This article is written in partnership with Rabble News.
Parking at Dodger Stadium is expensive—especially during the playoffs. But did you know you can get a ride to Dodger Stadium on game days for free?
Baseball fans heading to Chavez Ravine can skip stadium traffic and parking fees through LA Metro’s Stadium Express bus service.
Taking the Stadium Express is entirely free for anyone with a ticket, and can end up providing huge savings for fans. In September 2026, parking for regular season games was $40 in advance and $45 at the gate. Prices for the 2026 National League Division Series started at $60 in advance or $65 at the gate, and those fees often increase in each subsequent playoff round.
If you’re a regular goer to the ballpark, those parking fees can add up.
And that’s where the Dodger Stadium Express enters the equation.
Here’s how to get to Dodger Stadium for free
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s dedicated shuttle service operates from both downtown Union Station and the South Bay.
In downtown Los Angeles, riders can catch the shuttle at Union Station West on the Alameda Street side of the complex. Signs inside the station will point passengers in the direction of the specific boarding zone. Buses on the Union Station route depart every five to 10 minutes, beginning about three hours before first pitch and through the end of the second inning.
Riders on the Union Station route are dropped off and picked up behind center field at Dodger Stadium. Pickup services begin after the game’s last out.
Angelenos or visitors can get to Union Station through myriad ways, including the local Metro rail system, bus rapid transit or regional commuter trains like Amtrak and Metrolink, which allows for fans of the Dodgers (or their opponents) from around Southern California can get to Union Station to grab the Stadium Express.
For fans traveling from southern parts of Los Angeles County, Metro also offers direct service from five key boarding locations in the South Bay: Slauson station, Manchester station, Harbor Freeway station, Rosecrans station and Bay 9 at the Harbor Gateway Transit Center.
Shuttles along this route depart every 30 minutes starting three hours prior to game time, with the final northbound bus departing Harbor Gateway at game time.
These South Bay shuttles drop passengers off behind right field. Unlike the Union Station route, return service begins after the seventh inning from the same location.
For both routes, return buses operate until one hour after the final out or 30 minutes after any postgame events finish, whichever occurs later.
LA Metro no longer offers a drop-off point at the Upper Deck entrance.
While riding the Stadium Express itself is entirely free, standard fares still apply on any connecting Metro buses or trains, as well as Metrolink and Amtrak.
The free shuttle is convenient and a bargain, but there are a few things of which to be aware.
Buses often get crowded and are regularly standing-room only; lines to board the buses after games can take a long time, upwards of an hour, to get on a return bus.
On evenings in which there are after-game fireworks displays or drone shows, buses will run until 20 minutes after the show is over.
Who pays for the Dodger Stadium Express?
You do. At least, if you’re a Los Angeles County taxpayer. So, technically, it’s not entirely free.
The Stadium Express is part of the LA Metro budget and is operated as a public service. Any necessary improvements or upgrades would need to be made through the standard Metro board process.
Despite its name and final destination, the Los Angeles Dodgers organization does not directly contribute to its funding. This could change one day, but for now it’s LA Metro’s service provided at a loss.
Right now, unless the controversial gondola project gets off the ground, or if LA Metro ever decides to dedicate a rail line, the Stadium Express is the only direct public transit option to Dodger Stadium.
In addition to the buses, some people get lucky by parking on a nearby surface street and walking to the stadium. This can be a bit of a hike, and some neighborhoods might have some strict parking enforcement rules that make this not ideal.
Parking at Union Station can be as low as $8 if you’re seeking a more direct connection to the shuttle.
Regardless of how you decide to get to Dodger Stadium, LA officials recommend that fans give themselves extra time to navigate stations, clear security and board shuttles, especially during high-volume playoff games.
Additional information, including trip planning, connection schedules, parking availability and route updates, can be found here. For Dodger Stadium parking information, click here.
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