From LAX airport one can take the FlyAway bus to Union Station. At Union Station, transfer to the Gold Line metro. Get off at either Memorial Park or Lake Station in Pasadena. You can use Pasadena Transit buses (e.g., line 10 from Colorado Boulevard to get to Caltech campus. Ask the driver where to get off closest to the California/Wilson corner.

Uber and Lyft can both pick up at LAX now in addition to traditional taxi companies.

Some of the often used hotels/motels close to Caltech in Pasadena include Vagabond Inn, Saga Motor Hotel and Hilton Pasadena.