Travelling from Los Angeles to Vancouver: what you need to know
Los Angeles is home to two main airports that could be the jumping-off point for your adventure. Check out your options for booking a flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver flying out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or Van Nuys Airport (VNY).
Hop off the plane at one of Vancouver's major gateways like Vancouver International Airport (YVR). You can also come in for landing at Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH) or Abbotsford Airport (YXX).
Book a direct Los Angeles to Vancouver flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 3 hours.
Los Angeles and Vancouver follow the same timezone, UTC-7.
The most popular route for flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver is from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Choose from 64 services every week between these two airports. If you'd like to get going as soon as possible, the earliest flight from LAX to YVR is the 06:00 Air Canada service. If you prefer travelling later, the last departure is at 21:00 with WestJet.
Give yourself enough time to make your Los Angeles to Vancouver flight. As a general rule, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Peak months like July or holiday periods such as Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year will mean longer waits at security and check-in. If you're travelling then, play it safe and get to the airport even earlier. Arriving two hours before domestic flights and four hours ahead of an international departure is a smart idea.
How to find the cheapest flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver
Lock in cheap Los Angeles to Vancouver flights by booking two months ahead. According to our research, that's the ideal time frame for bagging a bargain.
May is the best month for landing an awesome deal on a plane ticket from Los Angeles to Vancouver. If you need to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices across every month.
There's no need to check every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll tell you as soon as a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Select your departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' Los Angeles to Vancouver flights.
Flying from Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
If you're after a direct flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver, you can depart from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Travel from LAX to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in one seamless trip.
Direct Los Angeles to Vancouver plane tickets are offered by numerous airlines at LAX. Cruise the skies with one of these carriers:
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to take a travel break — and perhaps even tour another city. When browsing Los Angeles to Vancouver flights leaving from Los Angeles International Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Top options include:
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
LAX is about 19 kilometres from central Los Angeles. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the journey time to be around 55 minutes.
Planning to catch an early flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver? Avoid rushing to the airport (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays near Los Angeles International Airport:
Los Angeles International Airport gets high marks for on-time performance. 81.05% of flights that take off from LAX reach their destination on time.
You'll find LAX at One World Way.
Arriving in Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
The distance from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to central Vancouver is roughly 11 kilometres. It'll take you around 25 minutes to reach the centre driving.
Getting to the centre by public transport takes roughly 35 minutes.
Consider staying in a hotel close to YVR if you're coming in on a late flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver. Check in to one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Begin your adventure by picking up a Vancouver International Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Routes Car Rentals, Thrifty or Avis and explore beyond Vancouver's main sights.
For the lowest price, book your vehicle from Vancouver International Airport about one week in advance of your Los Angeles to Vancouver flight.
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH)
Once your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver has hit the tarmac, you can get to the city centre in about 5 minutes by car. Central Vancouver is approximately 0.80 kilometres from Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH).
If you hop on public transport, you'll get to the city centre in 15 minutes or so.
There are some comfortable places to lay your head close to CXH. Settle in and get cosy after your Los Angeles to Vancouver flight at any of these perfectly located options:
Get your ideal vehicle, not just what's left over, by securing your ride from CXH ahead of your arrival. You'll also avoid last-minute price surges, especially during busy airport times.
Abbotsford Airport (YXX)
Abbotsford Airport (YXX) is about 64 kilometres from the centre of Vancouver. It takes about 1 hour to reach the city centre by cab or ride-share once you've hopped off your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver.
Public transport will get you there in around 1 hour 30 minutes.
Enjoy a restful, unhurried start to your break by checking in to a hotel near YXX after your Los Angeles to Vancouver flight. Take a load off after a long travel day or simply give yourself time to settle into a new destination at:
Whether you're after an economy for a solo adventure or a spacious SUV to fit the whole crew comfortably, you'll find the right Abbotsford Airport rental car for your needs. Check out wheels available here from companies such as Hertz, Thrifty and Enterprise.
Plan ahead and reap the rewards. Book your vehicle from YXX one week before your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver for the most affordable rates.
Best time to go to Vancouver
August is the busiest month for flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver. To travel when it's less crowded, head to Vancouver in May.
Book a Los Angeles to Vancouver ticket departing in August if you want to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Vancouver to range from 13ºC to 24ºC.
Look for cheap flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver in December if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -1ºC and 7ºC on average.
More about Vancouver
Start your Vancouver trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver, check out our range of hotels including:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. Stanley Park, Granville Island and Science World are top attractions which should be on any well-planned Vancouver itinerary.
Explore more of Canada
You've done Vancouver, now it's time to discover other parts of Canada. Travel about 32 kilometres south-east to Surrey to tick off its top attractions. From Senator Reid Park to Port Mann Park and Morgan Creek Park, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
Victoria is another essential stop in Canada and is around 97 kilometres south of Vancouver. No journey is complete without seeing Royal BC Museum, Craigdarroch Castle and Inner Harbour.