Complete Guide to Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood 2023

Complete Guide to Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood 2023

Complete Guide to Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood 2023

Have you ever wondered how to get from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood? If you’re traveling to Southern California for your next theme park vacation, it’s one of the most common questions we receive! And while the two parks aren’t as close as Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World, you do have multiple travel options. Here at The Park Prodigy we are thrilled to help you plan an unforgettable family vacation! That’s why we are going to help you with the best way to travel back and forth from Disneyland to Universal Studios. If you are not from California, this article will be a great resource for you as you try to determine the best way for your family to get from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood.

We hope you find this guide helpful and you learn more about how to get from Universal Studios to Disneyland! And if you are planning a trip to Disneyland or Universal Studios be sure to check out our other FREE vacation planning tools. Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time on your next vacation.  And find the best time to buy Disneyland tickets and of course Universal Studios Hollywood Tickets.

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for our Disneyland Crowd Calendar be sure to go straight to the link below!

 Disneyland Crowd Calendar

Where is Universal Studios in California?

Before we get into directions and ways to get to universal studios from Disneyland, let’s start with the basics. How far is Universal Studios from Disneyland California? If you’re planning out a Disneyland or Universal Hollywood trip for the first time, you will quickly realize you’re no longer in Florida. While many Florida theme park fans are accustomed to the two parks being less than a half-hour apart, things are a bit different in California. The distance between Universal Studios and Disneyland California is about 35 miles. And while that might not sound too far, the roads can be jam-packed with vehicles at all times. This means the Disneyland to Universal Studios drive time can be anywhere from an hour to two hours.

Is Universal Studios Near Disneyland?

• Physically the distance from Disneyland to Universal Studios California is not too far. The travel time is guaranteed to be a big part of your day. The reality is, is that Universal Hollywood is not one of the theme parks near Disneyland.

A big part of planning out your SoCal theme park vacation, is knowing how you’re getting from Disneyland to Universal Studios. In the end the question is not is how far is Universal Studios from Disneyland, but how are you going to get there. Once you see your options for traveling from Universal Studios Los Angeles to Disneyland, you might feel a bit better. We hope this guide helps you feel more qualified to determine the best way for you to get from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood.

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Drive Yourself in Your Own Car from Disneyland to Universal Studios

Driving your own car to Disneyland is more popular than it is at Disney World. Thankfully, Disneyland is aware of this and has made it extremely easy for people who park at the parks. If you drove yourself to Disneyland and are wondering how far is Universal Studios from Disneyland, driving yourself may be the best bet. This is especially true if you have your family with you. While driving on California roads can be intense, it’s not as bad as people make it out to be. The convenience of managing your own schedule, being able to make stops are a huge benefit of having your own car. We also recommend using that time to travel to other nearby tourist and historical sites California has to offer. This may make this the best option for your travel party to cover the Universal Studios California distance from Disneyland.

Driving Directions from Disney Land to Universal

• Take I-5 North.
• Keep left to continue on US-101 North.
• Take Exit 11B toward Universal Studios Boulevard.
• Continue on W.C. Fields Dr. Drive to Universal Studios Blvd.

Approximate Cost: Gas, $30 parking fee at Universal and possible snacks for the drive.

Traveling Tips:

• Plan your travel time to avoid busy road times. California roads are notoriously busy so it’s crucial to avoid traveling during rush hour or on weekends.
• If driving in unknown areas stresses you out, this may not be the best way for you to travel from Disneyland to Universal Studios.
• Exploring other areas is a great way to entertain the family. Or even if you would like to only do a half-day at Universal, this could be a great way to accommodate those desires.

Related Post: The Best Time to Visit Disneyland 

Drive a Rental Car  From Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood

More and more travelers are opting to fly to Disneyland than Disney World. If you did not bring your own vehicle but really want to go spend a day at Universal Hollywood, you might want to look at renting a car. This type of transportation from Disneyland to Universal Studios is great if you have a larger family or younger kids. You’ll still want a driver in your group who is comfortable driving in unknown areas with and in heavy traffic. But many people prefer this choice because of the flexibility it gives them.

Driving Directions from Universal Studios from Disneyland

• Take I-5 North.
• Keep left to continue driving on US-101 North.
• Take Exit 11B toward Universal Studios Boulevard.
• Continue on W.C. Fields Dr. Drive to Universal Studios Blvd.

Approximate Cost: $40 rental car fee, gas, $30 parking fee at Universal and snacks for the drive.

