In this guide
Short answer: Waymo is open to everyone in Los Angeles, 24/7, across more than 120 square miles that include Santa Monica, Venice, the Westside, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park and Downtown. It does not serve LAX, and freeway trips have been paused since May 2026, so rides use surface streets.
Los Angeles became Waymo's third public city in November 2024 and has grown in steps since. It is a good fit for robotaxis: short to medium trips across neighborhoods where parking is painful. For all cities, see every Waymo city.
Where Waymo goes in LA
- Westside: Santa Monica, Venice, Westwood and Century City.
- Central LA: West Hollywood, Hollywood, Mid-City and Koreatown.
- East: Downtown LA, Echo Park and Silver Lake (Echo Park and Silver Lake were added in June 2025).
- South: Windsor Hills and Ladera Heights (also added in June 2025).
The area passed 120 square miles in mid-2025 and keeps changing. The Waymo app's map is the only reliable boundary: if a destination is outside, the app offers the nearest reachable point.
The LAX question
LAX is the most requested destination Waymo doesn't serve in LA. The airport is outside the service area and Waymo has not announced a date. Practical workarounds:
- Take Waymo to your hotel or a meeting point near the edge of the area, then use Uber, Lyft or a taxi for the final stretch.
- From Westwood or Union Station, the LAX FlyAway bus is often the cheapest way to the airport.
Airports that do have Waymo are listed in Waymo at the airport.
Freeways and trip times
Waymo started carrying riders on LA freeways in November 2025, then paused all freeway trips in May 2026 while it updated software for construction zones. Freeway service came back in Phoenix on July 29, 2026, but not yet in LA. Without freeways, a Santa Monica to Downtown trip can take noticeably longer than in a car on the 10 at off-peak times. The app shows the estimated arrival before you book.
Prices in Los Angeles
Waymo shows the full price before you book and charges more at busy times. Independent price studies have focused on San Francisco, where Waymo averaged about $20 a ride in late 2025, a little above Uber. LA prices follow the same rules. See how much Waymo costs and Waymo vs Uber.
Tips for your first LA ride
- Pick a pickup point on a side street rather than a busy boulevard: the car finds it faster and you avoid blocking traffic.
- Around events at Crypto.com Arena, the Hollywood Bowl or SoFi, walk a few blocks away before booking.
- Wheelchair users can request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle in the app in LA. These cars are driven by a person, not autonomous.
- Kids under 8 need their own car seat or booster. Rules in can kids and teens ride Waymo?
Other robotaxis in Los Angeles
Zoox is testing in Los Angeles but doesn't take riders. Tesla has no public robotaxi service in California. For now, Waymo is the only way to ride without a driver in LA.
Frequently asked questions
Does Waymo go to LAX?
No. As of October 2026 Waymo does not serve Los Angeles International Airport. You can ride Waymo to a hotel or point inside its service area and switch to another ride or the LAX FlyAway bus.
Is Waymo in Santa Monica?
Yes. Santa Monica and Venice have been part of Waymo's LA service area since the public launch, along with the Westside, Hollywood and Downtown.
Is Waymo in Pasadena or the Valley?
Not as of October 2026. Check the live map in the app, since Waymo expands its LA area every few months.
Does Waymo use LA freeways?
Waymo began freeway trips in Los Angeles in November 2025 but paused them in May 2026. They had resumed only in Phoenix as of October 2026, so plan on surface streets.
Update log
- Guide published. LAX still not served; freeway trips paused in LA since May 2026.
Sources and official texts