Los Angeles Layover (LAX)

Stuck on a layover at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in California? A major hub airport in California, Los Angeles’ LAX airport is the sixth busiest airport in the world. The airport is located in the southwestern part of the city, roughly 16 miles from downtown which makes many destinations accessible for those stuck on long layovers. If you’re trying to determine whether you can leave the airport during your layover, click here for useful tips.

LAX offers a lot for passengers stuck on a long layover in Los Angeles. The airport offers a large selection of bars and restaurants as well as shopping, listed in the links by terminal location.

Wireless Internet is available during your Los Angeles layover through T-Mobile HotSpot service from any public area. Click here for pricing and connection information.

The airport offers public art displays in a variety of places. You can also check out the LAX Pylons, the 9/11 Exhibit, and a Flight Path Learning Center.

LAX also offers the following airport lounges for your Los Angeles layover:
Terminal 1 – US Airways Club
Terminal 2 – Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines, Air France
Terminal 3 – Alaska Airlines
Terminal 4 – American Airlines
Terminal 5 – Delta
Terminal 6 – Continental Airlines
Terminal 7 – United Airlines
Ton Brady International Terminal – Star Alliance Lounge, SkyTeam Alliance Lounge, Oneworld Alliance Lounge, El Al King David Lounge, reLAX Lounge, and Evergreen Lounge.

If you arrive at night or are looking for a place to rest in Los Angeles, there are a number of hotels close to the airport, of varying price points. To find and compare hotels and pricing near LAX, click here.

Electronic lockers to store luggage are no longer available at LAX. The airport advises you to contact your airline to arrange baggage storage.

CLICK HERE to read about where the stars shop in L.A.

If you’re planning on leaving the airport to explore Los Angeles during your layover, there are many transportation options. Authorized taxis are available outside the Arrivals area, and the fare is metered. In addition, there’s the LAX Shuttle and Airline Connect, FlyAway buses, hotel shuttles, long distance vans, public buses and light rail, rental cars, scheduled buses and shared ride vans.

CLICK HERE for the top 5 Los Angeles rooftop bars

If you drive to the airport and are looking for reduced parking rates, click here for cheap Los Angeles airport parking deals, and you can find an LAX parking map here. http://www.cheapairportparking.org/parking/map

While Los Angeles isn’t the easiest of cities to navigate, there are a lot of great spots nearby for those with the time to explore. Keep in mind that the time it takes to navigate around Los Angeles can greatly vary due to traffic. If you’re tight for time, always check traffic advisories to make sure that the freeways are in good shape. A great resource for Los Angeles freeway traffic is SigAlert.

LayoverGuide.com’s Suggestions For Things To Do On A Los Angeles Layover:

California Beaches
If you’re looking for beaches, there’s a number of beaches nearby including Manhattan Beach, Playa Del Rey, and Redondo Beach. In Santa Monica, you can find a number of activities including walking along the beach, a pier with a ferris wheel and some games for kids, outdoor shopping on third street promenade, and various street performers. There are also tours along the beach including Segway LA.

Sony Pictures Studio
Less than four miles north of LAX is Sony Pictures Studio, which offers two-hour tours through the studio. Check out the site, and call ahead for reservations.

Hollywood
If have quite a few hours to make it into the heart of Hollywood, there’s dozens of tours around the city and drive-bys of celebrity homes. Check out Mann’s Grauman Theater where you can put your hand and feet in the prints of famous celebrities. A short stroll down Hollywood Blvd. will show you the renown pink stars on the sidewalk and the shopping at Hollywood and Highland.

Malibu
If you’re stuck on a long layover and have plenty of time before your connecting flight, further north of Santa Monica is Malibu. Travel north along Pacific Cost Highway, which winds along the beach. You can pass Pepperdine University, and check out a beautiful beach, Point Dume, which is set next to impressive cliffs.

The Los Angeles official visitors site offers lots of other ideas on things to do during your LAX layover, and can offer suggestions on getting around.

Have a suggestion for a Los Angeles layover? Leave a comment below!

Related posts:

1. Los Angeles Layover: Five Best Los Angeles Rooftop Bars
2. Layover In Anchorage, Alaska
3. Los Angeles Layover: Where The Stars Shop
4. Orlando Layover
5. Boston Layover