Skip the Airport Traffic: Taking Transit to BUR and LAX This Holiday Season

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Holiday travel in LA means packed freeways, full parking lots, and that last-minute panic about making your flight. This year, think about leaving the car at home. Both Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and LAX are easy to reach on transit, and you’ll show up a lot less stressed and ready for your holiday.

Holiday Travel Tips

  • Check holiday schedules. Trains and buses often run reduced service on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
  • Load your fare ahead of time. Have your TAP card or Metrolink app ready before you head out.
  • Pack light. A rolling carry-on and a backpack are way easier on a train than three suitcases.
  • Build in buffer time. Holiday crowds mean longer TSA lines, so plan to arrive early.
  • Save schedules on your phone in case you lose service.

Holiday Travel by the Numbers

  • A record 81.8 million Americans traveled at least 50 miles from home over Thanksgiving 2025, and about 73 million of them drove. (AAA)
  • LAX welcomed nearly 2.5 million passengers over the 2025 Thanksgiving travel period, with over 230,000 on the busiest day, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. (LAWA)
  • Over Christmas and New Year’s, AAA projected 122.4 million travelers, including a record 8 million domestic flyers. (AAA)
  • The worst times to drive are usually the afternoon and evening of the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, plus the Sunday after. LAX parking lots are also expected to fill up on the busiest days.

Translation: the roads and parking lots are going to be packed. Transit lets you skip both.

Getting to Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)

BUR opened its brand-new terminal on October 13, with a new main entrance at Winona Avenue and Hollywood Way. If you haven’t flown out of Burbank since then, give yourself a few extra minutes to find your way. For a full rundown of the new terminal, check out our post Burbank’s New Airport Terminal Is Open.

Metrolink

  • Burbank Airport-North Station (Antelope Valley Line) has a free, on-demand shuttle to the terminal from 5 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Call 818-729-2245.
  • Burbank Airport-South Station (Ventura County Line and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner) has a free, on-demand shuttle from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call 818-565-1308.

BurbankBus and Metro Bus

  • BurbankBus and Metro Bus still stop at the airport’s Regional Intermodal Transportation Center (RITC), but since the new terminal opened, the RITC is no longer right next to the gates. From the RITC, hop on the free airport shuttle to the terminal. Shuttles run every 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Some Metro buses also stop on Hollywood Way, about a 10-minute walk from the new terminal. Either way, leave a few extra minutes for the connection.

Want more options? Visit our Burbank Airport transportation page.

Getting to LAX

Metro Rail

  • The Metro C and K Lines stop at the LAX/Metro Transit Center, with trains about every 10 minutes most of the day.
  • From there, hop on the free LAX Shuttle to your terminal. The LAX people mover train isn’t open yet, so plan for the shuttle ride when you time your trip.

FlyAway Bus

  • The FlyAway bus runs from Union Station to LAX. From Burbank, take Metrolink to Union Station and transfer. Check the FlyAway site for current times and fares.

Wherever you’re headed this season, let transit handle the trip to the airport. Safe travels from all of us at BTMO!

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