LAX Parking Options

Los Angeles Airport (LAX) › Guide › Parking

LAX Airport Parking: the Available Facilities

The busy Los Angeles Airport handles numerous flights and serves countless passengers on a daily basis. Expectedly, it has all the necessary parking facilities to cope with the travelers’ parking needs. Verily, it features 8 car parks ideal for short-term stays, which are located right in the middle of the horseshoe-shaped design of the terminal buildings (the Central Terminal Area). Moreover, it offers a more affordable parking lot, mainly preferred by passengers planning on parking their vehicles for a longer period of time. Finally, LAX passengers have access to Valet and Premium services, while there are two waiting zones for motorists who are about to pick up passengers from the airport.

All the LAX parking lots have dedicated-to-persons-with-disabilities spaces close to elevators.

The Short-Term LAX Parking Options

The Terminal Parkings are spread over the central area formed by the 9 LAX terminal buildings. Thus, the airport’s Central Terminal Area (CTA) houses eight parking lots. They are all covered, and even though up to 30-day stays are allowed, they are mostly recommended for short stays. They provide a total of 7000 parking spots.

In general terms, if you fly from T1, you should choose the P1, P2A, P6, or P7 Car Parks, while if your departure terminal is T2, you should head to P1, P2A, P2B, or P3 Parking Lot. If you want to reach T3, you should park at P2A, P2B, P3, P4, or P5, while T4 is closer to P3, P4, P5, and P6. Moreover, the nearest to T5 parking lots are P4, P5, P6, and P7, and the closest to T6 are P1, P5, P6, and P7. On the other hand, T7 lies closer to P1, P6, and P7, and TBIT is in close distance to P2B, P3, P4, and P5. Finally, if you are heading to P8, you should park your car at P8. Overall, the distance from P1 to the closest terminals is 1-6 minutes on foot, from P2A 2-7 minutes, and from P2B 2-8 minutes. What’s more, P3 lies within a 3-7-minute walking distance from the nearby terminals, P4 is 3-8 minutes away from the terminals’ doors, P5 2-7 minutes, and P6 2-8 minutes, while you’ll have to walk 2-8 minutes to reach your terminal from P7. 

For the time being, premium parking services are provided only in P1. However, in the context of the airport’s renovation project, premium services are expected to be offered shortly in P2A, P3, P5, P6, P7, and the Economy Parking Lot. In any case, for the moment, passengers who opt for a premium parking spot are within a 2-3-minute walking distance from the nearby terminals.

The Long-Term LAX Parking Option

The Economy Parking lies further from the Los Angeles airport terminals. Nevertheless, it is the cheapest parking option. It is uncovered, with a total capacity of 4000 parking spaces. A courtesy shuttle bus service runs from the terminals to the Economy Parking and vice versa. The bus is available around the clock and operates at a 10-minute frequency. It takes around 15 minutes to reach the terminals (the route may be longer if roads are congested). The shuttle departs from the Ground level of the Long-term LAX Parking Lot and heads to the Arrivals of each terminal. Please note that Departures are located on the second floor of LAX terminals. Passengers heading to the Economy Parking can take the shuttle from the PINK LAX Shuttle zones, right outside the baggage claim areas of each terminal building.

Parking at LAX Airport: the Valet Services

If you are looking for the ultimate parking experience at Los Angeles International Airport, you should definitely opt for the provided Valet services. All you’ll have to do is drop off your vehicle curbside at your terminal and pick it up from the same area as soon as you return to the airport. Although it is undoubtedly the most expensive LAX parking option, it is also the most convenient and hassle-free one. The daily charge is 75$/70€. However, online bookings come with lower prices. Please keep in mind that Valet services are provided in P1, P3, P4, and P7.

Motorcycles are allowed to park at no extra charge at the designated areas of the General Terminals. There are some parking spots in the Premium zones as well.

LAX Parking Rates

The Los Angeles airport parking rates vary depending on the chosen facility and the time of the reservation. That being said, online, in-advance bookings come with better prices. However, even though the minimum stay when booking online is 1 hour, the minimum charge is 1 day! As far as the payment methods are concerned, card and mobile payments are accepted, whereas cash payments are an available option only at the automated payment machines. In general terms, the LAX parking rates are formed as follows:

Pre-booking is always recommended. Verily, if you make your reservation in advance. the daily cost of General LAX Parking Lots starts from 24$/22.30€, whereas premium services are priced from 26$/24.20€ per day. As far as long-term parking is concerned, you can park your car at the Economy Parking for one day, paying as much as 14$/13€.

What about Electric Vehicle Parking at LAX Airport​

Los Angeles International Airport is equipped with numerous electric chargers, while 500 more are planned to be added to its parking facilities in the near future. For the time being, all parking lots feature EV parking spots with the exemption of P7. As a matter of fact, you can even reserve an EV parking space. The cost of the service is 2$/1.86€ per session, plus an extra 0.45$/0.42€/kWh fee.

Our Tip: There are even Premium EV parking spots.

The Cell Phone Waiting Lots​

Are you going to pick up your loved ones from Los Angeles International Airport? As soon as they complete the relevant procedures (pass through security in case of an international flight, retrieve their luggage, etc.), you’ll find them at the Central Terminal Area, near their arrival terminal. Nevertheless, if you want to park there, you’ll have to opt for one of the eight parking lots. On the other hand, you can save money by using one of the two designated waiting lots. Hence, you can use the Original Cell Phone Waiting Lot or the nearby Secondary Cell Phone Waiting Lot. They are both out of charge for a 2-hour period of time. The Original Cell Phone Waiting Lot is open 24/7, whereas Waiting Lot 2 operates from 06:00 am to 02:00 am. Please note that the vehicles must never be left unattended. Thus, you can wait there, but you are never to leave the premises.

FAQs

How much is parking at LAX?

The cost of parking at LAX Airport depends on the chosen parking lots. Overall, the daily charge for Terminal Parkings (P1-P7) is 60$/55.80€, whereas the cost per day for Economy Parking is 35$/32.60€. On the other hand, premium and valet services come with higher prices. In any case, well-in-advance reservations usually guarantee lower rates.

How much is long-term parking at LAX?

The Economy Parking handles the long-term parking needs of LAX passengers. Overall, it is the cheapest LAX parking option. Hence, the first hour comes with an 8$/7.40€ fee while every 30 minutes from that moment on costs 7$/6.50€. The maximum daily charge is 35$/32.60€.

What are the cheapest ways to park at LAX?

Economy Parking (a 15-minute shuttle ride from LAX terminals) is the most affordable LAX parking option. Alternatively, you can head to one of the offsite car parks, which normally provide shuttle rides to Los Angeles Airport as well.