Which airport should I fly into for Santa Monica?

For long-haul and international flights, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the main gateway near Santa Monica. The closest airport, Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO), is the most convenient for transfers — weigh proximity against the breadth of flight connections.

How far is the airport from Santa Monica?

The nearest is about 2 mi (4 km) away. The table above shows the distance and an estimated transfer time for each airport within about 300 km.

How do I get from the airport into Santa Monica?

Most airports offer taxis and ride-hailing, and many add a rail, metro or bus link into the city. Tap any airport above for a full guide with ground-transport options, lounges and transit details.

Airports Near Santa Monica

The closest airports to Santa Monica, California: IATA codes, names and distances, each with a full airport guide covering terminals, lounges and transit.

The nearest airport to Santa Monica, California is Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO), about 2 mi (4 km) away — roughly 8 min by road. For long-haul flights, the main international gateway is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Code	Airport	Distance	Transfer	Type
SMO	Santa Monica Municipal AirportSanta Monica, United States	2 mi / 4 km	8 min	Regional
LAX	Los Angeles International AirportLos Angeles, United States	7 mi / 11 km	23 min	International
HHR	Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal AirportHawthorne, United States	11 mi / 18 km	38 min	Regional
VNY	Van Nuys AirportVan Nuys, United States	13 mi / 21 km	44 min	Regional
BUR	Bob Hope AirportBurbank, United States	15 mi / 24 km	29 min	Regional
CPM	Compton Woodley AirportCompton, United States	17 mi / 27 km	32 min	Regional
TOA	Zamperini FieldTorrance, United States	17 mi / 28 km	34 min	Regional
WHP	Whiteman AirportLos Angeles, United States	17 mi / 28 km	34 min	Regional

Distances are straight-line; transfer times are road estimates. "Type" flags major/international gateways.

Which airport is best?

For the shortest transfer, Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) is the most convenient at about 2 mi out. If you're flying internationally or want the widest choice of routes, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) (7 mi) is the bigger gateway — worth the extra distance for long-haul or cheaper fares.

Getting to and from the airport

Taxis and ride-hailing serve every airport here, and the larger ones usually add a rail, metro or bus link into Santa Monica. Allow extra time in peak traffic. For exact routes, times and fares, open the airport guide — start with SMO.

Hotels near the airport

For early departures or late arrivals, a hotel near SMO saves a stressful morning transfer.

Search hotels near SMO All hotels near Santa Monica

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Other cities these airports serve

Travel tips

Compare the total door-to-door time, not just the airfare — a cheaper flight into a distant airport can cost more once you add the transfer. Check whether your airport has a direct train or metro before defaulting to a taxi, and for international arrivals, confirm any visa or transit rules in advance.

Frequently asked questions

The nearest airport to Santa Monica is Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO), about 2 mi (4 km) away — roughly 8 min by road.