Port of Los Angeles Cruise Parking and LAX Distance

Where these numbers come from

The Port of Los Angeles prices parking by the hour, which is unusual among US cruise ports. The first hour is free and each hour after that costs $2, but the total stops at $22 per day. Because a cruise stay lasts many hours, you will hit the cap on every full day. Plan on the daily maximum, not the hourly rate.

For a worked example, take a 7-night cruise that touches 8 calendar days. Eight days at the $22 maximum is $176. If your ship sails on the same day you park and you return on the last morning, the first and last days may cost less than $22, so $176 is a ceiling. The FAQ does not explain how days are counted, so ask the attendant if the exact figure matters.

The airport leg is the bigger planning question. The port says the terminal is about 18 miles south of LAX, reached by I-405 south and then I-110 south to the Harbor Boulevard exit. It gives no drive time, and Los Angeles traffic changes that number a lot. Build in extra time rather than trusting a single estimate.

Several lines use this terminal. The port names Norwegian, Princess and Royal Caribbean as regular carriers and says nearly a dozen lines sail through the year on varying seasonal schedules. A door-to-door shuttle from LAX is listed, and free shuttles run inside the terminal area on ship days.

If the price looks close to other West Coast options, compare the whole trip. Long Beach, a few miles east, charges a flat $23 a day, which is about the same as the $22 cap here. See Long Beach for its garage height limit and airport distances. Use the cruise parking calculator to add fuel and airfare, or the cruise cost calculator for the full trip.

Rates, terminals and ship assignments change by season. The page we read showed no effective date beyond its seasonal references, so treat the $22 cap as the figure on the check date and confirm it in your cruise documents.

One more gotcha is payment. The FAQ lists cash, traveler's checks and debit or credit cards, and names Parking Concepts Inc. as the contact for parking questions. Bring a card as a backup, because a cash-only lot line on a busy embarkation morning is slow. Ships arrive and leave the same day, so the lot fills in waves.

Sources

• LA Waterfront cruise FAQs

Figures checked on September 30, 2026.

This page is general information, not legal, insurance or travel-agent advice. Fees, rules and limits change, so confirm the figures with the official sources listed above before you book or travel.