Los Angeles Airport Transportation Guide: The Easy Overview

One attraction Los Angeles has is just how many people visit it each year. With its beaches and sunshine more than 40 million people visit the city every year. This makes Los Angeles one of the largest cities in the United States, but also one of the hardest to navigate. With Los Angeles International Airport being one of the busiest airports in the world, driving on the roads leading to the airport can be just as congested as the roads leading into the city. Planes have runways, and so do cars. Choose how you want to arrive or how you want to leave before you arrive or leave.

There are shuttles that run every 30 minutes. A single shuttle will arrive at and depart from each terminal and each parking structure (structure C and the Aviation Metro Station). You do not need to do this twice.

Hotel shuttles leave from and arrive at the lower terminal area and private parking shuttles leave from and arrive at the upper terminal area. The airport is currently under construction.

With how many different parking structures there are, driving is the easiest option. There are 7 different parking structures at LAX. Each one has a height limit. There is also daily parking available, but it can be expensive.

Parking Lot C is also a place where people can save money after they have chosen their parking option. Lot C is located off Sepulveda Boulevard and 96th Street and charges $4 per hour, with a maximum of $12 per day. Lot C provides a free shuttle service to all terminals, running every 30 minutes and operating 24 hours a day. To return to the airport, passengers must board the C shuttle at the blue shuttle stop located at the upper departure level of the airport. While Lot C is a more affordable option, it is important to note that parking spaces cannot be reserved, which could lead to a more inconvenient parking experience for those who do not want to risk the chance of not getting a spot.

For example, more affordable parking options are located closer to LAX, which include other private parking companies and hotels. In addition to the lower prices that are closer to the airport, customers have the ability to reserve parking spots in advance and have the ability to cancel their reservations without any fees. Many of these parking facilities also provide additional services such as free newspapers, bottled water, and wet car washes. Each of these parking facilities offer free shuttles to and from the airport. However, most of these facilities require passengers to use the orange Private Parking Lots shuttle zone located at the upper departures.

An airport hotel can be a great option for customers who need to leave their car at the airport for an extended period of time because some hotels allow their guests to use the hotel shuttle to the airport and also provide free parking with the hotel stay, which can be 21 days or more. By doing this, the customers can avoid parking fees and do not need to make the early morning drive to the airport to keep the hotel parking free. Shuttle services for the hotels and parking lots are located in the lower arrivals section with red markings.

The easiest way to get around Los Angeles is to use a rental car. Rental-car shuttles are located at the Purple Level parking garage. Tell the driver what rental car company you are using to get to your rental car shuttle. Some rental car companies will pick you up near Century Blvd, and you will need to take Route G to the blue rental car shuttle stop. If you do not want to leave your car at the airport, consider a one-way rental where you can pick up the rental car at your house, drive to LAX, and drop it off.

Uber and Lyft are available to use at LAX. Confirm that the driver's information matches the information in the app before getting into the car. Rideshare vehicles pick you up at the Ride Service Level, while the regular taxi cabs pick up at the lower arrivals level in the yellow taxi spots.

An alternative to driving is the FlyAway bus, which connects several destinations to LAX, including Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles, Westwood, Hollywood, Long Beach, Van Nuys, and the Woodley Station which is part of the Orange Line. The FlyAway bus makes stops at the FlyAway Bus and Long-Distance Van stops at LAX. There is a small fee between $8 and $10 to ride the bus and the driver only accepts payment via credit or debit card. However, cash tickets can be purchased at the Union Station from the Metrolink ticket machines.

Shared vans are ideal for travelers who want the convenience of door-to-door transport without the cost of hiring a private vehicle. Companies like Super Shuttle, Prime Time Shuttle, and Go Group offer one-way and round-trip bookings to any destination, and also offer private transfers, which are more expensive. Shared vans leave from the orange Shared Vans zone.

Another option for travelers who like to be served in Mandarin or Cantonese are Chinese-language airport transfer companies. Since the price depends on the distance, it is best to call them in advance to obtain an estimate.

Although public transit is an option, it is less convenient than a private vehicle. The closest Metro station is Aviation/LAX on the Green Line, which can be reached via Route G. To get back to the station from the airport, take Route G at the blue LAX Shuttle-Airline Connection stop. For local buses, take Route C to the Metro Bus Center near Lot C, where you can connect to all the Los Angeles Metro services, and the buses to Culver City, Santa Monica, and Torrance.

Inside the airport, Route A is the main terminal-to-terminal shuttle. This service runs 24 hours a day, every 10 minutes, and is available at the blue shuttle signage outside terminals.

The best way to strategize at LAX is to not think of it as a terminal where you can make last minute decisions. Unless you are renting a vehicle, take the complimentary shuttle as it best fits your itinerary. In a vast metropolis like this, your right shuttle connection could save you much more than a few bucks and spare you another trip through LA traffic.