Welcome to the bubble.
Four square miles of comfortable beach life surround by reality. Getting here is easy. Leaving is hard.
Flying Here
With Los Angeles International Airport (see the official LAX website) just 10 minutes north, flying to Manhattan Beach is easy from anywhere in the world. Once on the ground, it’s easiest to use a ride-hailing service (Uber, Lyft and Opoli serve LAX) or grab a taxi. In most cases, these services now use the LAX-it lot next to Terminal 1 for pickups. Look for the frequent LAX-it shuttles under the green sign outside baggage claim if you are not in Terminal 1.
There are public transportation options by bus (look for Los Angeles Metro bus #232 or Beach Cities Transit bus #109), but these currently require taking an airport shuttle bus to the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station (the LAX People Mover is under testing as of this writing!).
Check the LAX Transportation page for more information and other transportation options at LAX. You can also find the latest changes there as we undergo large construction projects to prepare for the 2028 Olympics.
| From LAX by: | Time to MB Pier: |
|---|---|
| Ride-hail or Taxi | 20 minutes |
| Public Bus | 45 minutes |
| LA Metro Train | 60 minutes |
Public Transportation? In Los Angeles?
Until sixty-five years ago an extensive rail network criss-crossed Los Angeles. The Pacific Electric Railway Company, also know as the Red Cars, was the largest electric subway system in the world in the 1920s and connected four counties. But as automobiles became part of the Los Angeles fabric, the system was slowly dismantled.
But as freeways became more crowded, the need for a modern rail network was obvious. The first segment of LA Metro rail opened in 1990, taking passengers from downtown Los Angeles south to downtown Long Beach. The system has grown remarkably since then. With six lines and 110 stations, it carried 69 million passengers in 2025.
Manhattan Beach access to the rail network consists of two stations in adjacent cities: El Segundo and Redondo Beach. The El Segundo station is just a block north of Manhattan Beach’s Rosecrans Corridor.
While the automobile still rules the commute in Manhattan Beach, LA Metro rail and bus lines, now make it possible to explore all of the Los Angeles area from Manhattan Beach using public transportation.
Driving to Manhattan Beach
Los Angeles is known for it’s crowded freeways, but it’s not so bad if you avoid peak times (7:30A to 9:30A in the mornings and 4:30P to 6:30P in the evenings).
The 405 (in case you haven’t seen The Californians skit on Saturday Night Live, we put the word “the” in front of our freeways here) is the closest freeway to Manhattan Beach. Exit at Inglewood Blvd heading south, then take a quick right turn on Manhattan Beach Blvd. You’ll then be at our beautiful pier overlooking the Pacific Ocean in about 10 minutes. If you’re heading to North Manhattan Beach, take the Rosecrans Ave exit and head west.
Walking & Biking
Don’t believe the song “Nobody walks in L.A.” Here in Manhattan Beach there are few joys like a sunset stroll down The Strand, a wide, paved, flat path that runs the length of the city adjacent to the beach. In fact the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, as it is officially known, stretches 22 miles from Will Rogers State Beach in Pacific Palisades at the north end, to Torrance Beach at the south end. In Manhattan Beach, the walking and biking trails are separated for safety.
Walking is also a great option for getting around our small town, too. Staying at Shade downtown, and want to eat at historic Pancho’s in North Manhattan Beach, just take a one-mile (1.6K) walk up The Strand and take in the view of the waves and the stunning beach front properties. Or if you are staying at westdrift Hotel in east Manhattan Beach and want to grab a steak at Slay Steak & Fish House downtown, you’ll enjoy the half-hour walk down the shady chip trail on our greenbelt, which arcs from the Manhattan Village Mall to the south end of town and beyound.