studios Hollywood
The direct route is just 35 miles and can take anywhere from 45-90 minutes if you’re driving or ridesharing.
If you’re taking public transportation, plan for at least 2 hours or more.
