Basics to LAX for Tourists and Visitors
LAX Logistics: A Traveler's Handbook for Arrival, Departure, and Exploring LA
LAX Logistics: A Traveler's Handbook for Arrival, Departure, and Exploring LA
My first time driving to LAX, I drove my dad to Arrivals (instead of the intended Departures) and was too stressed to make another loop around the airport that I asked him to get out! He ended up finding an LAX employee, who pointed him to a shuttle. He was able to take the shuttle to the correct terminal and board his plane on time.
This is all to say, that to a small Southern gal, LAX was just too big, too overwhelming, too fast, and just too much! Thus, let me write a primer for those who are landing or departing from LAX. I hope this helps!
Basic LAX Traffic Flow
LAX is a circular-shaped airport with 9 Terminals (if you count Terminals 1 thru 8 and Terminal B). The traffic flows from Terminal 1 thru Terminal 8 in sequential order.
There are two levels: Departures are on the upper (or second) level, and Arrivals are on the lower (or ground floor) level. If you miss your terminal, you can just go around that “track” again. I would estimate it takes ~15 minutes to go around LAX; although with traffic, this can ebb and flow.
There are a few “cut-acrosses”, as in, if you’re going to Terminal 8, keep to the left and you will literally be able to turn left shortly after Terminal 1 and cut across the LAX track (if you will) to get to Terminal 8 faster. However, to take these “cut-acrosses” you will need to stay left and pay attention. Note: sometimes, a few of them are closed, in which case you need to go around the track as normal.
Through traffic keep to the left and drop-offs should keep to the right (closest to the curb). You cannot move very fast, as everyone, cuts everyone off, and there’s a flurry of cars literally just stopped 2 lanes away from the curb (although is is not allowed) and doors opening and pedestrians unloading. In all, just say: stay alert and move as fluidly and safely as you can!
How do I get from LAX to my hotel, Airbnb or my final destination?
My go-to is to take an Uber or Lyft. It is more affordable than traditional taxis, and it will take you where you want to go.
If you don’t mind spending a little more, but prefer immediacy then most likely a traditional taxi is faster. Usually (during busy times), there is a line of taxis waiting to pick up willing passengers. Currently, traditional taxis are right next to the Uber/Lyft pick-up lanes. So tempting to grab a waiting taxi that is already there rather than wait an undisclosed amount of time for your ridesharing app.
Not to scare you, but sharing a few experiences of using ride-sharing apps at LAX; so you know how unpredictable they can be:
STORY 1: Basically, the driver kept messaging me, “Where are you going?” as he did not want to pick me up unless I was going a certain distance. I imagine because it was 2 AM, he only wanted to take rides that were worth it. He kept asking me to cancel, but I refused as I did not want to be charged. Thus, he just sat in the Airport Waiting Lot and refused to drive the 5 minutes to pick me up! This lasted 30-40 minutes, and I am at my wit’s end trying to get home and go to bed! Nothing worse than seeing your Lyft a few blocks away and not moving. Eventually, I called another driver using the competitor’s app and they eventually came. This is all to say, that if you fly in during a dead time, it may be slower, harder and/or more stressful to get to your end destination. So be mentally prepared to take a traditional taxi, practice patience and plan accordingly. That night, it took me about 2 hours to get to my destination which was only a 20-30 minute drive from LAX.
STORY 2: The bane of my existence: traffic. Traffic is really bad around LAX, especially during peak travel times and seasons. There is one turn lane to get to the ride-sharing pick-up zone (called LAX-it), and during especially busy times (like rush hour) the line stretches the entire block, and it’s incredibly tedious for the drivers to even make it to the LAX-it to pick you up! In a similar vein, I’ve had 2-3 drivers start driving my way, but then cancel! Then I had to wait 20 minutes to be connected to another driver - so by the time I got home - it was a 2-hour journey when I literally could have taken the bus and been home faster. In short, you’re at the mercy of the Ridesharing app’s algorithm, the drivers, and the traffic. I wouldn’t plan anything immediately after the airport as that can be stressful to get there on time. I would simply plan to get to your homebase, check-in and settle in on the same day; I would consider that a victory!!
That being said, 80% of the time, I usually get home within 1 - 1.5 hours of landing. This includes walking to LAX-it (the ridesharing pick-up zone), and then calling and waiting for my driver. Usually, it just works. Thus I continue to recommend using Ridesharing Apps and taxis as they are the most affordable, and generally work OK for the price and time.
How do I get to the ridesharing pick-up zone (LAX-it)?
LAX created a ride-sharing and now taxi pick-up zone and call it LAX-it.
Look for the green LAX-it signs, bus stops, and arrows telling you where to (1) wait for the bus/shuttle or (2) how to walk to the LAX-it zone.
I like to land, look on my map at the LAX-it location, and start walking in that direction; as I’ve found the airport signage to sometimes point me in the opposite direction for walking (so pay attention if you want to walk) and follow your map over their signs.
Look for the LAX-it bus and logo
LAX-it shuttle stop (wait here to catch the shuttle/bus)
Should I walk to LAX-it [the rideshare/taxi pick-up zone at LAX]?
Only if you are (1) very close and/or do not mind wheeling or carrying your luggage there or (2) you’ve waited and waited for the LAX-it bus and still have not seen it (anything longer than 15 minutes, I do not think is acceptable).
Note: Terminal 1 is closest to LAX-it (only 7 minutes walk!) so highly recommend walking if you’re super close and can bear it. LAX is a circle, so not too far are Terminal 8 and Terminal 7, these are easily a 10-15 minute walk (assume one roller suitcase).
