Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is only about 40 miles from the smaller John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California, making it convenient to book a connecting flight from there, if necessary. There are several transportation options to get you to Orange County, including shared airport shuttle vans, public transportation and rental cars. Determine the best option for you based on the time you need to be at the airport, your budget and what is most comfortable for you.
Several airport shuttle companies offer service between LAX and John Wayne Airport. This includes national shuttle chains such as Super Shuttle and Primetime Shuttle, as well as regional services like Rapid Shuttle and Airvan Transport. All offer both shared van ride options at competitive rates, as well as private transportation services, which may be best if you are traveling with a large group. You can get most shuttle services from the arrivals area of LAX without a reservation. However, it's best to make a reservation if you don't have time to wait and need to get to John Wayne Airport at a specific time.
You can take local Los Angeles County and Orange County metro bus and train services to get you to the airport, although it will take significantly longer than driving. There are several route options, but all require several transfers. For one of the simple routes, hop on the free "G" shuttle from outside your terminal at LAX to the LAX Metro Green Line station. Take the Green Line light rail train to Norwalk Station. Transfer to Metro Bus 270 eastbound to the Bloomfield and Imperial stop and walk one block east to the Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs Metrolink Station. At the station, take an outbound Orange County Line train to the Tustin Metrolink Station. Outside the station, look for the Irvine Shuttle that will take you to the John Wayne Airport. The whole trip can take roughly three hours via this route, depending on the time of day.
Several of the car rental companies at the LAX airport allow you to do a one-way car rental so that you can drive yourself to the Orange County airport. Depending on traffic, it takes roughly between 45 minutes to an hour. From LAX, follow signs for the 405 South and take it for about 37 miles to the McArthur Boulevard exit. Keep left at the fork when you exit, following signs for the John Wayne Airport Orange County. Once you enter the airport area, look for the car rental signs and follow them to the parking area to drop off the car where designated. If you don't prefer to drive, you can always take a taxi, although this will be your most expensive option.
If you take a shared airport shuttle van, it can take at least 90 minutes due to picking-up and dropping off other passengers. Public transportation will be the cheapest option, but if you have a connecting flight, make sure you have a window of at least four hours to get you between the two airports in time. If you prefer to drive, a one-way rental car is both convenient and economical if you rent one of the smaller cars. As the priciest option, you may want to consider a taxi only as a last-resort option.
