Live Your Best Lives
  1. Travel FAQs
  2. United States
  3. California (CA)
  4. Los Angeles

LA Metro card

Hi all, we will be visiting your beautiful in Oct/Nov for 3 weeks. We will not have a car, so will use the metro and Ubers. I assume getting 2 Tap Cards and loading them both with a $25 7-day pass is the best option. Thank in advance for any answers :-)

Using LA Metro without a car for a three-week stay is very doable, and getting TAP cards is indeed the way to go. Since you plan to use the Metro regularly, your assumption about loading each TAP card with a $25 7-day pass is generally correct, but there are a few nuances to maximize convenience and cost-efficiency.

Here’s a breakdown:

  • Each TAP card can hold multiple passes and stored value. For unlimited rides, the 7-day pass ($25) covers all Metro Rail and local Metro Bus trips. Since your trip is three weeks, you would need three consecutive 7-day passes per person for the 21-day period.
  • It’s possible to pre-load each TAP card with the first 7-day pass, then reload in-person or via the TAP website/app before each subsequent week. This avoids running out mid-week.
  • Two TAP cards for two people is perfect. Each person should have their own card to avoid confusion, as transfers and fare rules are tied to individual cards.

Other useful tips:

  • TAP cards can also store extra cash value for occasional trips that fall outside the 7-day pass period, like express buses or special shuttles.
  • You can buy TAP cards at any Metro station, select retailers, or online in advance. The card costs $2, which is separate from the fare.
  • Consider pairing your Metro travel with occasional Uber or rideshare trips for destinations not conveniently served by rail, especially if traveling late at night or to less central areas.
  • Download the Metro app and use Google Maps for LA transit directions—transfers can be a bit tricky, so planning routes in advance helps.

Summary: Two TAP cards with 7-day passes loaded sequentially per person is the most straightforward approach. It will cover most of your public transport needs during your 3-week stay, supplemented by Ubers for convenience where Metro isn’t ideal.

More Los Angeles Travel Questions

Popular Destinations

Porto
Jiajiang Paper Factory
Digging Color
Baochu Pagoda

Popular Travel Questions