Traveling Tips:

• There are plenty of car rental places in the Disneyland area. Some will even drop off and pick up from Disneyland resorts.
• Since you have a car, take a moment to pick up less expensive snacks or water to get you through your travel days, or stop and see another site along the way.
• Beware of added expenses such as insurance or car seat rental.

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Take the L.A. Metro (aka Bus/Rail) from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood

This will be the least expensive transportation between Disneyland and Universal Studios. Disneyland does not provide a Disneyland to Universal Studios bus or a shuttle between Disneyland and Universal Studios. So you’ll need to hop on public transportation for this budget-friendly route. The travel path will take you on several different modes of transportation. But here’s the general route you’ll take if you decide to use this option to cover the Disneyland and Universal Studios distance.

Public Transportation to Universal California from Disneyland

1. Board the 460 Bus near Disneyland (Check out the Metro’s website to find the nearest stop to where you’ll want to board.)
2. Get off at Figueroa and 7th
3. Transfer to the Metro Red Line (Subway) at 7th Street and Metro Center Station
4. Get off at the Universal/Studio City Station
5. Take Universal Studios’ free shuttle to the park (it runs about every 15 minutes)

This transportation to Universal Studios from Disneyland will take you the absolute longest. You may be traveling up to 2 ½ hours just to go one way. And while it’s only about 35 miles is how far is Universal from Disney, this mode of travel will add up to a lot more miles.

Approximate Cost: A one-day pass with included transfers is about $7 per adult.

2023 Traveling Tips:

• Be organized and aware. This trip requires several different modes and transfers so make sure you are aware of when and where you need to make a transfer.
• Park tickets for Universal are more expensive at the gate. Purchase your tickets before you get there to save some money.
• Many locals use these modes of transportation so if your children are shy around lots of strangers, this could make them uncomfortable.

Related Post: The Cheapest Time to Visit Disneyland 

Bus Tours from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood 2023

For many people, a vacation means not having to deal with everyday stresses like traffic. If this is you or your family, you may want to take a tour bus from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood. While there is not a free bus from Universal Studios to Disneyland, it is a service provided from outside sources for an additional charge. Some of these tour busses give interesting facts and tidbits along your route and some are more like shuttles. They will simply getting you from one destination to the next. For someone who likes to leave the driving to someone else, this might be how to travel from Disneyland to Universal Studios.

Approximate Cost: $40-$50 per person

Traveling Tips:

• The least flexible option. Carefully check departure times to make sure you don’t miss your bus.
• Some bus tours offer the option of buying your Universal Studios park ticket with the bus ticket. Check prices to make sure this is the best value for your money.
• It will cut out on the amount of time you can spend in Universal Studios so if you want to use every moment you get by purchasing a park ticket, this may not be the best option.
• Depending on your party, this may be a nice relaxing way to travel the distance from Disneyland to Universal Studios CA. Many people enjoy sitting back and saving their energy for the park.

Take a Lyft/Uber or Taxi from Universal Studios to Disneyland 2023

One of the most costly options, you may choose to hire an Uber/Lyft/Taxi to bring you from Disneyland to Universal Studios and back. While we list it as one of the most expensive, if you have a family of 3 or 4 (and don’t mind all scrunching into a car with a driver), it could actually be less expensive than purchasing tickets for each of you to take a tour bus or shuttle from Disneyland to Universal Studios.

Approximate Cost: $125 round trip, depending on time of day and type of car you choose (larger cars and vans are often more money).

Ride Share Traveling Tips

• Look for coupons to use, especially for Uber or Lyft. You might find online coupon codes that will take $10-$20 off one way.
• If you have more than one person in your group, it might not be too cost prohibitive, especially when you consider the convenience.
• It’s probably the easiest, quickest, and least stressful way to discover how far is Disneyland from Universal Studios Hollywood.
• It allows you the most time in the park since you can plan to leave well before the park opens and then stay until the very last person leaves the park.
• Check your seats before you get out of the vehicle. You don’t want to accidentally leave anything behind.

So, while many people ask, “how far is Disney from Universal?” you will find that with a bit of research, you can easily plan to sneak in a little visit to Universal Studios when you are vacationing in Disneyland. We’re excited that our California residents get to start us off with these park visits and look forward to when the rest of us get to join them. We’ve all missed being able to visit Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood.

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When is The Best Time to Visit Disneyland 2023?

Our Disneyland Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices, and average temperature. We also break down the best time to visit Disneyland based on specific times of the year and special events.

Don’t forget to check out our wonderful friends over at Theme Park Today, as well!