Union Station is a major hub of transportation and is the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States. Built in May of 1939, it represents a Spanish colonial mixed with modern day architecture. It was used to move thousands of troops during World War II, and now it caters to about 110,000 passengers a day. So, you can imagine that sometimes it may be a bit confusing to navigate. Union Station offers Amtrak’s California regional and long-distance routes, as well as commuter trains and subway lines. It even has bus and coach services to get you where you need to go on wheels instead of tracks to Navigate Union Station.
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Parking Info- Navigate Union Station
There is parking available, but only certain places offer overnight parking, so you have to make sure you know all of this information ahead of time to avoid the stress of parking right before you board your train. If you need overnight or long-term parking, you must park at Union Station East Parking Garage. If you plan on parking your vehicle for more than three days, you need to fill out a form and turn it into the parking office to avoid getting a ticket or even towed. However, the maximum time you can park in the East Parking Garage is 30 days. Some extra details include:
- The garage is open 24 hours, seven days a week
- It is $8 per 24-hour period
- Cash and credit card payments are accepted at this location
- EV Connect electric vehicle charging stations are available in level P2 in D and H Areas
- Office phone: 213-620-0115
If you desire day-time parking or short-term, then you must park in Union Station West. Union Station West does not permit overnight parking so if you need overnight parking you must park in the East Parking Garage. Some information about Union Station West parking includes:
- $20 per car for valet parking that is available Tuesday through Saturday, 3:00 p.m. to midnight
- Lot B and Lot D are both $2 for every 15 minutes
- The hours open are from 4:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. every day
- Cash and credit card are accepted at both lots
- Office phone: 213-620-0685
In the case that you prefer bikes, The Metro Bike Hub offers 24/7 bike parking that is secure for long-term parking.
The Metro Rail and Amtrak
The Metro Rail is LA’s subway system and has many lines going in and out of Union Station to Navigate Union Station. If you are looking to site-see around LA and visit some popular neighborhoods in the city, the Red Line and Gold line are the best. The Red Line takes you through downtown L.A., Hollywood, and the Valley. The Gold Line goes to Pasadena and East LA, where you find the Arts District and Highland Park. There are also passenger trains, called Metrolink passenger trains, that can take you to places such as Antelope Valley, Orange County, and Ventura County.
Amtrak has many long-distance trains that will take you to top cities around the U.S. such as the Pacific Surfliner, Southwest Chief, Coast Starlight, Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle. Arrive 45 minutes early if you need to check a bag, and 30 minutes early if you do not need to check a bag.
Dining and Things in Union Station
Union does offer eating services with the station itself. They offer a full-service restaurant, a brewpub, a Mexican grill, and many grab-and-go options if you are looking for a quick bite to eat. Some places to eat or get coffee at Union Station are:
- Starbucks
- Subway
- Homebound Brew Haus
- Slices
- Traxx and Traxx Bar
- Wetzel’s Pretzels
There are also a few other things offered at Union Station that can keep you entertained during your short wait for a train. These are:
- Shoe shining
- Gift Kiosks
If you have a little bit more time to kill or are only in LA for a short while there is the Dodger Stadium Express bus that runs every twenty minutes ninety minutes before a game starts into the end of the second inning. It also runs for 45 minutes after the game or twenty minutes after post-game events. You can board the bus near the taxi zone at Union Station West.
There is also a bike share option where there are hundreds of bikes available to rent 24 hours a day every day of the year. So, if you want to get out of Union Station for a bit and explore the city while getting some exercise, the Metro Bike Share system provides the opportunity to do so.
Luggage Storage in Union Station
Maybe your train wait is a little longer than fifteen minutes and you have already gotten your shoes shined eight times. Maybe you are dying to see a Dodgers game or rent a bike to explore the city, but you have your luggage that you don’t want to haul around with you. Use luggage storage in Union Station to give you the freedom to experience LA outside of the walls of the train station.
You looked up Amtrak storage fees and saw that the prices aren’t cheap for them to watch your bags. You also may not even be an Amtrak passenger and even have access to these storage options. There are other options for luggage storage that are more like the cost of a cup of coffee instead of a meal. You can store your luggage for $5.90 per bag for a 24-hour period near Union Station and close to all of your travel destinations within LA.
What to Know about Storing Luggage
The process is pretty simple, and only takes a few minutes to reserve your luggage storage location. There are many stores that will hold your luggage for you, all with varying hours so you don’t have to worry about a time of day where you can’t drop off or pick up your luggage. You can store your luggage with four easy steps:
- Find the location online that works best for you
- Book that location to secure your space
- Arrive, show your reservation, and drop off your luggage
- Enjoy the city of LA!
There are also a few other perks of using luggage storage near Union Station:
- No size limit for bags
- Store for a few hours, a day, or even a few days
- Security seals provided for your luggage
- $10,000 insurance included
Easy to Navigate Union Station
Whether it’s your 1st time or 20th in Union Station, this guide will help you know all you need to for Union Station when it comes to the different metro lines, Amtrak, and luggage storage. Plus, the dining and amenities offered within Union Station. Take on Union Station with ease and discover all of the place Union Station can take you.
