December 15, 2024
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7 min read
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Sustainable Travel
48 Hours in LA Without a Car: Beaches, Food & Culture
Metro, Bird scooters, and beach bikes! Your complete car-free weekend guide including costs, routes, and what to pack.
🚇 Your Car-Free Transportation Arsenal
🚇
Metro Rail
$1.75/ride
🚲
Beach Bikes
$15-25/day
🛴
E-Scooters
$0.50/min
🚶♂️
Walking
Free!
🌅 Day 1: Beach & Boardwalk Adventure
Morning (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
Base: Start from Marina del Rey
- 8:00 AM: Rent beach cruiser bike at Marina del Rey ($20/day)
- 8:30 AM: Bike south on The Strand to Manhattan Beach (6 miles)
- 9:30 AM: Coffee at Manhattan Beach Brewing Company
- 10:30 AM: Bike north to Venice Beach via strand (9 miles)
💡 Bike Tip: The Strand is mostly flat with dedicated bike lanes. Pack water and sunscreen!
Afternoon (12:00 PM - 6:00 PM)
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at Venice Beach Boardwalk (lock bike)
- 1:00 PM: Explore Venice Boardwalk on foot - street art, performers
- 3:00 PM: Walk to Abbot Kinney Blvd (0.5 miles) for shopping
- 4:30 PM: Bird scooter to Santa Monica Pier (2 miles, $6-8)
- 5:00 PM: Santa Monica Pier - games, aquarium, Ferris wheel
Evening (6:00 PM - 10:00 PM)
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at Santa Monica - pier restaurants or Third Street
- 8:00 PM: Bike/scooter back to Marina del Rey (3 miles)
- 9:00 PM: Evening walk around Marina del Rey harbor
Day 1 Cost: ~$35 (bike rental + food + scooter)
🎨 Day 2: Culture & City Exploration
Morning (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
- 9:00 AM: Bus 108 to Aviation/LAX Metro station (25 min, $1.75)
- 9:30 AM: Green Line to Metro Center, transfer to Red/Purple Line
- 10:30 AM: Hollywood/Highland station - Walk of Fame, TCL Theatre
- 12:00 PM: Lunch in Hollywood - In-N-Out or local spots
🎭 Culture Stop: Free Hollywood Bowl Museum or browse Hollywood & Highland shops
Afternoon (1:00 PM - 6:00 PM)
- 1:00 PM: Red Line to Pershing Square (downtown LA)
- 1:30 PM: Explore Grand Central Market - food hall paradise
- 3:00 PM: Walk to Arts District (1 mile) - galleries, murals
- 4:30 PM: Metro Gold/Purple Line back toward coast
- 5:30 PM: Return to Marina del Rey area
Evening (6:00 PM - 10:00 PM)
- 6:30 PM: Dinner at Marina del Rey - waterfront restaurants
- 8:00 PM: Sunset at Burton Chace Park (walking distance)
- 9:00 PM: Harbor cruise or evening marina walk
Day 2 Cost: ~$25 (Metro day pass + food)
💰 Total Costs & Essential Apps
48-Hour Budget Breakdown
- Bike rental (Day 1): $20
- Metro/Bus rides: $12
- Scooter rides: $15
- Food (budget): $60
- Activities: $20
- Total: $127
Essential Apps
- 🚇 Metro: LA Metro app for routes/times
- 🛴 Bird/Lime: E-scooter rentals
- 🚲 Beach Bike Rental: Local bike shops
- 🗺️ Google Maps: Transit directions
- 💳 TAP: Mobile payment for Metro
- 🌤️ Weather: Beach weather updates
🎒 Car-Free Packing Essentials
🚶♂️ Walking Gear
- • Comfortable walking shoes
- • Lightweight backpack
- • Portable phone charger
- • Water bottle
🌊 Beach Day
- • Sunscreen (reapply often)
- • Hat and sunglasses
- • Beach towel (quick-dry)
- • Snacks and water
🚇 Transit Ready
- • TAP card or mobile payment
- • Small bills for tips
- • Light jacket for evening
- • Hand sanitizer
🏆 Car-Free Pro Tips
- Download offline maps: Save battery when you're out exploring
- Buy Metro day pass: $7 for unlimited rides (vs $3.50 per ride)
- Start early: Beat crowds and get better bike availability
- Pack light: You'll be carrying everything you bring
- Check bike path conditions: Some sections close for events
- Have backup plans: Scooters run out of battery, metro has delays
Perfect Car-Free Base in Marina del Rey 🌊
Stay in Marina del Rey and access everything car-free! Close to Metro, on the bike path, walking distance to beach. Book direct for the perfect sustainable LA adventure!
Book Your Eco-Friendly Stay