Tips when renting a car at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Note that prices rise during peak travel seasons, such as summer break, major sporting events like NFL/American football and MLB baseball games, and big entertainment industry events like the Grammy Awards and the Academy Awards. Book early!
- In California, you can drive with a valid driver’s license from your own country. If you plan on doing an extended stay in the United States and/or driving into other states, you may want to obtain an International Driver’s Permit (IDP). Still, you will need to present your actual license alongside your IDP when asked for a valid driver’s license.
- You will find many rental car offices near LAX, especially along Century Boulevard to the east of the airline terminals. Check with your rental car agency about shuttle service from the terminals to their LAX-area office.
- While you can find many more rental car offices across the LA basin, make sure you know where you’re going if you plan to pick up a rental car farther away from the airport. If in doubt, pick a pick-up location by the airport. (See above.)
- Planning to drive out of state and/or use any toll roads? Ask your rental agency how they handle fees.
- Pick the right car for your journey. Smaller cars will be more efficient on busy city streets, while SUVs or all-wheel-drive vehicles are more suitable for trips outside the city, especially if you’re planning road trips to rural areas like the Central Coast, the mountains, and the deserts.
- Inspect the car and take photos at pickup and drop-off.
- Though winter snowfall almost never happens at the coast and low desert areas (like Palm Springs), tire chains may be required when driving into mountain areas with colder climates.
Why Rent a Car at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Once off the plane (and past U.S. Customs), visitors can find various shuttles on the ground floor/arrivals area to connect to the designated LAXit space for rideshare and taxi cars, as well as shuttles to rental car offices and mass transit. As noted earlier, unless you know for sure where you want to go to pick up a car away from the airport, you will likely have an easier time utilizing a LAX rental car shuttle to pick up your car nearby.
Since the airport is close to the I-105 and I-405 freeways, you can stow your luggage in the trunk and start driving wherever you want to go. It’s ideal for travellers with children, on a tight schedule, or planning to visit multiple destinations. While Los Angeles has improved in recent years in providing more mass transit options, service remains limited outside key areas like Downtown LA, Hollywood, and Santa Monica. A car lets you reach more places with ease.
Driving from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – Getting Started
As noted above, LAX connects to the I-105 and I-405 freeways, and these connect to even more of LA’s gargantuan freeway network. Depending on traffic, you should be able to reach Santa Monica in about 15-35 minutes, Downtown LA in about 30-70 minutes, and Hollywood in about 45-90 minutes.
In addition, California’s famed Pacific Coast Highway (PCH, or Highway 1) runs right through LAX, making it surprisingly easy to get from the airport to the area’s famed beaches. Whichever route you take, budget yourself plenty of time to get there, as LA traffic can be notoriously heavy.
Common routes include:
- Malibu – About 30-70 minutes via PCH/Highway 1 north
- Beverly Hills/West Hollywood – 30-60 minutes via I-405 north or La Cienega Boulevard
- Pasadena – 1-2 hours via I-105 east and I-110 north
- Ojai – 2-3.5 hours via I-405 north, US 101 north, and SR 33 north
- Santa Barbara – 2–3.5 hours via I-405 north and US 101 north
- Palm Springs – 3-4.5 hours via I-105 east, I-605 north, and I-10 east
- Long Beach – 45-90 minutes via I-405 south and I-710 south
- Anaheim/Disneyland – 1-2 hours via I-105 east and I-5 south
- Laguna Beach – 1.5-2.5 hours via I-405 south, SR 73 (toll road) south, and SR 133 south
Inclement weather and heavy traffic can affect travel times, so use GPS or your favorite navigation app for real-time updates and road conditions. In addition, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has its own QuickMap app available for download onto Apple and Android devices. If you’re driving into rural areas, cell service can be limited, so save and download directions before you start driving.
Explore Los Angeles (and More) from LAX
Los Angeles may be world-famous for the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry, but there’s much more to the city and the larger region beyond the bright lights of Hollywood. All around the city, there are vibrant multicultural neighbourhoods offering everything from delectable street tacos to captivating street art. And farther out, you will find more of Southern California’s legendary beaches, thrilling theme parks, and captivating mountain and desert landscapes.
In and around Los Angeles:
- Downtown (DTLA) – Once derided as a gritty collection of corporate and government offices, DTLA has been evolving into a more dynamic hub of avant garde art, cutting-edge cuisine, fun and funky discount shopping, and major league sports
- Hollywood – If you like classic cinema lore, you will love hunting for landmarks around this famed neighbourhood
- West Hollywood & Beverly Hills – West Hollywood is home to some of LA’s most legendary nightlife venues (including many LGBTQ-inclusive spaces), while the adjacent town of Beverly Hills has some of the area’s fanciest luxury hotels, gourmet restaurants, and designer boutiques
- Malibu – A long-time favorite beach town of celebrities, one glimpse of Malibu’s beaches helps you understand why they buy houses here
- Pasadena & San Marino – This area has several top-notch museums like The Huntington and the Norton Simon, and it’s a welcoming gateway to the beautifully multicultural San Gabriel Valley
- Long Beach – For a cool and diverse urban community with unique coastal scenery, this city at the southern end of LA County is worth the detour
Recommended day trips and scenic routes:
- Anaheim – This is where you will find “The Happiest Place on Earth”
