How long from DLR to LAX

[thewesterberg]

I'm a part of a group of 4 adults that have a 4pm flight out of LAX on Monday 2/11. Not knowing anything about LA traffic other than it can be nuts, what time would you suggest leaving our hotel on Harbor in order to return the rental car at the airport and have enough time to check bags, go through security, etc. Google directions said up to an hour in traffic, but I'm leery to always trust those estimates.

Thanks!

 

[ter-moo]

We just did this--but it was on a Sunday and we made it to the airport in 25 minutes!

I'd say on a weekday, you should allow yourself at least two hours with returning the rental car and all.

Word of advice: DO NOT take the 405. The quickest route is 5N to 91W to 605N to 105W. On the 105, you go through some of L.A.'s worst neighborhoods, but you're on a freeway, so it's not so bad. Also, USE CARPOOL lanes. We got in on a Thursday afternoon around 2:30 and sailed to Anaheim without any traffic.

Oh yeah, and security can be NUTS. So allowing yourself plenty of time for that is essential!

Good luck!!!

 

[mareed]

If it were me, I'd leave at noon. Traffic and lines to check bags can be really ugly at LAX! And here's a tip. If you arrive at Southwest, and are dropped off outside at the curbside check-in, don't stay there! Even if the line to check your bags inside is all the way outside down the sidewalk, it's far quicker than curbside check-in. This is from personal experience. We waited at curbside 30 minutes and based on how far we'd moved, we probably had another wait until it was our turn. We actually switched to the line to check bags inside (which was outside and all the way down the sidewalk), and we waited another 30 minutes and were done. If we'd just have waited in that line to begin with, we would have been done at the time we switched! Never to curbside! (At least with SW at LAX.)

 

[thewesterberg]

Thanks for the real life experience help! I guess I was on the right line of thinking... I'm picking up the car from DTD at 11am, back to the hotel to pick up friends, and then we'll head out to the airport. Good to know I've got official back up from you folks!