What’s the closest airport to Disneyland? Find drive times, directions, shuttles and all the details for your Disneyland vacation.
I’m listing the closest Disneyland airports by travel time which doesn’t always work with distance traveled. Here’s a quick look and then we’ll dive into all the nuances later.
- Orange County (aka John Wayne, Santa Ana, SNA) about 20 minutes to Disneyland
- Long Beach (LGB) about 25 minutes to Disneyland Resort
- Los Angeles (LAX) about 60 minutes to Disneyland Resort
Don’t forget to bring your Disneyland Plan (step by step in-park itinerary) with you for your Disneyland vacation because you’ll already be off to a great start no matter where you fly into.
Now that you know the basics, let’s get into it a little further because what’s best for one situation might not be best for you and your travel plans. Especially when considering low cost airfare—sometimes you just have to go where your preferred airline flies and that’s totally ok.
This article will help you get to that Disneyland magic as quickly as possible. I fly into all of them on a regular rotation but mostly SNA and LGB. It’s important to consider all the factors that might have you flying into neighboring airports. Here’s the low-down with not only the distance but drive time and more.
Table of Contents
Orange County Airport to Disneyland
Orange County / John Wayne / Santa Ana Airport is right in Orange County and very close to Disneyland. I tend to fly in and out of Orange County often. It’s the closest, but it’s my personal second favorite just because it’s bigger than Long Beach. Even so, SNA is small compared to many airports and is easy to navigate. I am often off my plan and in my shuttle in 10 minutes or less.
- Miles to Disneyland: 15 miles and a short drive over.
- Drive time to Disneyland: Average travel time is 20 minutes.
- Ground Transportation: Rental cars, taxi/Uber/Lyft, private cars. I suggest Karmel shuttle services.
- Car Seats: Kids under 8 years must use a car seat, more on car seats below
Directions to Disneyland from SNA
- Take 55 NORTH
- Merge onto 5 NORTH
- Exit Harbor Blvd and proceed to Toy Story Parking.
Need to get to Disneyland as soon as possible? This is your closest location!
Long Beach Airport to Disneyland
LGB is small and gets you in and out quickly! I’ve covered Long Beach airport in detail here, but the basics are all right here to dig into.
- Miles to Disneyland: 22 miles
- Drive time to Disneyland: Minimum 20 minutes. Average travel time is 30 minutes.
- Ground Transportation: Rental cars (right outside terminal), taxi/Uber/Lyft (pick up at terminal curb), private cars (pick up at terminal curb). I suggest Karmel shuttle services.
- Car Seats: Kids under 8 years must use a car seat
Directions to Disneyland from LGB
- Turn right on Lakewood Blvd.
- Merge onto 405 SOUTH
- Take the 605 N RAMP/EXIT
- Merge onto 5 SOUTH toward Santa Ana
- Exit Disneyland Drive and proceed to Mickey & Friends Parking.
LGB is best for simplicity and a quick drive to Disneyland. I love this airport! Still need tickets to Disneyland? Don’t pay more from Disney, get them now from my discount ticket partner.
Los Angeles Airport to Disneyland
LAX is a massive airport and international travel hub. You’ll most likely use this airport if you’re flying internationally or snagged a flight deal you just can’t pass up. LAX is no one’s favorite but it is doable—don’t let people scare you. Thousands use it every day, and that is sometimes the overwhelming part, just the scale alone.
I’ve covered Los Angeles international airport in detail here, but below is a quick snap shot of information.
- Miles to Disneyland: 33 miles but don’t let that fool you. Native Californians don’t measure in distance, we measure in time.
- Drive time to Disneyland: Minimum 40 minutes but can fluctuate dramatically. Average travel time is 60 minutes.
- Ground Transportation: Rental cars (shuttle to off-site facilities), taxi/Uber/Lyft (shuttle to off-site waiting lot), private cars (pick up at terminal curb). The best way to travel from LAX is by far Karmel shuttle.
- Car Seats: Kids under 8 years must use a car seat.
.Directions to Disneyland from LAX
- Take Sepulveda Blvd SOUTH
- Merge onto 105 EAST
- Take the 605 N RAMP/EXIT
- Merge onto 5 SOUTH toward Santa Ana
- Exit Disneyland Drive and proceed to Mickey & Friends Parking.