For myself, I often pack one roll-on suitcase, so I enjoy the walk to LAX-it (helps stretch my legs after a long flight). Usually, it’s a 15-20 minute walk, depending on which terminal I arrive at. I’ve only taken the LAX-it bus once, and as a lover of walking, that was enough for me. I would estimate about 70% of passengers take the LAX-it bus as it looks frequent.
What other modes of Transportation to-and-from LAX can I take?
LAX has it all except a lightrail, a subway, or a “people mover". In the future, there is a light rail being built; but the timeline keeps getting extended, TBD. I’ll update this blog post once the LAX lightrail and people mover (connector) open!! For now, here is a brief overview of your transportation options:
Flyaway Bus - Bus that runs from LAX to a set neighborhood in LA. Currently, they depart/arrive at LA Union Station and Van Nuys. Back in the day, it used to depart/arrive from many more neighborhoods but this has been limited in recent years. Check out the Flyaway website for the latest options. Currently, one-way tickets cost $9.75.
Public Transportation Bus - there are bus stops walking distance from the terminals (5-25 minutes walk depending where you land). But there’s also an LAX City Bus Center; you need to catch the shuttle to get to the bus center. From there, the world is your oyster if you can navigate it! Note, it does not run late at night. Check this website for the latest info and other city bus options.
Shuttles (Hotels, Parking Lots and Car Rental Lots) - These circulate between the Hotel, Parking Lots, and Car Rental Lots picking up customers and bringing them to their (usually) nearby offices.
Rental Car - most rental cars have a shuttle you must take to pick up your rental car
Traditional Taxi - pick-up zone is at LAX-it
Uber / Lyft and other ridesharing apps - pick-up zone is at LAX-it
Should I rent a car to get around LA?
It Depends…Most Likely, No
Yes, if you are comfortable with driving including freeways, changing lanes, stop-and-go traffic, and parallel parking. Make sure you have low expectations as the odds are you will be stuck in traffic; this will test your patience. Also yes if you are staying long term in LA, say more than a few weeks or months. Lyfing/Ubering will add up and the car is still the most efficient way (time, money cost) to get around over the ridesharing apps.
If you’re only here for a long weekend or one to two weeks-ish, then I recommend Uber-ing/Lyfting, scootering, and avoiding a car altogether! A car comes with the added stress of parking, driving (and yes, I’ll say it again) traffic! If you’re just a passenger, you can sit back and relax. When you’re the driver, there is no such thing.
Many people come to LA and know it has a lot of traffic, but then sit around and complain when they drive during peak rush hour, going in the direction of peak traffic! I mean, what did you expect?!? As a local, I do not want to hear people complain about traffic. It is our life and we accept it. If you do not like it, feel free to leave :) It will be one less car on the road (yay!). No intention to be mean, but we all know there’s traffic! If anything, we like to make one comment about how it can be especially bad on certain days, then move on with the conversation! Sometimes, we may stand around and share our specific, “hidden” shortcuts. We commiserate and then try to find better solutions. If none exists, we accept it and move on. Or we just move closer to work and where we want to be :)
Is it safe to take LA Public Transportation?
Depends on your definition of safe! I continue to use the Lightrail infrequently on the weekends, exercising great caution. Buses, I have less experience with since I usually take my car.
Buses - tend to be taken by regulars going to and from work, and school. I think these are “safer” in the sense it’s taken by regulars who know the route. In terms of incidents, buses have less incidents than the lightrails.
Lightrail - As a female who takes lightrail alone, about 90% of the time there’s someone who is giving me the creeps in the same train car. I like to keep my distance and keep my pepper spray close. I mind my own business and nothing (knock on wood) has ever happened to me. The most is I’ve been very uncomfortable and cannot wait to get to my destination. Usually, there are other people like me, and we try to keep to ourselves. I often feel the lightrail cars are policed less, and can sometimes be emptier which mean trouble! I would not take the lightrail during the night (after 8p or 9p depending on day/location and direction of travel) unless I am with friends, am familiar with the area, or going a very short distance (in that case just call an Uber or Lyft anyway!).
Should I take LA Public Transportation, as a tourist?
This most depends on where you’re staying and where you’re going.
Most likely, no. There may be a few instances where - hey - jump on the lightrail or bus, go 3 stops and you’re there — by all means take public transportation if it’s easy (areas like WeHo, some areas of Hollywood, Santa Monica’s Bus system is okay, etc)! But for the most part, I recommend you stay away from public transportation as it’s kinda a headache. If you want to have the most stress-free vacation and have the budget to spend on Lyft/Uber - then I overwhelmingly recommend other forms to get around town.
That being said, my partner loves public transportation. Wherever we go, he gets a thrill navigating the subway and buses. In that case, go for it! Just know, that out of all the cities I’ve been to, and taken all their public transportation - my observation is LA is sketchier. Take that with a grain of salt as I’m sure NYC might beat LA, all I can say, is I feel safer in NYC as there are more eyeballs and public transportation is part of daily life. In LA, those who can afford to have a car drive, so we do not have that meaningful, larger public audience to help keep an eye out (all the time)!
About Linhda
Linhda loves being a tourist in her own city and sharing her 10+ years of Los Angeles knowledge with others!
She is an avid bike-to-work cyclist (aka commuter), and has recently taken up roller skating. If you have any LA questions drop her a line and/or say HELLO! She loves meeting new peeps. Cheers.
