Getting from LAX to Westwood/UCLA
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the closest airport to UCLA campus (approximately 12 miles away), and there are a variety of options for transportation from LAX to Westwood:
Shuttle Services operate continuously and can take you to UCLA for approximately $16 to $25. To catch one of these, go to the outer lanes and talk to one of the shuttle dispatchers. They will usually be able to put you on a shuttle within 15-20 minutes. Super Shuttle is one of the larger companies- they have dispatchers at LAX between 08:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
Fly Away Buses provide daily nonstop bus service — one-way and roundtrip — between Westwood and LAX. The stop is next to UCLA Parking Structure 32 on Kinross Avenue, two blocks north of Wilshire Blvd., just west of Gayley Ave. Buses depart every hour on the hour from Westwood and LAX (both directions simultaneously) between 6 a.m. - 10 p.m., seven days a week. Cost is $10 each way (Credit Card payments only).
Taxis (e.g. Yellow Cab) can be picked up curbside (inside lanes), right outside baggage claim. Fares to UCLA from LAX are about $40, including a $2.50 airport tax.
Buses are the most affordable option for transportation between LAX and UCLA/Westwood, although the least direct. The bus will take about 1 hour to get to Westwood. To take the bus, you need to take the LAX Airport Shuttle bus to the Transit Center, and there catch the number 3 Big Blue Bus to campus. Cost for entire trip- only $1.00! We do not recommend this type of transportation for students staying in UCLA housing because the bus stop is far from the check-in location.
You can view routes and schedules at www.BigBlueBus.com or use the trip planner at www.metro.net.
Early Arrival
On-campus Housing Early Arrival and/or Stay Over
Early arrival space prior to the scheduled first day of your Summer Sessions Housing Contract is limited and there is no guarantee that space will be available. It is best to plan your arrival for the Sunday before your summer program begins. However, students who must arrive early to Rieber Hall or the Saxon Suites must contact the Rieber Hall Front Desk at (310) 825-2275 to discuss the possibility of an early arrival arrangement. Cost for early arrival or stay over after the last day of your Summer Sessions Housing Contract is $41.00 a day and does not include meals
University Apartments Early Arrival and/or Stay Over
Early arrival space prior to the scheduled first day of the C Session of the Summer Sessions Housing Contract is currently not available. For more updated details see Apartments Move-In information.
If you are not able to arrive on the check-in day and have scheduled an earlier flight, you can choose one of the hotel options nearby UCLA. Our Hotel Directory will give you quite a few choices of places to stay until the check-in day.
Getting Around on Public Transportation
Public transportation in Los Angeles has a bad reputation, but fortunately the system in and around the Westwood area is better than its reputation. There are three different bus operators in the Westwood/UCLA vicinity, and each have stops close to campus:
Big Blue Bus - The Big Blue Bus lines travel primarily to areas west of UCLA, and hence are the first choice if you want to go to Santa Monica, Venice, Pacific Palisades, the Getty Center etc. They also operate an express line that takes you from Santa Monica to downtown LA. You can catch the Big Blue Buses at the Hilgard and Ackerman Terminals or down in Westwood Village.
The fare on these buses is $1.00 per ride or a BruinGo Flash Pass can be purchased for $33 from the UCLA Transportation Office. Passes allow unlimited rides and transfers on all Big Blue Bus lines.
MTA - These buses go west of UCLA to Beverly Hills, Hollywood, downtown LA, Burbank, et. The regular fare is $1.50. Transfers are 50 cents. You can catch lines 2, 3, and 302 west of the campus, behind the Saxon Suites. Other lines can be caught on Wilshire and Westwood, or east of the campus on Hilgard.
Culver City Buses - These buses go south of UCLA. Routes and schedules can be found online.