honestly just landed at lax and im literally dragging myself through the terminal and my brain is already fried from the flight but then the thought of getting out of here and remembering the whole parking situation just washes over me and its like ugh you know its always such a pain in the butt and a total rip off sometimes and i just wanted to share my two cents because ive been through this more times than i can count and ive definitly learned a few things about how to not lose your mind or your entire travel budget just on parking.
so basically when youre thinking about parking at lax its always this balance of convenience versus cost and for a long time i used to just drive right into the central terminal area and park in one of the structures but then you see the bill for like three days and its literally hundreds of dollars and youre like what in the world did i just pay for and its just not worth it for most trips especially if youre trying to save some cash for like actual fun things on your trip and not just letting your car sit there for a week thats basically an investment that doesnt pay off at all and its not even covered its just exposed to the elements anyway so i changed my strategy a while ago and its honestly saved me so much stress and money.
Where I actually park
so for short trips like a weekend getaway or even a quick business trip under say three or four days i dont even bother with airport parking anymore because its just not practical and the prices are insane you know so what i do is i have someone drop me off if i can convince a friend or family member to do it and if not which is usually the case because everyone is busy and traffic near lax is a nightmare i just take an uber or a lyft and its honestly so much less hassle and its usually cheaper than parking for even just a few days when you factor in gas and all that because you dont have to worry about finding a spot or remembering where you parked or walking miles with your luggage and its just easier and thats worth something sometimes but for longer trips like a week or more thats where my strategy changes a bit because a round trip uber starts to get pricey.
that brings me to the off-site lots and these are basically a mixed bag you know like they can be a lifesaver or a total nightmare and its really important to pick the right one but they do offer a good middle ground sometimes between convenience and cost and ive used a few of them but you really gotta read reviews and check the shuttle situation so here are my thoughts on why theyre sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse:
- pro: cheaper than on-site lax parking. literally can save you like 50-70% sometimes its insane the difference and thats money in your pocket for souvenirs or another cocktail on the beach.
- con: shuttle wait times can be brutal. honestly ive waited like 45 minutes for a shuttle after a long flight and youre just standing there freezing or sweltering and wanting to just go home and its not fun at all.
- pro: often offer additional services. some of them will wash your car or even do an oil change while youre gone which is pretty cool and convenient if you need that sort of thing.
- con: security can be questionable. while most are generally safe ive heard stories of break-ins or cars getting damaged and its just another thing to worry about you know like is my car gonna be okay sitting in this random lot for a week.
- pro: less stressful driving. you dont have to navigate the crazy central terminal area which is basically a labyrinth and the stress of finding a spot in a huge garage is gone.
- con: added travel time. you have to factor in the shuttle ride to and from the terminal and sometimes that can really eat into your schedule especially if youre cutting it close.
Pro tips for long trips
so for those longer trips like a week or more i usually go with a reputable off-site lot and the key here is to book in advance and always read recent reviews and look for places that have frequent shuttle services like every 10-15 minutes and not every 30-40 minutes because that makes a huge difference and i also look for ones that are literally right outside lax property not super far away because the longer the drive the longer the shuttle takes and its just more time wasted and always check for covered parking if its an option because the sun in l.a. can be brutal on your car for a week or two and its worth the extra couple of bucks for that protection and when you get back after your trip call the shuttle as soon as you land or even before you get your bags so its ideally waiting for you or at least on its way because that saves you a lot of time just standing there and its totally worth it to pay a little extra for a lot with good reviews and better shuttle service because saving a few bucks on a super sketchy lot is not worth the potential headache or a broken window honestly.
so yeah thats my personal strategy for parking at lax its not perfect but its the best ive found to save money and keep my sanity intact so hopefully that helps someone else out there who is also tired of lax parking shenanigans.