LAX to Manhattan Beach: How to Make the Trip

Manhattan Beach sits in the South Bay, south of El Segundo and north of Hermosa Beach. The city’s visitors’ bureau describes it as three miles south of LAX, so the airport and beach city are close on the regional map.

For the hotel, LAX is about an 11-minute drive from Manhattan Inn & Suites motel. The trip can take longer on foot, at about 111 minutes, so plan around your preferred mode of transport and check current airport pickup arrangements before setting off.

Driving, a taxi and a ride-app pickup are direct ways to travel from LAX to Manhattan Beach, but airport pickup locations matter. At LAX, taxis and ride-app vehicles pick up at LAX-it, the central lot next to Terminal 1; you can walk there or take the free shuttle.

LAX permits airport pickups only by taxis bearing an official seal issued by the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation. For scheduled buses, the airport directs passengers to wait beneath the orange Shared Rides signs on the Lower/Arrivals Level in front of each terminal.

Airport ground-transport operations and loading areas can change. Check the official site before you go, particularly for the latest pickup locations and information from LAX.

Beach Cities Transit Line 109 links the LAX City Bus Center with Manhattan Beach and continues to Redondo Beach Riviera Village. In Manhattan Beach, the route primarily serves Manhattan Avenue, and county records include stops at Manhattan Avenue and 4th Street.

LA Metro Line 232 also serves Manhattan Beach Boulevard on its route between Downtown Long Beach and the LAX City Bus Center, via Sepulveda Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway.

To reach the LAX/Metro Transit Center, Metro’s travel information names the C or K Line and bus Lines 102, 111, 117, 120 or 232. A free, frequent shuttle connects the transit center’s Bus Bays 1 and 2 with all LAX terminals.

Metro’s regular fare is $1.75. Transfers are free within two hours when you tap to pay. For another look at local connections after you arrive, how to get around Manhattan Beach by transit covers the city’s public transport.

Line 109’s LAX-area service runs almost every 30 minutes from 6:00 a.m. to 7:15 p.m., with a modified weekend schedule. Bus schedules and airport arrangements can change, so check the official site before you go for current service details.

Choose your route based on how directly you want to travel and whether a transit connection fits your arrival. If you’re taking a taxi or rideshare, go to LAX-it; if you’re taking a scheduled bus, use the orange Shared Rides signs on the Lower/Arrivals Level.

For public transit, Line 109 provides a direct bus connection between the LAX City Bus Center and Manhattan Beach. Metro Line 232 is another route to the airport bus center and serves Manhattan Beach Boulevard. If an airport shuttle is part of your plan, how LAX airport shuttle options work can help you compare the relevant services.

Before settling on a transit itinerary, check the current schedules and airport pickup locations. LAX warns that construction has changed ground-transport operations and loading areas, so confirm your terminal’s arrangements before you travel.

Manhattan Beach is a coastal destination with more than two miles of ocean frontage, 115 acres of sandy beach and a 900-foot pier.

The county lists more than 450 public parking spaces in lots and on streets, along with ADA parking, an access mat, a beach wheelchair, a beach ramp and restrooms. Lifeguards are present during daylight hours, and fishing is permitted on the pier all year.