DLR to LAX ??

[Kes]

We are flying Southwest out of LAX on a Saturday at 12:55 pm. What time should I leave DLR to make sure we have time to return our rental car to National and get to LAX in time (I plan on getting our boarding passes ahead of time)? I was thinking of scheduling a character breakfast for that morning but I want to make sure we leave enough time.

Thanks

 

[safetymom]

It takes about 30-35 mins to get to airport and you should be there 2 hours ahead. It would take 15-20 mins to return the car.

 

[dis-happy]

Just so no one gets surprised, I think that 1/2 hour from DL to LAX is considerably optimistic. A couple of weeks ago I went from that area (a few miles north on the 57 freeway) to LAX on a Sunday morning, leaving the house at 5 am, (ie. totally empty freeways) and it took nearly 50 minutes for me to get dropped off at the curb. Maybe safetymom is thinking of the drive to OrangeCounty/JohnWayne airport, the rule of thumb for that would be 1/2 hr. with no traffic. For LAX plan on 1 hour without traffic, plus whatever extra time you need. HTH

 

[safetymom]

No I wasn't thinking of John Wayne Airport. About a month and a half ago I drove from the Hertz lot at LAX to the parking lot at DL in a little bit more than 1/2 hour. It was nowhere near 1 hour. This was at 8 AM on a Sunday morning.

If it is during rush hour I would allow at the very least an hour but more likely closer to 1 1/2 hours. At least it took about that long when we drove from DL to LAX.

 

[dis-happy]

No I wasn't thinking of John Wayne Airport. About a month and a half ago I drove from the Hertz lot at LAX to the parking lot at DL in a little bit more than 1/2 hour. It was nowhere near 1 hour. This was at 8 AM on a Sunday morning.

If it is during rush hour I would allow at the very least an hour but more likely closer to 1 1/2 hours. At least it took about that long when we drove from DL to LAX.

That's great you made such quick time! But unusual (in my experience as a California girl for most of my life). I would never count on making it in 30 minutes and just wouldn't want someone to miss their plane, thinking that it would be a low traffic time. A map program says the travel distance from DL to Hertz is 32 miles----so someone must have been very excited to get to the Happiest Place on Earth!

 

[safetymom]

I don't see a problem with my advice. I mentioned allowing more time for rush hour traffic. BTW I went the speed limit.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I think if you leave by 10:30am you should be fine. Traffic should be okay, unless there is an accident on the road.

 

[Rapunsel]

from personal experience flying Southwest and the drive time on a Saturday... I'd leave DLR no later than 9:45 am. As you never know what the traffic would be like. The check in line for southwest can also extend pass the terminal and the wait alone can be 2 hours.

It is also the 1st terminal and can be difficult to get over to if coming in off of sepulveda blvd.

The traffic under the tunnel can also be backed up quite a ways if there is traffic past the airport.

 

[ZeusNike]

I agree with Rapunsel, I would leave early! We have hit bad traffic at all different times on every day of the week heading from DL to LAX, it has occasionally taken us longer than we would have thought to return our rental car (there was a line up of people returning their cars and we just had to wait our turn...each one doesn't take long but it added up) and we have often arrived to find giant lineups to check in with the airline or to pass through security or both (one day the check in was lined up out the doors and all the way to the next terminal ). A little bit of extra waiting is much better than missing your flight!

 

[drag n' fly]

I have always allowed an hour..more if travelling during rush hour times.

 

[danacath]

When does LA's rush hour time start and end, generally speaking? (and no fair telling me it starts at 6 AM and ends at 10 PM. LOL Is it over by 7 PM? (We'll be leaving LAX and heading toward DLR at that time.)