LAX Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is connected to Los Angeles and the surrounding region by a layered network of ground transportation. The right choice depends on how many people are traveling, how much luggage you have, what time of day it is, and whether your destination is downtown or the suburbs.

Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) at LAX

Rideshare pickups have been moved to LAX-it (pronounced "LA Exit"), a dedicated lot east of Terminal 1, reached by free LAX-it Shuttle from each terminal’s arrivals curb. Wait times can hit 25 minutes during peak arrivals. The new LAX Automated People Mover (opening 2026) will eventually connect terminals to a Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility and Metro K Line.

Surge pricing is common during weather delays and immediately after large arrival banks. If your phone shows surge pricing of 1.8x or higher, the rental-car shuttle for a same-day return is often a faster total-cost path than waiting for surge to drop.

Rental cars

Until the APM opens, all rental car brands operate from off-airport facilities served by free Avis/Hertz/Enterprise/Budget/Alamo/National/Dollar/Thrifty/Sixt/Fox courtesy shuttles from the lower level of each terminal. Loyalty members of National (Emerald Club), Hertz (Gold Plus Rewards), Avis (Preferred), and Enterprise (Plus) usually skip the counter entirely. National's choose-any-car-on-the-aisle model is the fastest path through the facility for travelers who do not need a specific vehicle class.

Public transit to and from LAX

LA Metro G Line buses connect LAX City Bus Center (free shuttle from terminals) with the rest of the Metro system. Metro K Line opened service to the airport via LAX/Metro Transit Center, and the Crenshaw connection puts downtown LA at roughly 45–55 minutes for $1.75. For more on US airport transit options, see the ground transport overview.

Hotel and parking shuttles

FlyAway buses to Van Nuys ($10), Union Station ($9.75), and Long Beach connect on the lower level. Karmel, Prime Time, and SuperShuttle also stage at the lower-level rideshare/shuttle island. Free shuttles run on each operator's own loop, typically every 10 to 20 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes overnight. If you do not see your hotel's shuttle, call the front desk before assuming you have missed it — schedules vary on weekends and holidays.

Cell phone waiting area

If somebody is picking you up in a private vehicle, ask them to wait at the cell phone waiting lot until you have your luggage and are at the curb. Pulling to the arrivals curb early at LAX forces the driver into the recirculation loop, which can add 15 to 25 minutes on a busy day.

Accessibility

All ground transportation options at LAX are required to provide equivalent service for travelers with disabilities. Accessible taxis are dispatched on request from the taxi stand. Public transit is wheelchair accessible. Hotel shuttles are required to provide wheelchair accommodation — call the hotel ahead to confirm a lift-equipped vehicle is on your departure-window schedule.

Parking is the alternative

If you are driving yourself, see the LAX parking guide for on-site garages, off-site lots, and a comparison of every published rate.