How Far Is It From LAX To Universal Studios Hollywood?
Want to know how far it is from LAX to Universal Studios Hollywood? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!
So how far is it from LAX to Universal Studios Hollywood?
If you’re driving, it’s about a 25 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 25-30 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 45 minutes to an hour.
I would personally always plan on it taking about 45 minutes or more because traffic is very unpredictable here.
The biggest hurdle is getting out of the airport, which could take upwards of 30 minutes of traffic before your 45 minute drive would start.
I 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 LAX To Universal Studios Hollywood?
If you’re driving the most direct route, it is a 25 mile drive from LAX to Universal Studios Hollywood.
Timing wise, it’s usually about 45 minutes, but can be over an hour depending on how long it takes you to get out of the airport.
Conveniently, both LAX and Universal 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 15-30 minutes or so when leaving the airport because it gets backed up quite a bit.
Best Ways To Get From LAX To Universal Studios Hollywood
There are a few ways you can get from LAX to Universal Studios Hollywood.
These are the ones we recommend.
1. Drive
The easiest way to get from LAX to Universal Studios Hollywood is to just drive.
Depending on traffic, your GPS will send you one of two ways.
One option is to take the 405 North to the 101 South and get off at the Universal exit.
When taking the 405 North, you could also cut across the 10 East, take the 110 North, and then take the 101 North to the Universal exit.
Another option that is highlighted below is to take the 105 South, to the 110 North, to the 101 North, and then get off at the Universal exit.
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 at Universal).
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 park than if you have to park in the parking garage.
Doing a quick search in the middle of the day on a Wednesday in Winter, I can see that through Lyft, the pricing starts at just below $70.
Some other options include Lyft XL (a larger vehicle that holds up to 6 passengers), which also starts at $70 or the Lyft Black (VIP style), which starts at $135.
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.
Also, to get picked up at the airport by a rideshare service, you may have to walk a little to the pickup lot at Terminal 1.
On the Lyft app it says if you order the Lyft Black or Lyft Black SUV they can pick you up at any terminal, so just read the instructions carefully.
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 LAX FlyAway Bus from LAX to Union Station in Downtown LA.
One way tickets are $9.75 and the bus picks up every 30 minutes.
It can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes to get to Union Station, depending on traffic.
They have a real time schedule on their app and website, so you can plan out your timing once you arrive at LAX.
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 $11.50 per person and take an about an hour or an hour and a half 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 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 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 LAX To Universal Studios Hollywood
So now you know, it’s only about 25 miles from LAX to Universal Studios Hollywood.
Whether you’re driving, taking a rideshare service, or taking public transportation, you can expect to get from one place to the other in anywhere from 45 minutes to 90 minutes.
