Palmdale is about 61 miles from downtown Los Angeles by road, and Lancaster about 70. Without a car, Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line runs 8 weekday trains each way to L.A. Union Station: 2 hours from Palmdale, 2 hours 9 minutes from Lancaster. AVTA also runs weekday commuter buses to downtown LA, Century City and the West San Fernando Valley.
Train times on this page come from Metrolink's timetable effective May 4, 2026; bus fares from AVTA; airport details from LAX. All were checked on October 3, 2026. Schedules change, so check Metrolink's train status page before you ride.
Palmdale and Lancaster to Los Angeles at a glance
| Option | From Palmdale | From Lancaster | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metrolink to L.A. Union Station | 2 h 00 min | 2 h 09 min | 8 trains each way on weekdays, 6 on weekends |
| AVTA commuter bus 785, 786, 787 | Palmdale Transportation Center | Owen Memorial Park | Monday to Friday only; $8.75 to $10.75 one way |
| Driving to Los Angeles City Hall | About 61 miles | About 70 miles | SR-14 south to I-5; time depends on traffic |
Metrolink Antelope Valley Line: weekday trains to Los Angeles
On weekdays, 8 trains leave Lancaster for L.A. Union Station, each stopping at Palmdale 9 minutes later. The ride is 2 hours 9 minutes from Lancaster and 2 hours from Palmdale. There is a midday gap: after the 6:11 a.m. train, the next one leaves Lancaster at 12:11 p.m.
| Leaves Lancaster | Leaves Palmdale | Arrives L.A. Union Station |
|---|---|---|
| 4:11 a.m. | 4:20 a.m. | 6:20 a.m. |
| 5:11 a.m. | 5:20 a.m. | 7:20 a.m. |
| 6:11 a.m. | 6:20 a.m. | 8:20 a.m. |
| 12:11 p.m. | 12:20 p.m. | 2:20 p.m. |
| 2:11 p.m. | 2:20 p.m. | 4:20 p.m. |
| 4:11 p.m. | 4:20 p.m. | 6:20 p.m. |
| 6:11 p.m. | 6:20 p.m. | 8:20 p.m. |
| 8:11 p.m. | 8:20 p.m. | 10:20 p.m. |
Weekday trains from Union Station to Palmdale and Lancaster
8 trains a weekday run from L.A. Union Station back to the Antelope Valley. Union Station to Palmdale takes 2 hours 2 minutes; to Lancaster, 2 hours 12 minutes. The last train home leaves Union Station at 7:39 p.m. and reaches Palmdale at 9:41 p.m. and Lancaster at 9:51 p.m.
| Leaves L.A. Union Station | Arrives Palmdale | Arrives Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| 9:39 a.m. | 11:41 a.m. | 11:51 a.m. |
| 11:39 a.m. | 1:41 p.m. | 1:51 p.m. |
| 1:39 p.m. | 3:41 p.m. | 3:51 p.m. |
| 3:39 p.m. | 5:41 p.m. | 5:51 p.m. |
| 4:39 p.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:51 p.m. |
| 5:39 p.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 7:51 p.m. |
| 6:39 p.m. | 8:41 p.m. | 8:51 p.m. |
| 7:39 p.m. | 9:41 p.m. | 9:51 p.m. |
Weekend and holiday trains
On Saturdays and Sundays, 6 trains run each way. From Lancaster they leave at 6:11, 8:11 and 10:11 a.m. and at 12:11, 2:11 and 6:11 p.m., stopping at Palmdale 9 minutes later. From L.A. Union Station they leave at 7:39 and 11:39 a.m. and at 1:39, 3:39, 5:39 and 7:39 p.m. The weekend schedule also runs on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day; Metrolink's timetable lists the other holidays.
Antelope Valley Line stations
The Antelope Valley Line runs between Lancaster and L.A. Union Station. These are its stations, in order heading south:
- Lancaster
- Palmdale
- Vincent Grade/Acton
- Vista Canyon
- Via Princessa
- Santa Clarita
- Newhall
- Sylmar/San Fernando
- Sun Valley
- Burbank Airport–North
- Burbank–Downtown
- Glendale
- L.A. Union Station
Palmdale and Lancaster Metrolink stations: address and parking
Parking is free for Metrolink riders at both stations. Palmdale has 750 spaces with a 48-hour limit. Lancaster has 420 spaces and allows overnight parking up to 72 hours.
