At LAX, traffic is part of the airport. Leave a buffer beyond the flight-time rule, verify your terminal, and know that ordinary ride-app pickup is at LAX-it—not your arrival curb.

Arrival planner

When should I be at LAX?

Enter the departure time shown on your ticket.

Flight departure

Flight typeDomesticInternational

Add time forAirport parking or shuttle+30 minChecked bags+30 minHoliday or peak travel+30 minOversized luggage+30 min

Recommended airport arrival—:—

Enter your departure time

We’ll work backward from the airport’s recommendation.

2 hours before departure

This is your airport arrival time—not the time to leave home. Airline check-in and bag-drop cutoffs still apply.

Security peakEarly mornings, late afternoons, Sunday evenings, and holiday periods; roadway congestion can add as much risk as security

Security

What you’re walking into

Security conditions differ substantially by terminal. Check the airport's current travel alerts and your airline terminal before setting out.

Check live security wait times before leaving ↗

TSA PreCheck● Yes

CLEAR● Yes

Global Entry● Yes

Mobile Passport● Yes

Official parking

What it costs

Budget$20/dayRemote lot with shuttle

Economy$35/dayParking structure with shuttle

Central Terminal Area$60/dayGeneral drive-up maximum

CTA Premium$70/day

Check live availability and rates ↗

Ground transportation

Don’t stand at the wrong curb

Uber & Lyft

Standard Uber, Lyft, and Opoli pickups use LAX-it next to Terminal 1; walk or take the free green-sign shuttle from Lower/Arrivals. Drop-offs remain curbside at Departures.

Rental cars

Rental companies use the consolidated LAX Rental Car Center; follow purple Rental Car Shuttle signs on Lower/Arrivals.

Terminal transfer

Terminals are connected by walkways and a free landside terminal-connector shuttle. Some airside connections are available, but routing depends on terminal and checkpoint status.

Cell-phone lot

LAX cell-phone waiting lot96th Street, east of Sepulveda Boulevard

LAX Cell Phone Waiting Lot, 96th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Apple Maps Google Maps Waze

A free 24-hour cell-phone waiting lot is available; remain with the vehicle.

Airport essentials

Everything else worth knowing

Free Wi-Fi● Yes

USO lounge● Yes

Pet relief● Yes

EV chargingCharging is available in multiple official parking structures; availability is first-come, first-served.

SmokingNo smoking inside terminals; use permitted outdoor areas away from entrances.

OvernightLAX operates around the clock, but terminal seating and secure-side access are constrained by individual terminal schedules.

Sources & freshness

Trust the facts. Check the source.

Verified September 1, 2026. Time-sensitive details can change without notice.

LAX terminal and airline map↗LAX official address and directions↗LAX official parking↗LAX-it ride-app pickup↗LAX ground transportation↗LAX passenger services↗

LAXLos Angeles