Guide To Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

What’s the best way to get to and from LAX?

Travelling to and from Los Angeles International Airport is not known as the easiest trip in the world, and it is really worthwhile to plan this part of your journey in advance. That said, the Landside Access Modernisation Program (LAMP) at LAX has already begun, with the aim of relieving congestion and improving the travel experience for people who are going to or from the 5th busiest airport in the world.

View of Freeway 405 (or "the 405"), a major north-south Interstate which runs past LAX. Image: Getty

Under construction is a new electric train system which will run on an elevated guideway, with six stations in total, expected to be fully operational in 2023. It will be free, run 24/7, and is expected to carry around 30 million passengers a year. In the meantime…

You’ll find that LAX is located around 30 kilometres to the southwest of Downtown LA. There are several options for getting to and from the airport, suiting all budgets and all kinds of travel requirements.

About 8 kilometres from LAX the Harbor Freeway interchanges with the Century Freeway. Image: Getty

The Fastest: LAX FlyAway bus service offers a convenient service to and from each terminal at LAX, seven days a week. Each bus is marked with its individual service location, with destinations including Van Nuys (San Fernando Valley), Union Station (Downtown LA), Westwood (West Los Angeles/UCLA), Santa Monica, Long Beach and Hollywood. Travellers catching the bus from LAX should head to the lower / arrivals level of each terminal and look for the green ‘FlyAway’ bus sign. The non-stop service uses the regional ‘High Occupancy Vehicle’ lanes allowing faster travel between destinations.

The Cheapest: The Metro Rail system offers a complimentary shuttle between the airport and the Metro Green Line Aviation Station close to the airport. From here passengers can access stops all over the Greater Los Angeles area on the Green Line. Passengers wishing to use this shuttle bus service should wait under the LAX Shuttle & Airline Connections sign on the Lower/Arrivals Level islands in front of each terminal, and board the "G" Shuttle.

Buses, taxis and car hire: In a city famous for its extensive freeway network, car hire is a popular option for travellers to and from LAX. Rental Car offices are located away from the airline terminals and several rental car companies are authorized to pick up and drop off their customers at the airline terminals using courtesy shuttles. These companies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz and Thrifty, and will meet you under the purple sign "Rental Car Shuttles" on the Lower/Arrivals Level islands outside baggage claim. Shuttle buses are frequent and free, making this an easy option if you’re keen to set out from LA by car.

Local bus is another option. To get to the Metro Bus Centre, take the “Lot C” Shuttle, which you’ll find on the Upper/Departures Level, near the “Private Parking Lots Shuttle Zone” sign. Buses from here serve the Los Angeles area. There are also plenty of charter bus companies that will service a particular area, such as the Central Coast Shuttle (Ventura, Santa Barbara, Buellton and Santa Maria) and Mickey’s Space Ship Shuttle which services Universal Studios and all Disneyland Anaheim resort hotels.

If you just want to get to your hotel as simply as possible, taxis are available. You’ll find them curbside on the Lower/Arrival Level islands in front of each terminal under the yellow sign indicating Taxis. The major companies include Checker, Independent and Yellow Cab. A typical fare to downtown LA will cost around AU$70, and can take anywhere between 20-50 minutes depending on traffic conditions.

Uber and rideshare: From LAX, Uber and other rideshare services such as Lyft, Inc. and Opoli are authorised to provide pick-up services at LAX. If you’re using one of these services, make your way to the signs that state “Ride Service Pick-Up”, on the Upper/Departures Level.

Chauffeur/Door-to-door transfers: Door-to-door shuttle companies operate out of LAX with Roadrunner Shuttle being one of the most popular. Roadrunner Shuttle operates north of LA, and take passengers between LAX and Simi Valley, as well as Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Shared ride van services also operate out of LAX. Super Shuttle is authorised to serve all Southern California counties, and will pick up passengers on the Lower/Arrivals Level in front of each terminal.

Picking up passengers: To reduce congestion in the Central Terminal Area, LAX also has a service called the ‘Cell Phone Waiting Lot’, which means that motorists can wait for free for up to two hours, but vehicles must be attended at all times. The waiting zone is at the northwest corner of 96th Street and Vicksburg Avenue and is offered 24 hours.

LAX Parking

Parking at Los Angeles International Airport includes two on-site options (Central Terminal Area parking and Economy Parking Lot C) as well as several off-site lots and garages near the airport.

Short Stay: The Central Terminal Area Parking Structures at LAX provide short term parking for picking up and dropping off passengers at a rate of $3 for the first hour and $2 for every 30 minutes after, capped at a maximum of $30 per 24 hours. The Economy Parking Lot C car park is an alternative place to park, with short term parking at $4 per hour and $4 for each additional hour, capped at $12 for 24 hours.

Long Stay: There are a few different choices of long term parking around LAX if you need to leave your car when you jet off from the airport. Long-term airport parking stations provide complimentary shuttles to and from the airport for you and your baggage. The ‘Economy Parking Lot C’ provides long-term parking for $12 per 24 hours close to the airport on the corner of 96th Street and Sepulveda Boulevard, with frequent free shuttles stopping at each terminal. The nearby Hilton is another popular long-term parking option, offering covered and secured parking, valet parking and plush transfers operating every 10-15 minutes 24 hours a day from the hotel to the airport. Rates start from $11 per day.

Business and valet parking: For the most convenient parking at LAX, the LAX Parking Curb Express service offers curbside valet parking. To use this service, simply drive your car to the LAX Parking Curb Express depot located on Sepulveda Boulevard, one block from the airport, and your personal valet will then drive you to your airlines departure terminal in the comfort of your own car. The valet will also assist with your baggage before safely parking your car at the depot. On your return the car will arrive to meet you. Rates for valet parking start at $18 per day / $99 per week for outdoor parking, and $22 per day / $120 per week for covered parking.

How do I transfer between terminals at LAX?

Frequent, courtesy shuttle service is provided between terminals and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and runs every 10 minutes. This is known as the ‘A Route’. Shuttle service is also provided to and from the Metro Rail Green Line Aviation Station, and this is called the ‘G Route’.  To use the shuttle service, look for the blue LAX Shuttle & Airline Connections sign on the Lower/Arrivals Level islands in front of each terminal.