Calculate the cheapest way to ride LA Metro during the Games. Compare single rides, day passes, and weekly passes to find the best deal for your trip.
Enter how many days you're attending the Olympics and how many Metro rides you plan to take per day. The calculator will show you the total cost for different pass options and highlight the cheapest choice.
A single ride on any LA Metro bus or train costs $1.75 for adult passengers. This price is consistent across all Metro lines and services. You'll need a TAP card to pay for your fare.
Single rides are best if you're only taking 1-2 trips per day. Once you reach 3 or more rides, a day pass becomes a better value.
| Rider Type | Single Ride Cost | Day Pass Cost | 7-Day Pass Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults | $1.75 | $5.00 | $20.00 |
| Seniors (62+) / Disabled | $0.75 | $2.50 | $10.00 |
| Students (with valid ID) | $0.75 | $2.50 | $10.00 |
| Children (5-18) | $0.75 | $2.50 | $10.00 |
| Children (under 5) | Free | Free | Free |
The daily pass gives you unlimited rides on all LA Metro buses and trains for 24 hours from the time you first tap your card. A day pass is cheaper than buying 3 individual rides (3 × $1.75 = $5.25).
The weekly pass gives you unlimited rides for 7 consecutive days. A 7-day pass costs $20, which is equivalent to 4 day passes (4 × $5 = $20). It's an excellent value if you're staying in LA for most of the Games and using Metro regularly.
A 7-day pass breaks even at 12 single rides ($1.75 × 12 = $21), so if you're averaging 2+ rides per day over a week, you'll save money with this pass.
The monthly pass gives you unlimited rides for 30 days. At $50, this is only economical if you're staying in LA for the entire 2+ weeks of the Olympics and beyond. For most Olympic visitors, a 7-day pass will be the better value.
To ride LA Metro, you'll need a TAP (Transit Access Pass) card. The card itself costs $2 to purchase, and you load money onto it to pay for rides. TAP cards are reloadable and can be used indefinitely, so if you visit LA again, you can recharge the same card.
One of LA Metro's best features is free transfers. When you tap your card, you have 2 hours to transfer to another bus or train at no extra cost. This means you can take multiple trips to different destinations without paying multiple fares, as long as your transfers happen within the 2-hour window.
The easiest option is to order a TAP card online before you arrive in LA. Visit taptogo.net, order your card, and load money onto it. Your card will be mailed to your address, or you can pick it up at a retail location.
If you don't order ahead, you can purchase a TAP card at any Metro rail station using the vending machines. Most vending machines accept cash and credit cards. You can buy and load your card in minutes.
TAP cards are also sold and can be loaded at:
Load exactly what you need for your trip. If you're staying 3 days and taking 4 rides per day, buy three $5 day passes ($15 total). If you want flexibility, load $50-75 and choose passes as you go.
Pro tip: Load your TAP card BEFORE arriving at the airport or hotel. During the Olympics, vending machines will have long lines. Buying online or loading at a 7-Eleven near your hotel saves time.
Before boarding, check your TAP card balance at any vending machine or through the LA Metro mobile app. If your balance is low, add more money at a vending machine or retail location.
You might wonder if rideshare is cheaper than Metro. During the 2028 Olympics, the answer is almost certainly no.
| Transportation | Typical Cost (Downtown to SoFi Stadium) | Olympic Surge Pricing | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA Metro K Line | $1.75 | $1.75 (no surge) | 35 minutes |
| Uber/Lyft | $12-18 | $35-90 (3-5x surge) | 20-40 minutes |
| Taxi | $25-35 | $50-100+ | 20-40 minutes |
During major events like the Olympics, Uber and Lyft surge pricing can reach 3-5x the normal rate. A $15 ride becomes $45-75. Even with a 7-day pass costing $20 (as low as $2.86 per ride), Metro will save you a fortune.
Bottom line: Use LA Metro for getting around during the Olympics. The savings are enormous, the trains are frequent, and you'll avoid sitting in post-game traffic.
No. On LA Metro trains, you must use a TAP card. However, some bus riders can tap a contactless credit or debit card directly on the reader (this is a newer feature). For reliability during the Olympics, get a TAP card.
If you registered your TAP card online, the balance is protected and you can transfer it to a new card. Unregistered cards cannot be replaced. Always register your TAP card at taptogo.net.
Yes. Students with valid student IDs and riders under 18 get reduced fares ($0.75 per ride, $2.50 day pass). Seniors (62+) and disabled riders get the same reduced rates. Bring valid ID.
Children under 5 ride free (no TAP card needed). Children 5-18 pay the student reduced rate of $0.75 per ride or $2.50 for a day pass.
If your card is declined or doesn't tap properly, let a Metro staff member know. They can troubleshoot or issue a temporary pass. During the Olympics, there will be extra staff at major stations to help visitors.
No. TAP cards are only valid on LA Metro and some partner agencies in the LA area. They're not valid on other transit systems.
Day passes expire 24 hours from first tap. Weekly passes expire 7 days from activation. Monthly passes expire 30 days from activation. Times reset at midnight in Pacific Time.