Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX) LAX: Departure times and transfers

Flying from/to Los Angeles International Airport

If you are planning to fly to/from Los Angeles International Airport, check out our tips on what’s the best way to travel between the airport and the city center. It’s always good to know, what’s the most convenient way to get to your destination. You can also find some data on the Los Angeles International Airport facilities and some local tips on the airport itself.

Travel from Los Angeles to Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is colossal. It is the world's fourth busiest airport and the United States' second busiest, behind only Atlanta, and the airport looks after nearly 88 million passengers every year. Despite being a little out of town, the airport is easy to get to, as it is now reachable by the LA subway system as well as by bus and taxi. 

What's the best way to get to the airport from the city center?

There are two main forms of public transit connecting downtown LA to Los Angeles International Airport. One is the subway, which can be boarded from anywhere in downtown LA, and goes out to Aviation station near the airport. This is the cheapest way to get to the airport, although not necessarily the fastest. The other main public transit option is to take the FlyAway bus, a dedicated bus service that connects the city center to the airport terminals. There are also bus services provided by non-specialized providers like Culver City and Torrance that go to the airport. Uber and Lyft serve the airport as well, as do conventional taxis.

How far is it from the city center to the airport? 

With a distance of 18.6 miles (30 kilometers) between downtown LA and the airport, the journey is relatively lengthy, but that does not mean it needs to take a long time. To get to the airport by metro, passengers can take the blue line subway out to Willowbrook station from downtown, where they can change to get onto the green line, which serves Aviation station. Aviation station is not quite at the airport itself, but there is a free shuttle bus (Green Line G) from Aviation station to all the airport's terminals. The LA subway runs from 4:00 a.m. to around 12:00 a.m., and the whole journey (including shuttle bus) should take around an hour. The FlyAway Bus leaves from 5 stops in the downtown area, including Hollywood and Santa Monica, and should only take around 35 minutes if the traffic is good. The local bus services that serve the airport are less direct and can take a fair amount longer. A taxi will probably take around half an hour in light traffic. 

What facilities are there at the airport? 

LAX is extremely well served for eateries and cafes, with passengers being able to pick whatever cuisine they wish. Favorites include the 8 oz. Burger Bar, 800 Degrees Pizza, Corona Bar, Einstein Bros. Bagels and La Familia. Duty free shopping includes outlets from Burberry, Hermes and Gucci, while there are newsstands throughout the terminals where passengers can pick up a copy of the LA Times. The airport is well equipped to aid passengers with limited mobility, with each terminal equipped with ramps between street level and the building and lifts throughout the airport. All airlines that fly from the airport provide wheelchair assistance as required, although passengers do need to let them know in advance.

How accessible is the route for those with limited mobility

The FlyAway bus services that connect the city to the airport are fully accessible, each being fitted with wheelchair lifts. Drivers will also help wheelchair users to get on and off if required. All of the LA subway lines are fully accessible for people in wheelchairs or using mobility aids. There are either elevators or ramps connecting platforms to the street level, and trains are at platform height. Although there are turnstiles at each LA subway station, there will always be one turnstile that is designed to allow wheelchairs through, so these should not present a problem.

Local tips: how to travel to the airport like a local

As the subway is on the 'TAP' card service - LA's contactless transit payment system - most locals would use this mode of transit to get to Los Angeles International Airport, as it is the cheapest, especially if you already have a card. The bus is a fair amount more expensive (around $8 rather than the $2.50 for the subway), although it might be more convenient. If you are planning to stay in LA for any length of time, it is well worth getting a TAP card so that you can make full use of LA's public transit system.