Flying from Los Angeles to Vancouver: what you need to know
Los Angeles has a couple of airports where you can start your adventure. Check out your options for booking a flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver leaving from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or Van Nuys Airport (VNY).
When jetting into Vancouver, step off the plane at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base (CXH). Abbotsford Airport (YXX) is another major hub in this city.
Expect to be in the air for 2 hours 58 minutes. That's the average duration of a direct flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver. These two cities share the same timezone (UTC-7).
With 160 weekly flights between the two airports, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is the busiest route. Board the first flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver with Air Canada at 06:00. If you prefer to get more out of your day before taking off, the latest departure from LAX to YVR is with WestJet at 21:00.
Leave plenty of time to catch your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver. It's generally best to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months like July, it's a good idea to get to the airport well in advance. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of international flights whenever you're travelling during high season in general.
You can visit Canada for tourism purposes without a visa if you hold a passport from United States. But before booking your cheap flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver, make sure you have the latest information. Visa rules can change, and you may need some travel documentation if your trip is for business or another reason.
Flying from Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
You can get a direct flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver jetting off from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Start your journey at LAX and touch down at Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
You'll have your pick of airlines operating direct flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver leaving from LAX. Head off on your trip with any of these:
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to take a travel break — and possibly even tour another city. When searching for flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver leaving from Los Angeles International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Here are some popular options to consider:
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Located around 32 kilometres from central Los Angeles, LAX can be reached in about 32 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The same journey on public transport takes roughly 54 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and catch some extra z's) by picking one of these hotels close to Los Angeles International Airport:
Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
Break up your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver with a stop so you can stretch your legs or cross a new place off your list. Some great stopovers between Los Angeles International Airport and Vancouver are:
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
VNY is around 32 kilometres from central Los Angeles. It takes 34 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour and 41 minutes.
You're going on holiday, so why not extend it with an extra night away from home? Consider kicking back in one of these hotels near Van Nuys Airport the day before your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver:
Arriving in Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is around 14 kilometres from central Vancouver. With a car rental or if you're catching a cab, the drive is around 26 minutes.
It typically takes 33 minutes to get there by public transport.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver. Stay at one of these accommodation options near YVR instead:
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH)
Central Vancouver is about 2 kilometres from Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH). After your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver has hit the runway and you've made your way to arrivals, expect a drive of around 5 minutes.
The trip will take roughly 16 minutes on public transport.
After your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver, kick back at a hotel close to CXH. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you sink into relaxation mode:
How to find the cheapest flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver
Currently, $51 is the best price we've found for a one-way ticket from Los Angeles to Vancouver. The cheapest price for a return flight is $137. Bear in mind fares can change due to demand at the time of booking.
Book 9 months before you want to fly. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to find cheap tickets from Los Angeles to Vancouver.
May is the cheapest month for flight tickets from Los Angeles to Vancouver. If you'd like to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for every month.
Create a Price Alert for cheap tickets from Los Angeles to Vancouver. You don't need to look every day to see if fares have dropped. We'll tell you when there's a change in price.
Use filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from Los Angeles to Vancouver, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter by arrival and departure times, airline, and journey duration.
Best time to go to Vancouver
It's time to plan your travel dates for your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver. August is the most popular month to travel to Vancouver. If you prefer a quieter vibe, go in May.
Before you book a flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver, think about the type of weather you like best. August is the warmest month in Vancouver, with the temperature ranging from 13ºC to 24ºC.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, book a cheap ticket from Los Angeles to Vancouver in December when temperatures average between -1ºC and 7ºC.
More about Vancouver
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best stays in Vancouver right here. Explore these hotels after locking in your flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be tricky to work out where to begin. Stanley Park, Granville Island and Science World are highlights which should be on any good Vancouver itinerary.
Complete your Vancouver trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from Los Angeles to Vancouver to track down awesome deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and compare your options in one place. Plus you'll find all the info you need to drive in Vancouver, from the most popular car rental to the best time to book.