Santa Monica
Finding the Southern California City of Santa Monica
Santa Monica offers more than its beach and its phenomenal weather. Its proximity to the greater Los Angeles area makes Santa Monica the perfect base for vacationers and business travelers alike. On its own, Santa Monica is a walkable 8.3 square miles (21.5 km²) — a pedestrian-friendly beach city. Each of its eight districts offers a diverse mix of shopping, dining, entertainment, outdoor recreation and, thanks to its unmatched public transportation system, metropolitan convenience.
Santa Monica is 8 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-8GMT), in the Pacific Time Zone. The U.S. Daylight Savings Time is observed from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
Approx. Flying Times to LAX Airport From U.S. Locations:
Atlanta (ATL): 4.0 hours
Chicago (ORD): 3.5 hours
Dallas (DFW): 2.5 hours
Denver (DIA): 2.0 hours
Houston (IAH): 3.0 hours
New York (JFK): 5.0 hours
San Francisco (SFO): 1.0 hours
Seattle (SEA): 2.0 hours
Washington, D.C. (DCA): 4.5 hours
Shuttles:
Rates for vans between LAX and Santa Monica start at approximately $15 per person one-way, $30-$40 round-trip per person, ($10-$20 for each additional person) not including tip. Shuttles are located on the lower level.
Taxi Cab Services:
From LAX to Santa Monica, there is a flat rate of $35 North of I-10 and $30 South of I-10, not including tip (approximately 15% of fare). Once you arrive in town, Santa Monica offers a number of franchised taxi companies available for your travel needs.
Big Blue Bus:
The Rapid 3 line runs between the Aviation Green Line Metro Station and downtown Santa Monica with additional stops within the city. From the transportation islands at the airport, shuttles run to and from the Green Line Station (Route G) and to the LAX City Bus Center transit station (Route C) at Parking Lot C, which is the best place to catch the Rapid 3. Fare is $1 (50 cents for seniors and passengers with disabilities). Allow about 20-30 minutes to make the shuttle connection and travel. The non-express #3, which makes more stops en route to Santa Monica (about 30 minutes to downtown) and in town, also operates from the transit center at Parking Lot C.
Bike!
Tadasana will be offering a free bike valet for local residents who wish to save on gas and enjoy the beautiful Spring weather.
Rental Cars:
There are a variety of rental car companies located at or near Los Angeles International Airport. The drive to Santa Monica takes about 15-20 minutes depending on traffic. Santa Monica also offers a number of convenient car rental options for getting around town. More information can be found online, through your travel agent, or by contacting Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Ridejoy
Tadasana has partnered with Ridejoy, a social ridesharing site, to help attendees connect and share rides to our festival! It's easy: after signing up via the special link below, just post a ride offer or request, get matched up with other attendees going your way, then share the ride and gas expenses.Ridesharing is more convenient than public transit and much cheaper than driving alone. By riding together, you can protect our planet and you can start bonding with other Tadasana-goers even before the festival begins! Click here to get started.
By Amtrak:
Amtrak operates out of Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. Terminal is located at Union Station, 800 N. Alameda Ave., Downtown Los Angeles. From there, taxis, shuttles, MTA buses or Big Blue Bus (the #10 Express; fare is $2) connect to Santa Monica.
By Car:
A variety of Automobile, Limousine and Tour Companies are available, with offices all over Santa Monica. Please contact Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau for more information. For More Information, please click here.
For more information on public transportation, click here. You might also want to ses a detailed map of the area.
For further parking information, including a comprehensive parking map of the city, visit this site. Click here for Santa Monica Downtown Parking Structure Map with address, hours and rates. You can also download the Santa Monica Visitor and Parking app from iTunes.
Santa Monica Parking Tips:
· Street / Metered Parking: Usually $1/hour with a two-hour time limit. Be sure to read instructions on meters and street signs.
· Parking Structures: Ten downtown Santa Monica parking structures offer two hours of free parking each day before 6 pm.
· Short-term Beach Parking: Some short-term beach parking lots offer payment via central kiosk.
· Valet Parking: Many restaurants and hotels and some businesses offer valet parking for a fee.
· Limit the need for parking by attempting to park once and walk, take the Big Blue Bus, or rent a bike or Segway.
