If you’ve booked your flight out of LAX and decided to drive there in your own car, you’ll most likely be met with a dozen bewildering choices when you search online. You’ve no idea what’s better or why, and no idea what to do once you get there. Here’s what actually happens, from booking to arriving at the gate, so you know what to expect. We’ll cover the full process, so you’re not figuring it out with your luggage in one hand and your phone in the other.
Offsite vs. onsite parking
Onsite parking is available primarily in the Central Terminal Area (CTA) parking structures that are directly across the terminals and don’t need shuttles. The airport also has two shuttle lots – the LAX Economy Parking Lot and the Budget Parking Lot. This convenience comes at a price, though, and onsite parking gets more expensive the longer you need to park.
Offsite lots are not run by the airport and are usually a short drive from the terminals. They usually cost a fraction of what you’d need to spend on onsite parking. Most of these lots have their own shuttles that run to and from the airport at 15 to 20-minute intervals.
You can decide pretty easily based on your preferences. Onsite if the price is not a factor and you need to be close to the terminals. Offsite if you’d like to shave 60% off parking costs and don’t mind a shuttle ride that adds maybe 15 to 20 minutes to your trip.
Offsite parking: What to expect
Booking is the easy part, especially if you’re using the Way website or app to book LAX airport parking. All you have to do is input from when to when you need to park, and choose from 100+ parking lots on Way. Reserving ahead of time guarantees you a spot even before you leave home, and it’s usually much cheaper than drive-up rates.
Once you’ve reserved your spot, go over your confirmation and note shuttle timings and how long it takes to get from the lot to your terminal. You want to make sure to get to the lot early enough that you have enough time to park your car, board the shuttle, and reach the airport early enough to clear TSA.
At the lot
On the day of travel, drive to the lot as planned. When you arrive at the lot, you’ll pull in and check in, usually with an attendant or a quick self-check-in, depending on the property. Most lots ask for your confirmation, and a look at your ID, and the whole thing takes a couple of minutes if it’s not peak travel season (like the holidays, for instance) and there’s no long line ahead of you.
Once you’re parked, take your bags and head to the shuttle pickup area. Most shuttles typically run every 10 to 20 minutes. However, that can change during busy travel hours or peak season. It’s best not to assume you’ll walk straight onto a waiting van. It’s best to make your plans so that you have a decent buffer rather than timing your arrival down to the minute.
Once you’re on the shuttle, the ride to your terminal will depend on how far away the lot is, how much traffic you encounter, and which terminal you’re flying from. Drop-off usually happens curbside, right where departures are, so you’re not hauling luggage across a parking structure to get to check-in.
If you want to time all of this against real conditions on the day you fly, it helps to check LAX TSA wait times and your LAX flight status before you leave the house.
What to expect if you park onsite
With onsite parking, especially the non-shuttle lots, you’ll be parking really close to the airport. If you don’t have the patience for shuttles and don’t mind spending extra on parking, onsite would be a good choice. For instance, the CTA lots (approx. 7000 spaces) don’t need shuttles and cost between $60-$75 for a day. All you need to do is drive to the garage, follow the signage, park, grab your bags, and walk to your terminal.
There are two other official shuttle lots – the LAX Economy Parking Lot (4000 spaces, $35/day) and the Budget Parking Lot (2000 spaces, $25/day). If you’re parking at one of these lots, expect the same process as the offsite lots and factor in the shuttle times.
The biggest problem you’re likely to face with onsite parking, especially at LAX, is the price. If you’re going to park for a week, for instance, you’ll end up spending $140–$525, depending on which lot you choose. Another problem is availability – the cheaper lots tend to sell out pretty quickly.
Automated People Mover
The Automated People Mover, named Skylink, was initially slated to open in 2023, but it is not yet open to the public. Test runs are being conducted now, but no opening date has been announced. Once it’s running, it is expected to connect the Economy Lot, a new metro station, and the rental car facility to the terminals. For now, do not factor it into your travel plans.
LAX EV parking
Some of the onsite and offsite LAX lots offer EV charging facilities, if you are driving an electric car and don’t want to have to search for a charger after you return. Lots that offer EV charging will clearly mention that they have them. It is worth confirming with the specific lot before you book rather than assuming it’s included.
What LAX-it is
Travelers are often confused about what LAX-it has to do with parking. For clarity, LAX-it is not a parking lot. It’s the airport’s dedicated pickup and drop-off zone for rideshare and taxis. It is located east of Terminal 1 at the corner of World Way and Sky Way. If you’re driving yourself and parking your own car, LAX-it is not a factor at all, so don’t let the name throw you off when you’re researching your options online.
Parking for a very short time
If you’re dropping someone off or picking someone up instead of paying for parking, consider the free Cell Phone Waiting Lot. You can wait there at no charge until your passenger has their bags, then head over once they call or message you. There’s a catch, though. There are only a 100 odd spaces available.
How to time your travel from the Los Angeles Airport
For normal travel days/seasons, booking a day or two ahead is good enough for most offsite lots, though earlier is always better if you already know your dates. On the arrival side, the standard advice holds here too. As mentioned earlier, arrive with enough time to park, catch your shuttle, and clear security without trouble.
If you’re parking offsite, add that extra 15 to 20 minutes for check-in and the shuttle ride on top of however early you’d normally arrive. Keep in mind that the airport expects you to arrive two hours before for a domestic flight and 3 hours before for an international flight.
Parking during the holidays and peak season
If you’re flying out from Los Angeles during the holidays or long weekends, plan well ahead. Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the December holidays, spring break, these are the days when everyone else has the same idea you do. Consequently, parking lots fill up pretty quickly, and traffic can be a pain, and shuttle schedules might go awry.
Reserving your spot online becomes very important during these times. If you plan to drive up and find a spot midday on a peak travel weekend, there’s a real chance the closest garages are already full. We recommend you book your offsite spot as soon as your travel plans are confirmed, and make sure to add extra time to your shuttle wait. You may not be able to eliminate the crowds, but you can be the person who didn’t miss a flight over a parking lot.
What to know before you reserve parking
- Make sure the lot you’re booking at offers free cancellation. Travel plans often change, and you should not have to pay any penalty because you booked early.
- Check if the lot you’re booking at offers a guaranteed spot. Once you’ve reserved, they should hold a parking spot for you, no matter what.
- Look into safety measures like 24/7 security with cameras, especially if you’re going to be away for several days at a stretch.
- If you don’t want to book a cab or a rideshare from the lot to the airport, make sure the lot offers free shuttle service.
FAQ
Where is short-term parking at LAX?
LAX short-term parking is available in the CTA parking garages, Economy Parking lot, Premium Parking lot, Budget Parking lot, and the Van Nuys Flyaway lot.
What happens if my flight is delayed after I’ve already parked?
Your reservation will stay valid, since you’ve already checked in your car. However, it might be a good idea to extend your reservation online if that option is available.
Do offsite shuttles pick up and drop off at night?
Shuttles run around the clock at most offsite lots. That means, if your flight lands late, you don’t have to wait until morning. Just have your confirmation ready and know your lot’s pickup location before you land.
Is LAX-it the same thing as parking at LAX?
No, LAX-it is a pickup and drop-off zone for rideshare and taxis, not a place to park your car. If you’re parking, you’ll head to your onsite garage or offsite lot instead, and LAX-it won’t be part of your plans.
Saul Jefferson is a car expert who knows the ins and outs of car ownership and makes even the most complex topics easy to understand. Driven by curiosity, he believes in constantly learning, unlearning, and relearning to stay ahead. Find him in his garage after hours, fine-tuning his car.
