There are eight main forms of transportation that people use to get around Long Beach: driving, rideshares, scooters, bicycles, walking, buses, taxis, and water taxis. The best form of transportation for your needs depends on your budget, the Long Beach attractions you want to visit, and your comfort level.
As a Long Beach local, I’m familiar with the many ways to get around this city. I’ll break them all down for you (including the pros and cons of each method), so you can determine what’s best for your trip.
Stick around to the end for some insider tips to help you get from point A to point B on your visit. Let’s take a look!
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Table of Contents
8 Ways to Get Around in Long Beach
Rental Cars
🚍 Best for: Saving time, comfort, freedom to explore
💵 Cost: $$$
👉 Where to Book:Discover Cars
Long Beach isn’t a huge city, but it’s nice to have the freedom to hop in a car and drive to your destinations. And with a rental car, you’ll be able to easily take trips to places like Los Angeles or Huntington Beach.
There are several rental car companies at Long Beach Airport, as well as in downtown Long Beach. Want to browse multiple companies’ inventories at once and compare quotes before your visit? I highly recommend doing so with Discover Cars, which makes it easy to find the best deals.
Pros of Rental Cars:
- Travel on your own schedule
- Save time
- Trunk storage
Cons of Rental Cars:
- Last-minute bookings can be expensive
- Paying for parking
- Limited parking
🚍 Best for: Saving money, comfort, simplicity
💵 Cost: $$
Using a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft to get around Long Beach gives you the comfort of traveling by car without having to rent one for your entire trip. Long Beach is a populous city, so there are always drivers and rides available to take you where you need to go.
Depending on traffic, it only takes about 10 to 20 minutes to get from downtown Long Beach to Second Street at the other end of the city. So trips within the city will be quick and relatively inexpensive.
Pros of Rideshare Services
- Saves money
- Travel comfortably
- Don’t have to worry about parking
Cons of Rideshare Services
- Fluctuating fares
- Need smartphone and cell service
Scooters
🚍 Best for: Saving money, sightseeing
💵 Cost: $
You’ll see many different brands of scooters parked along the streets waiting to be used in Long Beach. Brands like Lime, Bird, VeoRide, and Razor have scooters, and even some seated versions, for the public to use.
Scooters might be the best way to get around Long Beach. There are plenty available in the city, and they allow you to zip from one attraction to the next at your own pace. You can stop wherever you want, and pick up again when you’re ready.
Pros of Scooters
- Quick travel
- Avoid traffic
- Inexpensive
Cons of Scooters
- Need to install apps
- May not be comfortable for everyone
Bicycles
🚍 Best for: Saving money, freedom to explore, environmentally friendly
💵 Cost: $
Bring your own bicycle, rent one, or make use of one of the 768 bicycles provided by the City of Long Beach — cycling is an effective method to get the city. Long Beach is bike-friendly, and you’ll find a bike path on the beach as well as designated bike lanes throughout the city.
Pros of Bicycles
- No carbon footprint
- Avoid traffic
- Get exercise
Cons of Bicycles
- Possibility of bicycle theft
🍴 Read Next: Best Places to Eat in Long Beach
On Foot
🚍 Best for: Saving money, freedom to explore
💵 Cost: Free
Exploring Long Beach on foot is a great way to get to know the city. The entire downtown area is walkable, as are most neighborhoods in the city. There are well-maintained sidewalks throughout Long Beach, as well as a beach path with a designated lane just for pedestrians.
Pros of Walking:
- Cost-effective
- Freedom to stop and explore
Cons of Walking:
- Can be slow
- Physically demanding
Bus
🚍 Best for: Saving money, comfort
💵 Cost: $
Long Beach Transit offers a bus service that runs through the city’s extensive network of bus routes. Its red Passport Buses are free to ride and have a route that runs through Long Beach’s most popular tourist areas and attractions, Easily get to places like downtown, Shoreline Village, and the aquarium via bus.
