Weekend Flights from LAX: Where to Go, What to Pay, and How to Make It Work

LAX is the best airport in California for weekend trips. Not because the airport itself is great (it isn't), but because the sheer number of nonstop routes means you can be in a different city almost every Friday for less than you'd spend on a nice dinner.

We track every nonstop route out of LAX every week. Here's what actually works for a Friday-to-Sunday trip, what it costs, and how to time it so you're not wasting half your weekend in transit.

The short flights (under 2 hours)

These are the no-brainer weekend trips. You can leave after work on Friday, land before 9 PM, and still have a full evening at your destination. The flights are cheap, frequent, and rarely delayed because of the short distance.

Las Vegas (1 hour, $60-150 round trip)

The most popular weekend flight from LAX for good reason. Southwest, Frontier, and Spirit all compete on this route, which keeps prices low. You can regularly find round trips under $100. The flight is so short that a 7 PM departure still gets you to dinner by 9 PM. Skip the strip cliches and eat at the restaurants you'd wait months for in LA. The food scene in Vegas is quietly one of the best in the country.

San Francisco (1.5 hours, $80-180 round trip)

Alaska, Southwest, United, and Delta all run this route constantly. Friday evening options are plentiful. SFO is a completely different vibe from LA, and the flight is barely longer than sitting in traffic on the 405. Fisherman's Wharf is the tourist trap. The Mission, Hayes Valley, and North Beach are where you actually want to be.

Phoenix/Scottsdale (1.5 hours, $80-160 round trip)

The desert is underrated as a weekend destination. American and Southwest run nonstops all day. In fall, winter, and spring, the weather is perfect. Pool by day, Old Town restaurants by night. Everything in Scottsdale is ten minutes from everything else, which is exactly what you want when you only have 48 hours.

San Diego (1 hour, $70-140 round trip)

If you're in LA, this might seem too close to fly. But if you live in the Valley, Westside, or anywhere north of the 10, the flight is genuinely faster door-to-door than driving. Plus you skip the traffic entirely. Coronado Beach, the Gaslamp Quarter, and La Jolla are all worth the trip.

The medium flights (2 to 3 hours)

These require a bit more planning on timing. A 6 PM departure is ideal because you still land at a reasonable hour. Anything later than 8 PM and you're losing Friday night.

Denver (2.5 hours, $100-250 round trip)

Consistently one of the best value weekend trips from LAX. Frontier anchors the budget end, but United and Southwest are often competitive. Denver works in every season. Summer for hiking and brewery patios, winter for a quick ski trip (resorts are 90 minutes from the airport). The RiNo neighborhood alone is worth the flight.

Portland (2.5 hours, $100-220 round trip)

Alaska and Delta are the main carriers. Portland is the kind of city where you don't need a plan. Powell's Books, food carts in every neighborhood, and nature twenty minutes in any direction. The vibe is relaxed in a way that feels genuine.

Seattle (2.5 hours, $100-230 round trip)

Alaska, Delta, and Southwest all compete heavily on this route. Pike Place on Saturday morning. Capitol Hill for dinner. A ferry ride to Bainbridge Island if you want to feel like you left the country. Seattle has more personality per square block than cities twice its size.

Salt Lake City (2 hours, $90-200 round trip)

This one surprises people. In winter, you're skiing within 30 minutes of landing. In summer, the hiking is world-class. Downtown SLC has quietly built a legit restaurant and bar scene. The flight is only two hours and prices stay reasonable because multiple carriers compete.

The longer flights (3+ hours)

These are still doable for a weekend, but timing matters more. Book the earliest possible Friday evening departure and a Sunday afternoon return to maximize your time on the ground.

Austin (3.5 hours, $150-350 round trip)

The longer flight is worth it for the right weekend. Live music on Sixth Street, breakfast tacos that rewire your brain, and Barton Springs when you need to cool down. South Congress and East Austin are where the best food is concentrated. Southwest, Delta, and American all run nonstops.

Nashville (4 hours, $150-350 round trip)

Hot chicken at Prince's, honky-tonks on Broadway, and the friendliest strangers you'll meet anywhere. Nashville is further than most destinations on this list, but the city packs so much into a small area that a 48-hour visit feels complete.

New Orleans (4 hours, $180-400 round trip)

There is no city in America like New Orleans. The architecture, the jazz, the gumbo, the energy of the French Quarter at night. It's a stretch for a weekend, but every person who's done it says it was worth it. Book a Friday evening departure and you'll have two full days.

Chicago (4 hours, $150-350 round trip)

Pushes the limit of a weekend trip, but United and American run nonstops all day. Deep dish, the architecture boat tour, jazz clubs, and the Art Institute. If you take a Thursday evening red-eye (some routes offer this), you get an extra morning.

International (2-3 hours)

Cabo (2.5 hours, $200-450 round trip)

The easiest international weekend from LAX. You're on the beach in Mexico two hours after takeoff. Passport required, but the trip is worth keeping it current. Alaska and Southwest run nonstops. The resort scene means you can go as budget or luxe as you want.

Puerto Vallarta (3 hours, $200-400 round trip)

More character than Cabo. The malecon, the Romantic Zone, and Pacific sunsets that are genuinely world-class. The flight is about three hours. Great seafood, strong cocktail scene, and prices that are significantly lower than comparable US destinations.

Mexico City (3.5 hours, $200-450 round trip)

World-class food, ancient ruins, and a megacity that never runs out of surprises. The flight is longer, but the cultural payoff per hour is unmatched. Condesa and Roma Norte are the neighborhoods to base yourself in. The street food alone is worth the trip.

How to get the best prices on LAX weekend flights

We track prices across all these routes every day. A few patterns we've noticed:

Book Tuesday through Thursday for the cheapest fares. Friday and Saturday bookings are consistently 15-25% more expensive. Fly out on Friday evening and return Sunday afternoon. The sweet spot for returns is 3-6 PM, which gives you most of Sunday and still gets you home at a reasonable hour.

Avoid holiday weekends. Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day weekends are 2-3x normal prices on popular routes. The weekends immediately before and after holidays are often cheaper than average because demand drops.

Southwest doesn't show up on Google Flights or most comparison sites. Always check southwest.com directly, especially for Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, and Oakland routes where they're often the cheapest option.

Browse current prices for all LAX weekend flights on our LAX trips page.