driving time to LAX Wed afternoon

[WardFam]

We have a flight out of LAX on Wednesday Nov. 5 at 5:45. We are staying at the Fairfield Inn so our rental car will be parked there. I'm planning on being in the parks that day - what time do you think we need to be leaving the Fairfield in order to return our car and get to our flight? I was thinking 3:30. Is that early enough?

 

[SMD]

We have a flight out of LAX on Wednesday Nov. 5 at 5:45. We are staying at the Fairfield Inn so our rental car will be parked there. I'm planning on being in the parks that day - what time do you think we need to be leaving the Fairfield in order to return our car and get to our flight? I was thinking 3:30. Is that early enough?

You need to leave by 2pm. You have to figure an hour to LAX and at least 30 to return the rental car and shuttle back to the airport, plus a half hour buffer for traffic or something going wrong at the rental counter. I used to work just south of LAX and the problem is that between 3-3:30 rush hour really picks up. If you leave at 3:30 it will take you well over an hour to get to the rental location and you'll miss the flight. If you leave at 2:30-3pm you will be trying to get to the airport in massive traffic, and could easily be delayed. So normally I'd advise 3 hours, but you're trying to get there at a bad time, so you need to leave earlier.

 

[JayRW]

I hope WardFam doesn't mind me piggybacking on their post.
I also have a flight out of LAX on a Wednesday but early in the morning, 8:10am. If we leave at 5:00am will that give us enough time to return the rental and make the flight? I think I'll beat the rush hour traffic but I don't know how early it starts there.

 

[SMD]

I hope WardFam doesn't mind me piggybacking on their post.
I also have a flight out of LAX on a Wednesday but early in the morning, 8:10am. If we leave at 5:00am will that give us enough time to return the rental and make the flight? I think I'll beat the rush hour traffic but I don't know how early it starts there.

Yeah, you should be ok. Traffic can start to pick up by 7am, but even if it takes you over and hour you should beat that. You might find a line outside your terminal for security at that time, especially terminal 1, but it's not too bad on a Wednesday, as long as it's not before or after a holiday or something.

 

[tiggeroo42]

We have a 5:00 flight out of LAX the exact same day, and I was really concerned about traffic and timing also.

The driver who's taking us suggested leaving by 2:30 pm. We don't have a rental car to return, though. I've also checked out Google Maps a few times around that time period to see how bad the traffic is. It seems like it takes about 40 min, but I want to factor in an extra 30 min for traffic just in case. If I were you, I wouldn't leave after 2:15-2:30. We live in the DFW metroplex, and traffic starts to pick up considerably after 3:00 pm, so I'm assuming the same for LA. I can't imagine leaving at 3:30 would leave you nearly enough time with the additional traffic.

 

[lalasmama]

Make sure to account for TSA time as well... We've had TSA take more than an hour at LAX before, on a Sunday around noontime. Could be much worse during the week!

 

[WTFetus]

I have a future tripped plan with transportation from the Fairfield Inn to LAX via Super Shuttle for a return flight at 5:15. They're usually good with planning enough time to comfortably make your flight, and they recommended a pick-up at 2:30.
Since you also have to return a car, I'd recommend leaving by 2:00, no later than 2:30.

 

[WardFam]

Thanks everyone. We will plan on leaving by 2:00. Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but I'm glad I asked so we didn't miss our flight!

 

[WTFetus]

Thanks everyone. We will plan on leaving by 2:00. Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but I'm glad I asked so we didn't miss our flight!

Unless you already bought the tickets, have you considered not entering the park that day? Seems like somewhat of a wasted day with the park opening at 10:00am and having to be fully packed and ready to leave by 2:00; not even including lunch time.
Maybe just have a relaxing day sleeping in and spending a few hours in DTD?

 

[Iceman93]

The problem with L.A. traffic is the uncertainty. And when it comes to a flight, you really have to be conservative, which almost certainly means wasting time at the airport. But that's better than trying to maximize time at the parks and then stressing all the way to the airport, at the rental car return, through security, etc.

At LAX, it also really matters which rental car company and which airline you're flying. Some companies and terminals are better than others. Will you have TSA Pre-Check or are flying first class? Those items can make a huge difference, too.