leaving LAX

[pixie family]

We are off for our first trip in April.There are 5 of us including DH 2 kids aged 10& 4 also Yvonne my sister in law.
We have been to Florida many times & both my husband & i feel very comfortable now picking up the car & driving.
Question is how crazy is LA airport & the roads leading away from the airport we arrive about 11:30 am.We have not booked our car yet but it would appear that we have to get a shuttle bus to the hire company to collect the car.Are the hire companies based away from the main terminal? Any tips on driving/leaving the airport?

[Nicki G]

I cant tell you about the car hire but I drove from San Francisco to San Diego this year taking the Pacific Coast Highway, which goes right by LAX. The roads are busy but certainly not any worse than Florida. Plan your route well so you know where you are heading and you will be fine.

Have a fab trip

[Michelle]

We could not fault getting to and from the airport on the shuttle bus, it was so easy. However the roads after that were bad. As soon as we got onto the freeway it was manic, bumper to bumper traffic jams. We had to drive to LV the same day as we landed at LAX.
We couldn't have done it without our faithful Sat Nav, it really was a great help.

[Diamonddog2801]

Originally Posted by Nicki G

I cant tell you about the car hire but I drove from San Francisco to San Diego this year taking the Pacific Coast Highway, which goes right by LAX. The roads are busy but certainly not any worse than Florida. Plan your route well so you know where you are heading and you will be fine.

Have a fab trip

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With the greatest of respect, Nicki, driving in Orlando can be an absolute cakewalk in comparison to LA!

LA can be nuts - there's no point in saying otherwise. When you have 12 lane freeways, with bumper to bumper traffic, it is time to really concentrate and - most importantly- plan well in advance.

If you do that, you should be okay. But LAX is close to some of the busiest roads in the USA - you must expect delays etc. If you don't then get them, it will be a bonus!

[cloud]

Hi, my son lives in LA and i'm afraid yes the roads around the airport are horrible, would deffinately invest in a sat nav, however that said you won't be in the rush hour at that time.

[pixie family]

i knew the roads would be busy but 12 lanes!yes we have sat nav covering the west coast but think i will plan with a map also so that its not a surprise when we get there.
thanks for your replies folks

[Diamonddog2801]

Originally Posted by pixie family

i knew the roads would be busy but 12 lanes!

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That is 6 lanes each way, you know?

[pixie family]

Originally Posted by Diamonddog2801

That is 6 lanes each way, you know?

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How daft am i have just told my husband that there is 12 lanes he did not even bat an eyelid!

[travelmam]

Hi, we used dollar on our visit in september this year, who's location is on arbor vitae street, which is about a 10min transfer time, and well served.
I think it depends on where you are heading, as to how difficult and busy the roads are.
We made our way straight to Anaheim, and to be perfectly honest, it was so straight forward and not that busy, even without a sat nav, with the time being 16:00hrs when we left the dollar office.
So I wouldn't worry to much!

[Cyclospora]

One thing to remember about LAX - rubbish facilities!

One shop, one bar, one restaurant and one cafe if I remember correctly. We got there early in case of traffic and were VERY bored!