LAX is best for Disneyland goers who need the extended schedule offered by the most popular airlines. This is also the most common arrival point for international Disneyland travelers.
Ontario Airport to Disneyland
ONT is a smaller regional airport in inland Riverside County. It’s the only one I haven’t personally used because I’ve never needed to. Here’s the basics for getting to Disneyland.
- Miles to Disneyland: 36 miles to Disneyland.
- Drive time to Disneyland: Average travel time is 70 minutes.
- Ground Transportation: Rental cars, taxi/Uber/Lyft, private cars.
- Car Seats: Kids under 8 years must use a car seat under current California car seat law for every travel method listed above. Very few services offer car seats. My travel car seat recommendations here.
Directions to Disneyland from ONT
- Turn left on Hollywood Wy.
- Merge onto 5 SOUTH
- Exit Disneyland Drive and proceed to Mickey & Friends Parking.
BUR is best for Disneyland goers who might be visiting Universal Studios or just want a very basic drive to and from Disneyland. One freeway is all it takes, but it might be a little longer of a drive.
Hollywood Burbank Airport to Disneyland
BUR is a smaller regional airport near Universal Studios Hollywood. You can view the video tour of Burbank airport in this article, but below is the basic information you need.
- Miles to Disneyland: 40 miles with easy navigation to Disneyland on one freeway.
- Drive time to Disneyland: Minimum 60 minutes but can fluctuate dramatically. Average travel time is 70-90 minutes.
- Ground Transportation: Rental cars (walk to on-site facilities), taxi/Uber/Lyft (at the curb), private cars (pick up at terminal curb).
- Car Seats: Kids under 8 years must use a car seat.
Directions to Disneyland from BUR
- Turn left on Hollywood Wy.
- Merge onto 5 SOUTH
- Exit Disneyland Drive and proceed to Mickey & Friends Parking.
BUR is best for Disneyland goers who might be visiting Universal Studios or just want a very basic drive to and from Disneyland. One freeway is all it takes, but it might be a little longer of a drive. Shop Disney luggage here.
There’s a lot of things besides distance that can help you decide. I suggest listening in on my conversation on the Disneyland with Kids podcast episode about the pros and cons of each Disneyland airport.
Disneyland Shuttles and Car Seats
Under current California car seat law, children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat. When you travel to and from Disneyland in a shuttle, rental car or rideshare you are required to provide a car seat. if needed, for your child. Very few services offer car seats.
Here is why I think you should bring your own car seat with you when you travel:
- Your child’s car seat can come with you for free! Trips with Tykes explains it all here and adds, “Every U.S. airline allows you to check a car seat free of charge when traveling with a child. You can check your car seat at the airport baggage counter or wait and check it at your gate.”
- If your child has a plane ticket (2 and over require one anyway), it’s so nice to have them secure on the plane in a place they already feel comfortable—their own car seat.
- The biggest reason is going to take more explaining. And it has to do with insurance and liability. Let me explain…
- According to Karmel, offering car seats is not permitted by any insurance provider or department of transportation. What does that mean for all the services offering car seats for your shuttle drive? If transfer companies offer car seats, they are often unaware of the risks in the event there is an accident. Insurance companies do NOT cover medical expenses resulting in an incorrectly installed or incorrect size car seat. And I personally do not want to find out what that would mean for me or my family.
- A little more about insurance from Karmel, “Car seats must be properly installed and latched down with safety clips. Installed by police or fire department only. Certificate is issued once installed. Insurance will cover any claims with this certificate. It is impossible to have a car seat professionally installed every time.”
- Car seats are specifically designed for a child’s age, height and weight. It is impossible for any transfer company to meet those needs. Wrong size seat results in no insurance coverage.
In addition, you know your child and their needs best, along with their car seat requirements, the condition of your car seat (including expiration dates). If you are looking for a less bulky travel option I suggest taking a look at my travel car seat recommendations here. Then practice using it before your vacation. I used to have a long list of shuttle services that provide car seats, but because of these reasons and more I no longer feel confident sending you their way.
Which Disneyland area airport do you fly into and which one would you recommend to a friend? Share it in the comments below.
