Public Transportation and Taxi
Transportation from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Pasadena
Please see U.S. Airport Arrival section.
Public Transportation
Los Angeles and surrounding areas. The Metro includes rail and bus lines to get you in and around the Los Angeles area. Metro riders must purchase a re-loadable Transit Access Pass (TAP) card for fare payment. Discount (subsidized) TAP cards are available for purchase at the Caltech Bookstore when you show your Caltech ID.
Pasadena and surrounding areas. Pasadena's public transportation includes the Pasadena Bus (ligne 10 stop at Caltech), the Metro Gold Line, and Foothill Transit. Foothill Transit serves the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. Bus lines link Pasadena to Pomona and Claremont via Arcadia, Azusa, Duarte, and Glendora. Line 501 serves North Hollywood to Pasadena.
For updated information about getting around Pasadena without a car, click this link.
Pasadena Transit is offering the Caltech population free bus transit in Pasadena. To take advantage, you need to get a Try Transit pass added to your TAP card.
Caltech and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The Caltech Transit Guide provides an on-campus as well as off-campus transportation guide for the Caltech community. More information about public transportation options and subsidies can be found on the Parking website.
Caltech/JPL Shuttle is available for individuals traveling between JPL and Caltech (7 miles). However, this shuttle is for occasional official business trip only, as opposed to daily trips to/back to Pasadena. The schedule is here. A JPL badge or Caltech identification is required and must be shown upon entering the shuttle.
Taxis and Cab Companies
The trip from Los Angeles International Airport to Pasadena may take between 45mns to 1.5 hour, depending on the traffic.
The approximate cost of this trip is $80-$90, without a tip.
Here is the list of authorized cab companies:
Authorized Taxicab Supervision (ATS)
United Independent Taxi Drivers (UITD)
United Taxi of San Fernando Valley (UTSFV)
DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this website is for general information only. Caltech does not endorse or recommend any of the organizations listed.