The easiest way for most visitors to learn how to get to Griffith Observatory is the DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus. It leaves from the Vermont/Sunset Metro station, costs 50 cents, and drops you at the front driveway, so you skip the parking hunt. Drive only if you can arrive early, and hike if you want the exercise and the views on the way up.
The problem is the hill. The Observatory sits at the end of a narrow park road with a small parking lot, and crowds peak at sunset and on weekends. Roads close when traffic backs up. The hours are also unusual, with the building closed on Mondays and opening at noon on most weekdays. Pick the wrong route or the wrong day and you can lose an hour before you see a single exhibit.
Visitors planning a Los Angeles trip with Another Side Tours ask about this landmark all the time, so this guide walks through every route in order. You will see hours, costs, and a side-by-side comparison first. Then come the steps for the bus, driving, hiking, and rideshare, with the details that save time on each.
Plan your route before you go
Choosing how to get to Griffith Observatory starts with the day and time, not the transport. Hours, crowds, and your plans for the evening decide which option works best, so settle those first.
Hours, crowds, and timing
The building is closed on Mondays. It opens at noon Tuesday through Friday and at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and it closes at 10 p.m. on open days. Admission to the building, the grounds, and the public telescopes is always free. You pay only for parking and for Samuel Oschin Planetarium shows.
Check the day of the week first, because Monday means a closed building and weekend sunsets mean a crowd.
Crowds follow a pattern. Weekends, summer, holidays, and sunset are the busiest times. When the building fills, staff limit entry, and that can mean waits of 5 to 15 minutes. Arrive at opening for a quiet visit, or come in the evening for the telescopes and the city lights. Most people spend one to three hours inside, and a planetarium show adds more.
The grounds and Griffith Park open earlier than the building. The park opens at 5 a.m. and closes at 10:30 p.m., so sunrise visits work even though the doors stay shut. Inbound park gates close at 10 p.m., which matters if you plan an evening visit by car or ride.
Five routes compared
Use this table to match a route to your situation. The sections below give the exact steps.
| Route | Cost | Best for | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| DASH bus | 50 cents, 35 with a TAP card | Visitors without a car | Bus every 20 to 25 minutes |
| Drive and pay | Paid parking in the lot or on the road | Families, mobility needs | Limited spaces, road closures |
| Park and walk | Free parking near the Greek Theatre | Budget travelers | Up to a mile uphill |
| Hike | Free | Fit visitors, daytime | Steady climb, 30 to 60 minutes |
| Rideshare | App fare | Small groups | Drop-off only, slow pickup |
Step 1. Take the DASH bus from Vermont/Sunset
The DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus is the best answer to how to get to Griffith Observatory without a car. It is the cheapest door-to-door option and it removes the parking problem entirely. The bus runs daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., even on days when the building is closed.
Ride the bus from the Metro station
You can reach the bus by train, which makes this the simplest public transit route to the Observatory.
- Ride Metro’s B Line (formerly the Red Line) to the Vermont/Sunset station.
- Find the DASH Observatory/Los Feliz stop at the station.
- Pay 50 cents in exact change, or 35 cents with a TAP card.
- Stay on until the stop on the horseshoe driveway in front of the Observatory.
Do not plan to drive to the station. There is no parking in, around, or near Vermont/Sunset, so arrive by train, rideshare, or on foot.
Take the train to Vermont/Sunset, board the DASH, and you reach the front door for pocket change.
Fares, frequency, and stops
The bus stops at the Observatory every 20 to 25 minutes. Drivers cannot make change, so bring exact coins or load a TAP card. Seniors and riders with disabilities pay 25 cents. Children 4 and under ride free, and so do LADOT and Metrolink pass holders. So the answer to whether the shuttle is free is no, but it comes close. Buses have a wheelchair lift or ramp.
Other stops make the route flexible. The bus also serves Mt. Hollywood Drive for trail access, the Greek Theatre, and Hillhurst Avenue in Los Feliz Village. If you are staying nearby, you can board there instead of going to the Metro station.
Two timing notes. On weekdays the building opens at noon, so an earlier bus only gets you to the grounds. And on Greek Theatre concert nights the bus still runs, but traffic can delay it. Plan to catch a bus down well before 10 p.m. so you do not get stranded after dark.
