LAX Airport Parking: The Complete Guide

Nothing is more exciting than going on a vacation, especially if your adventures take you overseas. There’s just one problem: You live far from the airport and a rideshare is going to cost you big bucks. Instead, you decide to drive, but parking at airports can be confusing.

One place where this is true is at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). If you’re trying to find LAX airport parking, keep reading — we’ll outline the options available, as well as how to reserve a place to park and save money while doing it.

LAX airport parking rates vary depending on where you leave your car. There's a range of LAX-run options available, with pricing as low as $13 per day or as much as $75 daily.

LAX offers a variety of parking options for travelers, no matter how long you’ll be gone. Electric vehicle parking is available in all garages (except at garage seven).

Here are the costs for parking at an official LAX lot:

• Terminal parking: First hour $9, max daily rate $60, prebook from $56 a day.

• Economy parking: First hour $8, max daily rate $35, prebook rate from $15 a day.

• Valet terminal: $75 daily rate, prebook from $32 a day.

• Budget parking: $5 hourly rate, max daily rate $20, prebook rate from $13 a day.

• EV terminal: Service fee $2, 45 cents per kilowatt-hour.

To park your car at an official LAX lot, your best bet is to reserve a spot in advance. Not only does this guarantee a spot when you arrive, you’ll save money, too. This can be done via the LAX website.

» Learn more: The guide to airport parking rewards programs

Long-term parking at LAX is available at all of its lots, though if you’re planning on being gone for a while, you may want to consider one of the less expensive options. The budget parking lot can be prebooked for $13 per day and includes a free shuttle.

The economy lot is another option. Closer than the budget lot, the economy lot can be prebooked for $15 per day and includes a complimentary shuttle service.

You may not want to pay for a full day’s parking at the airport, especially if you’re just picking up someone who’s arriving. If that’s the case, consider timing your arrival with theirs so that you can wait in the cellphone lot or simply drive up to the curb.

If you would rather park, terminal garages are located at every terminal and cost $9 per hour, with an additional $7 for every extra 30 minutes.

» Learn more: Rental car alternatives you might not know about

Although LAX offers plenty of its own parking, you don’t need to limit yourself to airport-run lots. The area around the airport is filled with hotels and third-party parking lots that offer parking.

Consider nearby hotels with shuttle service

One option is to park at an airport hotel. For example, you can park at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport in its indoor parking garage from $12.95 per day. The property offers a complimentary shuttle to and from LAX, making it simple to get around.

Parking at a hotel can serve double duty, too. If you have an early flight or return late, you’ll be able to take the property’s shuttle directly to the hotel and stay overnight. It's better than paying for parking at a separate lot, then, picking up your car and moving it to the hotel, which would result in paying twice to park your vehicle.

Leave your car at a FlyAway bus stop

To avoid the traffic in and around the airport, you might consider parking off-site and taking the FlyAway bus service to and from the airport.

One of the least expensive options for parking is the Van Nuys FlyAway stop, which is 24 miles from LAX. The max daily rate to park there is $6. The FlyAway bus also picks up from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, and the parking there is $8 per day. Keep in mind, if you use the FlyAway bus, you will need to pay an additional $9.75 each way for the shuttle to and from the airport.

How specialized search engines can help

With so many parking lots in the vicinity of LAX, it can be overwhelming trying to find one that suits your needs. Parking lot aggregators such as SpotHero can be helpful in these circumstances.

Not only will you have access to pricing from multiple parking lots with one search, but you’ll also be able to see what kind of parking situation you’ll have, as well as ratings from customers. SpotHero also shows the operating hours of the parking lot, whether you’ll have entry and exit privileges and if the lot offers shuttles to the airport.

» Learn more: Best credit cards for Uber and Lyft

No one likes paying for parking, but there are ways to save money when parking at LAX.

Use a travel credit card

For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a travel rewards credit card that earns 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases, including parking lots and garages.

If you’re looking to maximize the rewards you’ll earn when paying for parking, this is a good card to use. Even better, however, is that the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a $300 annual travel credit valid toward parking lot charges. This credit is applied automatically; you simply need to use your card to pay for the cost.

Consider rideshares

Depending on how long you’ll be gone, it may make more sense to use a rideshare than to park your car. Remember, parking on-site at LAX costs a minimum of $20 per day (if you don't prebook a spot). Look at rideshare options, including shared shuttles, to see whether leaving your car at home is a better solution.

Look at public transit

Los Angeles isn’t known for its public transit options, but they’re still there. If you’re looking to save some cash, consider using the bus or the Metro line to head to LAX. With costs as low as $1.75 one way to use the Metro, it’s significantly cheaper than parking your car at the airport.

» Learn more: A guide to travel credit cards for beginners

Navigating the parking situation at an airport can be stressful, especially if you’re not prepared. If you’re driving to LAX and want to park your car, you have plenty of options.

Before you go, do your research to find a lot that suits your needs — and prebook your spot to save on the costs.