Travelling from Seattle to Los Angeles: what you need to know
Begin planning your trip by checking out the most convenient departure point for your flight from Seattle to Los Angeles. Explore your options for leaving from Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA) or Paine Field Airport (PAE), two of the city's main airports.
The primary hubs where you can touch down in Los Angeles are Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY).
Take a direct Seattle to Los Angeles flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 2 hours 55 minutes.
Seattle and Los Angeles are both in the UTC-8 timezone. This means you won't have to change your watch when you arrive.
The most popular route for flights from Seattle to Los Angeles is from Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Choose from 144 services every week between these two airports. If you want to be on your way as soon as possible, the earliest flight from SEA to LAX is the 06:00 American Airlines option. If you prefer to travel later, the final scheduled service is at 21:45 with Delta Air Lines.
To ensure you catch your Seattle to Los Angeles flight, leave plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
You can expect bigger queues in popular months such as July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for a domestic departure will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
How to find the cheapest flights from Seattle to Los Angeles
Booking ahead of time is often the key to locking in a cheap Seattle to Los Angeles flight. Fares tend to rise as demand increases, so the closer your departure date, the more you'll likely spend.
The 'Whole month' tool shows you the cheapest plane tickets from Seattle to Los Angeles across each month. It's a great way to find a bargain if your travel plans are flexible.
There's no need to search every day to see if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll let you know the moment a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Seattle to Los Angeles.
Save on your Seattle to Los Angeles flight with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Seattle
Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
You can book a direct flight from Seattle to Los Angeles taking off from Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Start your trip at SEA and arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
There are plenty of airlines that offer direct Seattle to Los Angeles plane tickets out of SEA. Your next adventure starts with one of these:
SEA is about 19 kilometres from central Seattle. If you're driving, catching a taxi or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 25 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're taking public transport, expect the travel time to be around 35 minutes.
Have an early flight from Seattle to Los Angeles? Avoid rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these hotels close to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport:
80% of flights departing from Seattle / Tacoma International Airport arrive at their destination according to schedule. With its reliable on-time performance, you're unlikely to face delays when setting off from SEA.
Arriving in Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
The distance from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to central Los Angeles is approximately 19 kilometres. It'll take you around 35 minutes to get to the centre driving.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of about 1 hour.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Seattle to Los Angeles, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping not long after at one of these hotels near LAX:
Explore without limits with a Los Angeles International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Hertz and experience more of Los Angeles and beyond.
Lock in the best possible rate by booking your vehicle from Los Angeles International Airport around one week ahead of your trip.
The address for LAX is One World Way.
Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
The centre of Los Angeles is about 27 kilometres from Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY). As soon as your flight from Seattle to Los Angeles has hit the runway and you've made your way through the terminal, expect a drive of about 35 minutes.
You can expect the trip to take approximately 1 hour 15 minutes on public transport.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and unwind at a hotel near VNY. Here are a few options where you can put your feet up after your flight from Seattle to Los Angeles:
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or long taxi queues. Pick up a Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport rental car and let the journey unfold your way. Check out the rates and availability from Budget, Dollar and Hertz.
Lock in the vehicle you want, not just what's left over, by reserving your ride from VNY ahead of your arrival. You'll also avoid paying more than you need to, especially when demand is high.
Best time to go to Los Angeles
It's time to figure out your travel dates for your flight from Seattle to Los Angeles. July is the busiest month to travel to Los Angeles. If you like a more peaceful vibe, go in March.
Lock in a Seattle to Los Angeles ticket departing in August if you want to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Los Angeles to range from 16ºC to 32ºC.
If you like cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Seattle to Los Angeles in February when temperatures average between 6ºC and 26ºC.
More about Los Angeles
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best stays in Los Angeles right here. Explore these options as soon as you've booked your flight from Seattle to Los Angeles:
All great adventures should include some sightseeing. Hollywood Sign, Universal Studios Hollywood and Hollywood Bowl are attractions you won't want to skip in Los Angeles.
Explore more of the United States
You've seen Los Angeles, now it's time to explore more of the United States. Travel around 177 kilometres southeast to San Diego to check off its popular sights. From San Diego Zoo to Balboa Park and USS Midway Museum, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
San Jose is another sought-after destination in the United States and is around 499 kilometres northwest of Los Angeles. No journey is complete without seeing Winchester Mystery House, The Tech Interactive and Santa Clara Valley.