Step 2. Drive and park near the Observatory
Driving works well if you arrive early or have mobility needs. It is the weakest option on weekend afternoons and at sunset. If you are working out how to get to Griffith Observatory by car, set your navigation to 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027, so you do not wander into the wrong park entrance.
Use the main lot or roadside spaces
Lane choice matters on West Observatory Road. Take the left lane for the main parking lot, because there is no access to the lot from the right lane. The right lane serves parallel parking on the road, buses, rideshare vehicles, and through traffic.
Parking in the lot, along West Observatory Road, and on Western Canyon Road is paid, Monday through Friday from noon to 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There is no time limit. Pay stations accept credit cards only. Pay, then put the receipt on your dashboard. Parking fees are not refundable, and an unpaid car gets a citation.
Parking near the Observatory is limited, so the earlier you arrive, the better your odds.
Expect the lot to fill on evenings, weekends, summers, spring breaks, and holidays. Roads can also close when traffic gets congested, so keep a backup plan, such as the free parking below or the bus.
Park free and walk uphill
If you can manage up to a mile uphill, free parking around the Greek Theatre is the budget option. It also gives you a short warm-up before the exhibits. The catch is concert season, which generally runs April through October. On concert evenings, parking in that area is not available after 1 p.m., so check the Greek Theatre schedule first.
Visitors who need accessible parking should head for the designated spaces in the south part of the Observatory lot. They are first come, first served. If they are full, park at the Greek Theatre and take the bus up.
Step 3. Hike or bike up from the trailheads
Hiking is the most rewarding way to arrive if you are fit and it is daytime. It also answers the question of how to get to Griffith Observatory for free, since you park near a trailhead and walk the rest. Plan on 30 minutes to an hour from the lower trailheads, depending on your pace.
Choose a trailhead and pace yourself
Popular trails up to the Observatory start near the Greek Theatre and Fern Dell, and there is public parking near both. How hard is it? Moderate. The climb is steady and uphill the whole way, with no technical sections, so the effort is more like a long staircase than a scramble. Carry water, wear a hat, and go in the morning or late afternoon rather than at midday.
Hike up, then ride the DASH down, and you earn the views without the long walk back.
The bus makes that mix easy because it stops at the Greek Theatre and at Mt. Hollywood Drive. Avoid hiking down in the dark unless you know the trail, since the park open hours and daylight do not always line up.
Follow the biking rules
Cyclists must use paved park roads only, never the park trails or fire roads. East Observatory Road is one way downhill, so you cannot ride up it. Take West Observatory Road to reach the Observatory, where there are several bike racks. Park your bike at a public space and ride in from there if the grade looks tough.
Step 4. Use a rideshare or a guided ride
Rideshare is the quickest way to get dropped at the door when you do not want to wait for a bus. It suits small groups and late arrivals. The weak spot is the return trip.
Rideshare, taxi, and shuttle drop-offs
Taxis, limos, airport shuttles, and rideshare vehicles use the red drop-off area just past the horseshoe driveway, in front of the lawn. Set the destination to the Observatory’s address. Ask the driver to use the right lane on West Observatory Road. These vehicles cannot park at the Observatory at any time.
Pickup is slower than drop-off because of traffic flow limits. Request your ride a few minutes before you are ready, and remember the inbound gates close at 10 p.m., so a driver has to enter before then. If the wait looks long, walk to the bus stop and take the DASH down.
When a guided ride makes sense
If you would rather not manage buses, lots, or pickups, a guide handles it. A private Los Angeles tour includes a dedicated guide and private transportation, so no one in your group drives or parks. Routes vary, so ask whether the Observatory can be added to your day.
Groups arriving by school bus or charter follow separate rules. Buses are passed through even when the road is closed, must drop off near the building, and cannot park or wait. No reservation is needed, and groups with children need one adult chaperone for every 10 children.
Pick one route and go
For most visitors, the DASH bus from Vermont/Sunset is the best way to get to Griffith Observatory. It costs 50 cents, runs every 20 to 25 minutes, and avoids the parking problem. Drive early if you need the convenience, hike if you want the climb, and use rideshare for the drop-off only.
Check the day before you leave. Monday means a closed building, weekdays open at noon, and weekends at sunset are the busiest. Get the route right and the rest of the visit is simple.
If you want help building a Los Angeles day around the Observatory and its views, ask our team to plan it with you.
