Practical guide · updated for LA 2028
Los Angeles will host the world in summer 2028. Whether you’re chasing a single final or building a two-week trip, a little planning now goes a long way. Here’s the essentials, start to finish.
When the Games happen
The Olympic Games run 14–30 July 2028, followed by the Paralympic Games from 15–27 August 2028. Los Angeles hosts the Olympics for a third time, and the Paralympics for the very first time. If the Paralympics are your focus, plan around that separate August window.
Where events take place
Most competition sits within Greater Los Angeles, organised into clusters of nearby venues called zones — Downtown, Exposition Park, Inglewood, Carson, Long Beach and more. A handful of events reach further: football (soccer) preliminaries are spread across several U.S. cities, and softball and canoe slalom are staged in Oklahoma City. If your trip centres on specific sports, check which zone each one falls in first — it shapes where you’ll want to stay.
Getting to Los Angeles
Los Angeles International (LAX) is the main gateway and handles most international arrivals. But the region has several smaller airports that can sit closer to certain zones and are often quieter:
- Hollywood Burbank (BUR) — handy for the Valley and Griffith Park areas.
- Long Beach (LGB) — close to the Long Beach zone.
- John Wayne / Orange County (SNA) — nearest to Anaheim.
- Ontario (ONT) — east of the city.
If you’re flying long-haul, compare arrival airports rather than defaulting to LAX; a smaller field can mean a shorter transfer to your base. You can line up airport transfers and transit passes on Klook before you fly.
Getting around: a transit-first Games
LA 2028 is being planned as a public-transport Games. Spectator parking is not provided at venues, so the expectation is that fans travel by rail, bus, shuttle, bike or on foot. Los Angeles has expanded its Metro rail and bus network in the run-up, with Downtown acting as the hub that links most lines.
What that means in practice:
- Base yourself near a rail line or a direct bus route to your zones.
- Build in extra time around session start and finish, when crowds peak.
- Set up a transit pass in advance rather than queueing on the day.
Do you need a car?
For the Games themselves, usually not — and it can be a liability given no venue parking and heavy event traffic. A rental makes more sense if you’re extending the trip with day trips to the coast, the mountains, or beyond the city. If that’s you, compare car-hire rates early while availability is good.
Tip: think of your trip as “a base + a transit line,” not “a hotel next to one venue.” The zones are spread out, and the rail network is what stitches them together.
Where to stay
Think in zones, not neighbourhoods. Pick where the sports you care about are, then find a base with a clean transit link to it:
- Downtown LA (DTLA) — the connective hub, where most rail lines meet, walkable to the Convention Center cluster. The best all-rounder.
- Long Beach — a self-contained coastal cluster (handball, water polo, rowing, sailing, climbing).
- Pasadena / Arcadia — near the Rose Bowl and Santa Anita; quieter and leafy.
- Inglewood — close to the new stadium and arena, and handy for LAX.
Accommodation for a global event books out early and prices climb as the Games near, so lock in refundable stays well ahead and adjust later.
Tickets
Buy only through official channels to avoid scams and invalid tickets. Registration and sales run through the organisers; the surest first step is to sign up for alerts so you hear about releases early. Be cautious with resale — stick to authorised platforms only.
Weather and what to pack
A Los Angeles summer is warm and dry. Expect hot, sunny days, cooler evenings, and a coastal “marine layer” that can leave mornings grey near the ocean before it burns off. Pack:
- Strong sun protection — high-SPF sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses.
- Light, breathable clothing for the day, plus a layer for the evening.
- Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes — transit-first means time on your feet.
- A refillable water bottle.
You can grab the hot-weather essentials in one place before you travel.
Accessibility
With the Paralympics hosted here for the first time, accessibility is a priority across transport and venues. If you have specific access needs, check the organisers’ accessibility information closer to the Games and choose accommodation with confirmed step-free transit links.
A quick planning checklist
- Decide which sports and zones matter most.
- Compare arrival airports, not just LAX.
- Book refundable accommodation near a transit line early.
- Sign up for official ticket alerts.
- Sort transfers and passes before you travel.
- Pack for heat, sun and a lot of walking.
One caveat: dates, venues and transport plans can change as 2028 approaches. Treat this guide as a strong starting point, and confirm specifics with official sources before booking anything non-refundable.