| Palmdale station | Lancaster station | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 39000 Clock Tower Plaza Dr., Palmdale, CA 93550 (Sierra Hwy. & 6th St.) | 44812 N. Sierra Hwy., Lancaster, CA 93534 |
| Parking | Free for Metrolink riders; 750 spaces, 18 accessible | Free for Metrolink riders; 420 spaces, 5 accessible; more parking across from the station |
| Time limit | 48 hours | Overnight allowed, up to 72 hours |
| Bus connections | AVTA 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 97, 785, 786, 787; Amtrak Thruway; Greyhound | AVTA; Santa Clarita Transit; Amtrak Thruway; Eastern Sierra Transit; Kern Transit |
| Amenities | Vehicle charging | Restrooms, waiting room, dining, vehicle charging |
The Lancaster station is on Metrolink's current timetable (checked October 3, 2026).
Metrolink tickets and fares
Metrolink sets each fare by the two stations you travel between, so get the current price from Metrolink's Price Finder before you buy. Tickets are sold in the Metrolink mobile app, at station ticket machines and at ticket outlets, and Metrolink accepts contactless payment.
Metrolink fares and tickets
AVTA commuter buses to Los Angeles
The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) runs three commuter routes, Monday through Friday only: 785 to downtown Los Angeles, 786 to Century City and West Los Angeles, and 787 to the West San Fernando Valley. All three start at Owen Memorial Park in Lancaster and stop at the Palmdale Transportation Center.
| Route | Goes to | One way | 10-ride | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 785 | Downtown Los Angeles | $9.25 | $85.00 | $296.00 |
| 786 | Century City / West Los Angeles | $10.75 | $99.00 | $344.00 |
| 787 | West San Fernando Valley | $8.75 | $80.00 | $280.00 |
Seniors, riders with disabilities and Medicare cardholders pay half fare. One-way tickets are sold on the bus; passes are loaded on a TAP card, which costs $2.
Palmdale to Santa Clarita
By train, Palmdale to the Santa Clarita Metrolink station takes 1 hour (for example, 4:20 a.m. to 5:20 a.m.). By road, Santa Clarita City Hall is about 35 miles from Palmdale City Hall and about 44 miles from Lancaster City Hall. AVTA's 790 North County TRANSporter also runs a weekday midday bus between the Palmdale Transportation Center and the Newhall Metrolink station.
| Leaves | Arrives |
|---|---|
| Palmdale 8:00 a.m. | Newhall 8:50 a.m. |
| Palmdale 3:00 p.m. | Newhall 3:50 p.m. |
| Newhall 9:00 a.m. | Palmdale 9:50 a.m. |
| Newhall 4:00 p.m. | Palmdale 4:50 p.m. |
Palmdale to LAX
LAX is about 66 miles from Palmdale City Hall by road and about 75 miles from Lancaster City Hall. Without a car, take Metrolink to L.A. Union Station, then the LAX FlyAway bus from Bus Stop 1 at Patsaouras Transit Plaza (Union Station East): one transfer. For example, the 4:20 a.m. train from Palmdale reaches Union Station at 6:20 a.m.; check FlyAway's own departure times.
FlyAway costs $12.75 one way, paid by contactless card or phone (no cash). It runs only from Van Nuys and Union Station; it has no stop in the Antelope Valley.
Hollywood Burbank Airport by train
The Burbank Airport–North station serves Hollywood Burbank Airport on the Antelope Valley Line, 1 hour 34 minutes from Palmdale (4:20 a.m. to 5:54 a.m.). From October 13, 2026, Metrolink says the airport's new terminal is about a half-mile walk from the station, or riders can request the airport's free on-demand shuttle. By road, the airport is about 48 miles from Palmdale City Hall.
Palmdale to Lancaster
Lancaster City Hall is about 10 miles from Palmdale City Hall by road. Every Antelope Valley Line train stops at both stations, about 10 minutes apart, and AVTA Route 1 (Lancaster/Palmdale) connects the two cities by bus.
Palmdale to Pasadena
Pasadena City Hall is about 64 miles from Palmdale City Hall on the freeways: SR-14 south, then I-5 and SR-134 east. The mountain route over the Angeles Forest Highway and the Angeles Crest Highway (SR-2) is shorter, about 46 miles, on two-lane roads that close in some storms. Without traffic, either drive takes a little over an hour. By train, take Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line to L.A. Union Station, then the Metro A Line north to Pasadena.
