Trip Limo Service collects you at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and drives you straight to any address in San Diego County in a private black SUV with a professional chauffeur. The drive is about 120 miles and takes two to three hours depending on traffic. Your chauffeur tracks your flight, meets you at the terminal curb and takes you door to door, with no shuttle, no rental car and no connecting flight.
Quick answer: a private SUV from LAX to San Diego costs a fixed price per vehicle, not per person, for up to 6 passengers and 5 large bags. Fares start at about $280 to Carlsbad and North County and about $380 to downtown San Diego. Enter your flight and drop-off address on the booking page to see the exact price for each vehicle before you pay.
Book Your RideWhere your chauffeur meets you at LAX
This is where a private car saves the most time. Taxis are no longer allowed to collect passengers at the LAX terminals: they wait at the LAX-it lot beside Terminal 1, which means a shuttle bus ride with your luggage and a second queue.
Pre-arranged limousine and private car services are different. Los Angeles World Airports allows them to collect passengers at the outer curb on the lower (arrivals) level, directly outside baggage claim. You collect your bags, walk out of your terminal and your car is there.
- Curbside pickup (standard): we text you when you land; once you have your bags, your chauffeur pulls up at the outer curb outside your terminal.
- Meet & Greet (+$30): your chauffeur waits inside at baggage claim with a name sign and helps with the luggage — useful after a long international flight or with children.
Your chauffeur monitors your flight and adjusts for early or late landings at no extra charge. Domestic arrivals include 60 minutes of free waiting time from touchdown; international arrivals include 90 minutes, which covers immigration and baggage on almost every day.
How long is the drive from LAX to San Diego?
From LAX the route runs south on the 405, joins the I-5 in Irvine and follows the coast through San Clemente and Camp Pendleton into San Diego County. It is a straightforward drive; the only real variable is traffic in Los Angeles and Orange County.
| Drop-off area | Distance from LAX | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad / Oceanside | About 90 miles | 1 hr 45 min – 2 hrs 30 min |
| Encinitas / Del Mar / Solana Beach | About 105 miles | 2 – 2 hrs 45 min |
| La Jolla | About 112 miles | 2 hrs – 3 hrs |
| Downtown San Diego / Gaslamp | About 122 miles | 2 hrs 15 min – 3 hrs |
| Coronado | About 127 miles | 2 hrs 20 min – 3 hrs |
| Chula Vista / South Bay | About 130 miles | 2 hrs 30 min – 3 hrs 15 min |
Best and worst times: leaving LAX before 2pm or after 7pm on a weekday usually means the shorter time. Between 3pm and 7pm the 405 and the I-5 through Orange County are at their slowest. Late-night arrivals are the quickest of all, often under two hours to North County.
LAX to San Diego: your options compared
| Option | Door-to-door time | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Private car service | 2 – 3 hrs | Fixed price per vehicle, curbside pickup, door-to-door, car seats on request |
| Connecting flight LAX → SAN | 3 – 4 hrs or more | Second check-in and security, short flight, bags can miss the connection |
| Rental car | 2 – 3 hrs plus rental desk | Shuttle to the rental lot, you drive after your flight, hotel parking in San Diego |
| Bus or train | 4 – 5 hrs | FlyAway bus to Union Station, then Amtrak or intercity bus, then a taxi in San Diego |
| Taxi | 2 – 3 hrs | Pickup at the LAX-it lot, metered fare that is usually far higher than a fixed price |
For one traveler with a carry-on, a connecting flight or the train can be cheaper. For a family, a group of colleagues or anyone with several bags, one private SUV is usually the simplest and often costs less than the alternatives added together — and nobody has to drive after a long flight.
Where we drop off in San Diego County
We take you to any address in San Diego County — homes, hotels, resorts, offices and cruise terminals. The most frequent drop-offs from LAX are:
- Downtown San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy
- La Jolla and Torrey Pines
- Del Mar, Solana Beach and Rancho Santa Fe
- Carlsbad, Oceanside and Encinitas
- Coronado and the Hotel del Coronado
- Mission Valley, Mission Bay and Hotel Circle
- Chula Vista and the South Bay
- The San Diego cruise ship terminal
Pickups at LAX are for trips into San Diego County. Going the other way? See our San Diego to LAX car service.
What is included
- A fixed price per vehicle, shown before you pay. It covers the vehicle, the chauffeur, fuel and tolls, and it does not rise with traffic or the time you land.
- Flight tracking and free waiting time: 60 minutes for domestic and 90 minutes for international arrivals.
- Up to 6 passengers and 5 large bags in a Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon XL or Chevrolet Suburban.
- Child seats on request — $20 each, up to two per vehicle, fitted before pickup.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup (see the policy).
Gratuity is not included in the price. A tip for your chauffeur is optional and always appreciated.
The vehicles
Every trip is in a private black SUV — never a shared shuttle. The Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon XL and Chevrolet Suburban each seat up to 6 passengers with room for 5 large suitcases, so a family arriving for a San Diego holiday fits in one vehicle with strollers and bags. See our fleet.
How to book
- Open the booking page and enter LAX as the pickup and your San Diego address as the drop-off.
- Add your flight number, date and landing time.
- Choose your SUV, add Meet & Greet or child seats if you need them, and pay securely by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
You receive a confirmation by email, and your chauffeur’s details before the trip. Prefer to talk it through? Call (858) 413-8888.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a car service from LAX to San Diego?
The price is fixed per vehicle for up to 6 passengers. Fares start at about $280 to Carlsbad and North County and about $380 to downtown San Diego. The booking page shows the exact price for your address before you pay.
How long does it take to drive from LAX to San Diego?
About two to three hours for roughly 120 miles. North County is closer; Chula Vista and the South Bay take longest. Weekday afternoons between 3pm and 7pm are the slowest.
Where will my driver pick me up at LAX?
At the outer curb on the lower (arrivals) level, directly outside baggage claim at your terminal. With Meet & Greet (+$30), your chauffeur waits inside at baggage claim with a name sign.
What if my flight is delayed?
We track your flight and adjust the pickup time at no extra charge. Free waiting time starts when you land: 60 minutes for domestic and 90 minutes for international flights.
Do you have child seats?
Yes. Infant and child seats are $20 each, up to two per vehicle. Tell us the ages and weights when you book.
Can you take us from LAX to an address in Los Angeles or Orange County?
Our LAX pickups are for trips to San Diego County, including North County. We don’t offer rides from LAX to other Los Angeles or Orange County addresses.
Can I book a round trip?
Yes. Book your San Diego to LAX departure and your LAX to San Diego return together, and both legs are arranged in advance.
Can I cancel?
Yes — free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. You can cancel or ask for a new date online on our cancel or change page.
Book your LAX to San Diego car service
Enter your flight and your San Diego address on our booking page to see your fixed price before you pay.
Book Your RidePhone: (858) 413-8888
Email: [email protected]