For the first time, travelers can ride a train most of the way to LAX. The LAX/Metro Transit Center opened on June 6, 2026, connecting Los Angeles Metro rail and a wall of bus lines to a free shuttle that runs into every terminal at Los Angeles International Airport. For an airport long defined by its gridlocked horseshoe roadway, that is a real change in how you can arrive, and it lands just as summer crowds and the 2026 World Cup push LAX toward its busiest weeks of the year.
The catch worth knowing up front is that the train does not yet pull up to the terminals. A free airport shuttle bridges the final stretch while the SkyLink people mover finishes testing. Used well, the new connection can replace a stressful drive or an expensive rideshare. Used blindly, it can add time you did not budget. Here is how it actually works, what it costs, and who should take it.
What opened at LAX on June 6
The LAX/Metro Transit Center is a new rail and bus station at 9225 Aviation Boulevard, just east of the airport. It links two Metro rail lines to LAX for the first time. The C Line now runs from Norwalk to the transit center as its final stop, and the K Line runs from Expo/Crenshaw through the station to Redondo Beach. A dedicated airport shuttle then carries riders from the station into the Central Terminal Area.
That shuttle is the part travelers care about most. According to Metro’s official transit center page, the free shuttle runs every 10 minutes between the station and all LAX terminals and drops passengers on the lower arrivals level of each terminal. The buses are marked Metro or Metro Connector and board from Bus Bays 1 and 2 at the station. Outside of peak gridlock, the hop between the station and the terminals takes only a few minutes.
- What opened: the LAX/Metro Transit Center, a Metro rail and bus station next to LAX
- Opened: June 6, 2026
- Rail lines: Metro C Line (new final stop) and K Line
- Terminal link: free LAX shuttle every 10 minutes to all terminals, lower arrivals level
- Metro fare: $1.75 per ride, capped at $5 per day; the terminal shuttle is free
- Still pending: the SkyLink train directly into the terminals, in testing as of June 2026
How to take the train and the free shuttle
Start with fare. A single Metro ride costs $1.75 and includes free transfers for two hours, and Metro’s fare capping stops charging once a rider reaches $5 in a day or $18 in a week. Pay with a TAP card, a TAP card loaded into Apple Wallet, or, since May 29, 2026, a contactless credit or debit card tapped directly at the gate. The terminal shuttle itself costs nothing.
From there the sequence is short. Ride the C or K Line to the LAX/Metro Transit Center, follow signs to the bus plaza, and board a shuttle marked Metro or Metro Connector at Bus Bay 1 or 2. The shuttle stops at each terminal on the lower level, the same curb used for arrivals and pickups. Bags are welcome on both the train and the shuttle, and the station is fully accessible, with elevators and ramps.
Going home works in reverse. From your terminal, catch the same shuttle on the lower level, ride back to the transit center, and connect to the C or K Line. The one habit to build is a time buffer. A shuttle every 10 minutes is frequent, but a missed connection plus a train wait can add 20 to 30 minutes, so check your airline’s check-in and bag cutoffs before you commit to the train on a tight departure.
What it costs versus driving or a rideshare
The money case is where the train gets interesting. A one-way rideshare from Downtown Los Angeles to LAX often runs $40 to $70 before tip and surge, and airport pickups route through the off-site LAX-it lot. Parking is worse for longer trips, with airport lots commonly charging about $20 to $40 a day. The same train and shuttle trip tops out at $5 for the day under Metro’s fare cap, with the shuttle free. For a solo traveler on a week-long trip, that gap is large enough to notice. For a family of four with luggage, a rideshare or a parking stay may still win on convenience.
| Option | Typical one-way cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Metro C or K Line plus free shuttle | $1.75 to $5 daily cap | Solo and budget travelers, lighter bags, no tight connection |
| Rideshare to LAX-it | $40 to $70 or more | Groups, late nights, heavy luggage, tight timing |
| Drive and self-park | About $20 to $40 per day | Short trips where a car waits at home |
When the SkyLink train will replace the shuttle
The shuttle is a stopgap. The permanent link is SkyLink, the elevated electric train LAX has been building for years. Per Los Angeles World Airports, SkyLink will run 24 hours a day and free along a 2.25-mile guideway with six stations, three inside the Central Terminal Area and three outside it, including stops at the LAX/Metro Transit Center, the Rental Car Center, and economy parking. During peak hours the trains are designed to arrive every 2 minutes and cross the system in about 10 minutes.
The wait is the problem. As of June 2026, SkyLink remains in testing and has not opened to the public, after years of delays on a project first targeted for 2023. Testing trains began running on a full schedule without passengers earlier this year, a phase the system must clear before riders can board. Until it opens, the free shuttle is the only link between the transit center and the gates, which is exactly why a time buffer matters today.
- SkyLink opening: still in testing as of June 2026, with no public opening date confirmed
- Rental Car Center link: SkyLink will connect the consolidated rental car facility; until then, rental shuttles still run from the terminals
- Off-peak frequency: the shuttle runs every 10 minutes, but late-night gaps can be longer
- The eventual handoff: when SkyLink opens, it replaces the shuttle for the leg between the station and the gates
Who should take the train, and who should not
The new connection rewards solo travelers, couples, and anyone with a carry-on who values a fixed cost over a fast curb. It is strongest from neighborhoods already on or near the C and K Lines, and during the summer and World Cup weeks when the airport roadway backs up for blocks. The 2026 World Cup runs through July 19, with several busy match windows in the Los Angeles area, which is precisely when skipping the horseshoe pays off. For more on the airport’s summer load, see our look at the best and worst airports for World Cup travel.
It rewards others less. Travelers with multiple checked bags, families with small children, red-eye arrivals after the trains stop, and anyone facing a tight check-in window will often be better served by a rideshare or a parking reservation. If the decision comes down to cost, our guide to beating record airport parking prices this summer lays out the other side of the math.
For decades, Los Angeles was the rare global city where you could not take a train to its main airport. That gap is closing. The terminal shuttle is a temporary bridge, and SkyLink will make the trip faster once it opens, but the larger shift is already here. As of June 2026, getting to LAX no longer has to mean sitting in traffic, and the smartest summer move is to know your options before you reach the airport rather than after.
Is the LAX/Metro Transit Center open?
Yes. The LAX/Metro Transit Center opened on June 6, 2026, connecting Metro’s C and K Lines to LAX through a free terminal shuttle.
How much does it cost to take Metro to LAX?
A single Metro ride is $1.75 and fares cap at $5 per day, and the shuttle from the LAX/Metro Transit Center to the terminals is free.
Does the train go directly into the LAX terminals?
Not yet. A free shuttle carries riders from the LAX/Metro Transit Center to each terminal until the SkyLink train opens to the public.
Is SkyLink open yet?
No. As of June 2026, SkyLink remains in testing and has not set a public opening date.
For broader planning, compare this update with Deep Arrival’s airline baggage fees guide.