Pros of Buses
- Saves money
- Comfortable seating
- Passport buses (electric) are more environmentally friendly
Cons of Buses
- Set routes and schedules
- Can be crowded
Taxi
🚍 Best for: Saving time, comfort
💵 Cost: $$ – $$$
👉 Where to Book:Long Beach Yellow Cab
Though more and more people are using rideshare services, taxis are still a reliable way of getting around Long Beach. Taxis charge a base fee plus a specific cost per mile. Some services offer fixed rates for travel to and from the airport.
Pros of Taxis:
- Flexible routes
- Verified vehicles
- Safe and reliable
Cons of Taxis:
- Wait times
- Traffic can trigger an additional charge
📚 Related Reading: You’ve made it to Long Beach – but where will you stay? Read our guide on Where To Stay Around Long Beach to help you decide!
Water Taxi
🚍 Best for: Saving money, comfort, great views
💵 Cost: $
Long Beach Transit operates public transit water taxis that ferry people between Shoreline Village and Alamitos Bay, near Belmont Shore.
This is a great way to get from one end of the city to the other while enjoying views of the Pacific Ocean from a boat! Passage in either direction on a Long Beach Transit water taxi costs $5 per person.
Pros of Water Taxis:
- Avoid traffic
- Ocean sightseeing
- Cost-effective
Cons of Water Taxis:
- Extremely limited route
- Infrequent departures
5 Tips For Getting Around Long Beach
Rent A Small Vehicle
Consider going with a compact or small vehicle if you’re renting a car. Parking in Long Beach can be tough. You might have to parallel park into a tiny spot to park along Ocean Boulevard or in residential areas. Save yourself the headache by renting a car that can slide into small spaces.
Download Transportation Apps Beforehand
Plan on using app-based rideshare services or scooters while visiting? I recommend downloading the apps and setting up your accounts and payments before you arrive in the city. This way, you’re not fiddling with your phone and credit card on a city street while trying to get a scooter set up.
Use A Bike Lock
Long Beach is a wonderful city with lots to offer, but bike theft is one of the most common crimes here. If you bring your own bike or rent one, make sure you lock your bike up securely whenever you’re not using it to avoid theft.
Worried about safety in general when visiting? Check out my guide to Long Beach safety to get all the tips and safety info you need to feel comfortable.
Book Rental Cars Ahead Of Time
You don’t want to get stuck with a higher rate or a gigantic vehicle during your stay. To avoid these issues, book your rental car before you arrive. Use a website like Discover Cars to help you compare options between agencies, so you can secure the best deal ahead of time.
Watch Out for One Way Streets in Long Beach
Be aware that one-way streets are common in the downtown area and beyond if you plan on driving in Long Beach. Keep your eye out for signage and lights indicating that a street is one way to avoid any mishaps!
👉 Read Next: What to Do in Catalina Island, CA
Long Beach Transportation FAQ
Does Long Beach have public transportation?
Long Beach has public transportation in the form of buses with routes within the city and routes to surrounding areas. Long Beach is also home to the Metro Blue Line train with service to downtown Los Angeles.
Do you need a car in Long Beach?
You do not need a car to get around Long Beach because there are alternate transportation options like rideshares, bikes, and scooters. Long Beach is also a highly walkable city.
Is Long Beach good for tourists?
Long Beach is a great destination for tourists who want to visit a beach city in Southern California. Tourists can enjoy the city’s top restaurants, museums, art galleries, bars, the beach, and other attractions.
Is there an Uber in Long Beach?
Uber offers service in Long Beach. Since it is a densely populated area, rides are readily available. Lyft also operates in Long Beach.
Map of Long Beach
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There are plenty of transportation options in Long Beach, so there’s no need to worry about how you’ll get around. I hope this guide helps you plan your visit!
Before you go, be sure to bookmark my guide to where to stay in Long Beach so you can knock another important item off your trip-planning list.
