By air. The closest airport is John Wayne / Orange County (SNA), 20 minutes inland — cheap shuttles and rideshares are easy. Long Beach (LGB) is about 25 minutes north on the 405. LAX is 45–90 minutes north depending on traffic.
By car. From LA, take the 405 south to Beach Boulevard (Highway 39) and exit south for ten minutes to the beach. From San Diego, the 5 north to the 405 north to Beach. Parking downtown is metered structures and street; long-stay use the Pacific City garage off PCH.
By train and bus. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner stops at Anaheim and Santa Ana; both are 25 minutes from the beach by rideshare. OCTA bus 1 runs the length of PCH along the beach and is the most useful local route.