How much time to allow to drive to LAX from DLR on a weekday?

[Vexorg]

With less than a week to go before I head down to spend a weekend at Disneyland and go to the Cars Land AP preview, I'm a little concerned about making it back to LAX for my return flight. I'm in the 12-4pm window on the AP preview, and my flight back to Seattle from LAX is at roughly 7:15pm. I'm pretty sure it's not going to take four hours to see all the new stuff, but I'm trying to get an idea of how long I should allow to get to LAX in order to drop off a rental car and get to the airport for my flight (and maybe throw in a stop at the In 'N Out on Sepulveda if time permits.)

The last time I tried this President Obama was in town for a fundraiser and assorted traffic disasters were forecast, so I left for a similar flight around 2:30pm. Ultimately I ended up with nearly four hours to kill near the airport.

 

[xsuki000]

If your flight is at 715, you'll want to be at the airport at 515. Traveling time wise, it's gonna take at least 2 hours. I've gone to LAX from the DLR area on a weekend in the middle of the day and it still took me 1.5 and it's supposed to take an hour with no traffic. I'd suggest leaving at 3 to be safe to account for traveling time and all the stuff you have to get done. Traffic on a normal weekday starts getting a little busy around 12-1. And then you just never know if there's gonna be an accident to back things up even more.

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

The rental return alone could take 30-45 minutes (waiting in line, shuttle to airport gate, etc). Traffic is so hit and miss. Our last time in DL in April we took a taxi from LAX to the GCH and were dreading it. We got in the taxi at 5pm and were up in our villa with bags and everything (after checking in) at 6pm. In DL on rides by 6:30. You never know. We lucked out! Like the PP said, one accident could really set you back. I would aim for returing the rental car 2 and a half hours before your flight. And maybe leave an hour and a half before that?

 

[CalvaryMike]

What day of the week? It really does matter. Monday is the lightest traffic day. Tuedays aren't that bad. Wednesdays a little worst. Thursday and Fridays can be horrible. Fortunately, there are different routes to LAX. It's best to have a smartphone and monitor the traffic.

I fly quite often and I've never been late for a flight. If you're flying solo, arriving at the curbside an hour before your flight is plenty. If you're flying with kids, than 90 minutes is more like it.

If I was leaving DL on a Thursday or Friday, I'd want to be on the road by 3:00 p.m. at the very latest.

 

[Vexorg]

This will be on a Monday, so hopefully it shouldn't be too bad. I think that the last time I did this the GPS had me go 5 -> 91 -> 605 -> 105, which seems to be the most direct route, and wasn't too bad last time I did it.