The Los Angeles International Airport has nine passenger terminals arranged in a horseshoe shape, as you can see in the LAX Terminal Map below. The terminals are named Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT, also Terminal B). Passengers can move between these terminals using shuttles or various inter-terminal connections.
For travellers planning to drive to LAX Airport, the Central Terminal Area (CTA) has eight parking structures that are conveniently located within walking distance to the terminals. However, convenient parking comes at a high price.
For more affordable parking, there are also several off-site parking options that offer covered spaces, secure parking, and free shuttle service to the curbside of each terminal. To figure out which terminal you are departing from, check out our blog with all the LAX arrival and departure terminals and times.
The LAX terminal parking garages do not accept reservations, so be sure to arrive with plenty of time to look for an open spot. Alternatively, you can find off-site parking online, so you can secure your LAX parking spot before you even leave home.
As you can see in the map above, Terminal 1 is the first stop in the horseshoe shape, followed by Terminals 2 and 3. The Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B) is located at the apex of the horseshoe shape, followed by Terminals 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
The Tom Bradley International Terminal and Terminals 2-8 are all connected to each other past security, so you don’t have to re-clear security if you have a connecting flight through these terminals. Delta Airlines has an airside shuttle that transits passengers between Terminals 2, 3 and B. Tunnels connect Terminals 4, 5, and 6. Above-ground walkways connect Terminal 4 to Terminal B as well as Terminals 6, 7, and 8. The newly-built Terminal Connector makes it possible to walk between Terminals 4-8 and the International Terminal behind security.
Terminal 1 is the only terminal with no physical connection to the other terminals. If you have a connecting flight through Terminal 1, then you must exit security to change terminals and re-clear security once again. Free LAX shuttle buses run on World Way lower level to transit passengers between terminals.
LAX Terminal Parking Garages are located in the Central Terminal Area (CTA). There are almost 8,000 parking spaces between the eight parking structures. They are open 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, including holidays.
LAX short-term parking and overnight parking are available at each of the parking garages. Vehicles are permitted to park for up to 30 days. Motorcycle and bike parking is free inside the Central Terminal Area parking structures, provided they do not take up space for a car.
Each parking structure has the height clearance clearly marked at the entrance. Vehicles exceeding the height clearance should park in Lot E or other off-site parking options.
Use the information below to select the parking structure closest to your terminal:
If you have a Southwest flight, then you will need Terminal 1 parking, which is located at the P-1 parking garage. As you enter the Terminal Loop, the P-1 structure is the first parking garage on your left. There is a covered walkway located on the fourth level. EV charging stations are available on the first floor of the garage. There are two Level III Fast Chargers that can charge your vehicle in 20 minutes or less, so there is a 30-minute time limit for these stalls. Twenty Level II Chargers are available, as well, on a first-come, first-served basis. Electricity is free of charge, but parking rates apply. The max clearance of P-1 is 8’2”.
Terminal 2 has two parking structures located directly across the roadway. For Terminal 2 parking, use the P-2A or P-2B parking structures. P-2A has a covered walkway on the third floor of the parking garage. There are no EV charging stations in either of the Terminal 2 garages. P-2A has a maximum height clearance of 8’2” and P-2B has a maximum height clearance of 7 feet.
For Terminal 3 parking, use the P-3 parking garage located directly across the road from Terminal 3. A covered walkway on Level 4 provides convenient access to the terminal entrance. There are no EV Charging Stations available in P-3. The maximum height clearance for P-3 is 7’6”.
If you have a flight on American Airlines, then you will most likely be departing from Terminal 4. Terminal 4 parking is available at the P-4 structure, which is connected to the terminal with a covered walkway on Level 4. EV Charging is not possible. The vertical clearance is 8’ 2” for P-4.
For Terminal 5 parking, passengers can use either the P-5 or the P-6 garages, since they are both located close to Terminal 5. The best way to get to P-5 is to make a left after the Terminal 2 parking structures, then the entrance will be on your left. A covered walkway is located on the fourth level of P-5 to connect it to Terminal 5. EV Charging is not available in P-5. The max clearance of the P-5 garage is 7 feet.
For Terminal 6 parking, the P-6 structure is the closest parking facility. Terminal 6 is connected to P-6 via a covered walkway on the fourth level. There are twenty spaces with Level II EV Chargers located on the first floor. The maximum height clearance of the P-6 garage is 8’ 2”.
For Terminal 7 parking, passengers should use the P-7 garage. It is connected to the terminal by a covered walkway on the third level. P-7 Garage has 18 spaces with Level II EV chargers. The vertical height clearance is 7 feet.
Terminal 8 can only be reached through the Terminal 7 entrance. So, if you need Terminal 8 parking, then you should use the P-7 structure. Terminal 7 and 8 are both exclusively utilized by United Airlines.
For Tom Bradley International Terminal Parking, the closest parking facilities are P-3 and P-4. These parking structures are located directly in front of the International Terminal. There are no covered walkways and no EV charging stations. The height clearance for P-3 is 7’6” and P-4 is 8’ 2”.
You may be overwhelmed by the large number of terminals at LAX and all the different car parks. Below is a helpful guide you can review that will help you determine the best place to park for each terminal at LAX.
All terminal parking garages have a fifteen-minute grace period. If you need to park longer, the LAX parking rates start at $9 for the first hour, then $7 for each additional 30 minutes, up to $60 per day. If you are only parking for a few hours or days, then you might not mind paying extra for the convenience of leaving your car close to the terminal. However, if you would rather not pay such high fees, then check out the alternative parking options below.
For cheap LAX parking, there are several affordable alternatives located off-airport property that provide free shuttle service directly to the terminals. LAX Airport offers one official economy parking lot, LAX E, that was built to replace LOT C, which closed in April 2019. There are also multiple private off-site parking lots that offer secure covered parking, which is ideal for LAX long term parking. These options include:
WallyPark LAX is located less than a mile from the LAX terminal loop. It’s a covered parking garage secured by CCTV surveillance and 24-hour parking attendants. There are padded guards between each parking space to protect the vehicles from door dings. The shuttles operate 24/7 and arrive every five minutes. The transit time to the airport only takes 10 - 15 minutes.
Airport Center Express is located 0.3 miles from the LAX terminal loop. It’s a covered parking garage secured by 24-hour parking attendants. The shuttles run 24/7 in 15 - 20 minute intervals. The journey to the airport takes less than 15 minutes.
LAX Lot E is located 2 miles from the LAX terminal loop. It’s a surface lot with over 2,600 parking spaces and 24-hour shuttle service. The shuttle takes approximately 15 minutes to reach the airport from the LAX Economy parking lot.
Los Angeles Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world with over 87.5 million passengers each year, but they only have 8,000 on-site parking spaces. This means that terminal parking garages are often overcrowded and chaotic.
Avoid the hassle of finding a parking spot by finding online well in advance. Off-site parking allows you to park away from the busy traffic around the LAX terminals. Plus, your parking spot is guaranteed so you can relax knowing your parking spot is waiting for you before you even leave home.
Secure a parking spot today by inputting your travel details in the search bar above. Our fast and intuitive comparison tool will show you the best deals on airport parking for your dates. Filter results by price, transit time, customer rating, or service type to find one that works for you. Comparing takes less than two minutes – no account is required. If you have any questions, please get in touch with our friendly customer service team.