Driving from Palmdale or Lancaster to Los Angeles
The usual road route is SR-14, the Antelope Valley Freeway, south to I-5. Drive time depends heavily on traffic, so check Caltrans QuickMap or a map app before you leave.
| To | From Palmdale | From Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles City Hall (downtown) | 61 miles | 70 miles |
| LAX | 66 miles | 75 miles |
| Hollywood Burbank Airport | 48 miles | 57 miles |
| Pasadena City Hall (freeways) | 64 miles | 72 miles |
| Santa Clarita City Hall | 35 miles | 44 miles |
| Lancaster City Hall | 10 miles | — |
Live traffic
Is Palmdale part of Los Angeles?
No. Palmdale and Lancaster are separate cities in northern Los Angeles County, in the Antelope Valley. They are not part of the City of Los Angeles; Palmdale City Hall is about 61 miles from Los Angeles City Hall by road.
Sources
Checked October 3, 2026
Checked October 29, 2026
Last verified: October 3, 2026; the Pasadena route on October 29, 2026. Road distances are OpenStreetMap (OSRM) routes between city halls and airport terminals, measured on those days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Palmdale from Los Angeles?+
About 61 miles by road from Palmdale City Hall to Los Angeles City Hall; Lancaster is about 70 miles. By Metrolink, Palmdale to L.A. Union Station takes 2 hours.
How far is Palmdale from Lancaster?+
About 10 miles by road between the two city halls, around 15 minutes by car on SR-14 without traffic. Every Antelope Valley Line train stops at both stations, about 10 minutes apart, and AVTA Route 1 connects the two cities by bus.
How far is Pasadena from Palmdale?+
About 64 miles on the freeways (SR-14, I-5 and SR-134), or about 46 miles over the mountains on the Angeles Forest Highway and SR-2. Without traffic, either drive takes a little over an hour. By train: Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line to L.A. Union Station, then the Metro A Line to Pasadena.
Is there a train from Palmdale to Los Angeles?+
Yes. Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line runs from the Palmdale station to L.A. Union Station in about 2 hours, with 8 trains each way on weekdays and 6 each way on weekends.
Does Amtrak go to Palmdale?+
Amtrak does not run trains to Palmdale; the passenger rail line there is Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line. Amtrak connects to the Antelope Valley with Thruway buses, so check Amtrak for current bus stops and times.
How long is the train ride from Union Station to Lancaster?+
2 hours 12 minutes on weekdays; for example, the 9:39 a.m. train arrives in Lancaster at 11:51 a.m. The last weekday train leaves Union Station at 7:39 p.m. and reaches Lancaster at 9:51 p.m.
Does Metrolink go to Palmdale?+
Yes. Every Antelope Valley Line train stops at the Palmdale station, 39000 Clock Tower Plaza Dr.: 8 trains each way on weekdays and 6 each way on weekends. Parking is free for Metrolink riders.
What are the stations on the Antelope Valley Line?+
Lancaster, Palmdale, Vincent Grade/Acton, Vista Canyon, Via Princessa, Santa Clarita, Newhall, Sylmar/San Fernando, Sun Valley, Burbank Airport–North, Burbank–Downtown, Glendale and L.A. Union Station.
Can I park at the Lancaster train station?+
Yes. Parking is free for Metrolink riders: 420 spaces, 5 of them accessible, with overnight parking allowed up to 72 hours. Metrolink lists more parking across from the station.
Is there a shuttle from Palmdale to LAX?+
There is no FlyAway bus from the Antelope Valley; FlyAway runs only from Van Nuys and L.A. Union Station. Without a car, take Metrolink to Union Station and transfer to FlyAway, which costs $12.75 one way (contactless payment only).
How much is a train ticket from Palmdale to Santa Clarita?+
Metrolink fares depend on the two stations, so get the current price from Metrolink's Price Finder. The ride from Palmdale to Santa Clarita takes 1 hour.
Is Palmdale considered part of Los Angeles?+
Palmdale is in Los Angeles County but is its own city, not part of the City of Los Angeles. It is in the Antelope Valley, about 61 miles from downtown Los Angeles by road.
What trains go to Lancaster, CA?+
Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line, which ends at Lancaster: 8 trains a weekday and 6 a day on weekends from L.A. Union Station. Amtrak Thruway buses also stop at the Lancaster station.
Questions? We're Here.
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