Five Transportation Options To and From the Port of Los Angeles

The Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro is the primary point of arrival and departure for almost all cruise services out of Los Angeles. If you’re contemplating booking a cruise in LA, this will likely be your preferred port. Whether you live within driving distance of the Port of Los Angeles or you’ll be flying in from somewhere further, considering how to get to and from the cruise port is a factor you’ll have to consider in your vacation planning.

Planning a family vacation can be overwhelming, but getting the family set up with LA cruise port transportation doesn’t have to be. Many options are available, but you want to choose the best one based on your travel situation.

One thing to consider when choosing a method of transportation is distance. The Port of Los Angeles is approximately a 30-45 minute drive from nearby airports like LAX and Long Beach Airport. The Port is also a 40-minute drive from downtown Los Angeles and about an hour from nearby cities like Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Pasadena. Other things to remember when choosing LA cruise port transportation are your budget and the size of your party.

This article will provide you with five transportation methods to consider and a few tips to help you make an informed decision and get the best out of your LA cruise port transportation experience.

Bring Your Own Vehicle

This option seems like a no-brainer, especially if you live within driving distance of the Port of Los Angeles and won’t be flying in. Why would you call an Uber or use another driving service when you can bring your own car? If you have to leave early in the morning, you can even load your luggage into your vehicle the night before to save time in the morning.

You don’t have to worry about where to park, either. The Port of Los Angeles has an official parking area with over 2,500 parking spots reserved for cruise patrons. This parking area is just minutes from the cruise terminals, and reservations aren’t required. Several hotels in and around Long Beach and Los Angeles also offer cruise parking. Most of them usually require you to stay at least one night with them, though.

However, driving your personal vehicle to the Port of Los Angeles has a couple of downsides. For one, these parking areas aren’t free. You do have to pay to park there. The cost of parking ranges from about $18-$23 a day, which isn’t bad. However, the cost can add up if you’re going to be gone for more than a few days. And if you use hotel parking, you’ll have the extra cost of staying there for at least one night.

Traditional Taxi Service

If you’re going from the airport to the cruise port, using a traditional taxi service is an option since several cab stations are onsite at the Los Angeles area airports. You may have to wait a while if you’re coming from somewhere else, such as a hotel or your home in a nearby city,

Also, taxis generally charge a flat rate if you’re taking a cab from the airport to the Port of Los Angeles. But if you’re coming from anywhere else, the cab fare will vary. A disadvantage to using a taxi service is that it’s one of the more expensive transportation methods.

Rideshare Services: Uber/Lyft

This is one of the more popular LA cruise port transportation methods because it’s convenient, you don’t have to drive yourself, and you don’t have to worry about parking. It’s also cheaper and more convenient than using a traditional cab service. You won’t have to worry about finding or waiting for one like you would with a taxi. You can simply use your smartphone to arrange a ride and receive instructions about where you’ll be picked up.

But keep in mind, ridesharing does charge per person. If you have a larger family or a lot of luggage, you might have to take two vehicles. You may be able to coordinate their arrival at the same time, but it’s not always guaranteed.

Shuttle Services

Using a shuttle service is a good idea, especially if you are coming from the airport or a nearby hotel. Most cruise lines offer a shuttle service to pick you up from the airport and take you directly to the terminal.

However, these services are usually limited. For instance, if your flight arrives several hours before your cruise departure, you may have to wait at the airport for several hours or arrive at the Port hours before your cruise ship can be boarded. If you fly in a day before your cruise, this service will not be helpful as they usually pick up and transport only on the day of the cruise.

Cruise shuttle services usually charge per person, and the rates will vary depending on your cruise service.

Many area hotels also offer shuttle services, especially ones with parking services. Sometimes there may be a small fee for using this service, but most of the time it is free if you’re staying at the hotel.

One drawback to using a shuttle service provided by the cruise line or hotel is that you’ll possibly have to share the ride with other people not in your family or group.

Private Transportation Service

If you want to travel in style and comfort, private transportation is the way to go! It is a luxurious and hassle-free way to get to and from your destination. Private transportation offers a variety of options to suit all of your needs. You can book a car service to take you to the port or rent a private van or bus for larger groups. Private transportation companies also offer luxury vehicles such as limousines and luxury SUVs.

Private transportation is the best LA cruise port transportation option, over ridesharing and traditional cab services, especially if you have a larger group or a lot of luggage. And while private transportation is more sophisticated than a taxi or ridesharing service, the rates often come out cheaper per person, especially if you have a large group.