Long Beach International Airport (LGB) Guide: Long Beach, United States

Long Beach International Airport is one of Southern California’s easiest commercial airports: open-air historic terminal feel, short walks, strong Southwest presence, and a location that can beat LAX for Long Beach, Orange County north, South Bay, and port-area trips. LGB is not a global hub, but it is a beautiful airport to use when the nonstop route fits.

This guide is written for travelers who want the useful details first: the real airport name, where it sits, how much to budget for transport, what to expect in the terminal, where to search for flights, and which services to arrange before landing. Prices and routes are updated for June 2026 and should be treated as practical planning ranges rather than fixed promises.

Quick airport facts

• Best for: Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, Los Angeles/Orange County border trips, cruise/port access, and Southwest domestic routes.
• Main route logic: official airport map shows nonstop to 21 airports, while FlightsFrom lists 3 airlines and broader one-stop connectivity.
• Airport style: compact historic airport with outdoor concourse areas, Long Beach Transit bus, taxis/rideshare, rental cars, restaurants, shops, and simple curb access.
• Planning rule: choose LGB for convenience when the route works; choose LAX for international depth.

Address and location

Use Long Beach International Airport (LGB) for flight searches and Long Beach Airport, Daugherty Field, LGB Airport as backup search wording in maps, hotel messages, and taxi conversations. The practical address is:

Long Beach Airport, 4100 Donald Douglas Drive, Long Beach, CA 90808, United States.

About 5 miles northeast of downtown Long Beach, 20-25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, and close to Lakewood, Signal Hill, and the port area. For a serious itinerary, save the airport coordinates offline, download the city area in Google Maps or Organic Maps, and keep your hotel address in both English and the local language where possible.

How to get from the airport to the city

Long Beach Transit routes serve the airport and connect toward downtown Long Beach and Metro A Line access, but traffic and transfers matter. For a cruise or port hotel, taxi or rideshare is usually easier.

Transport tips

• 🧾 Confirm the fare before loading luggage, especially when there is no visible meter or posted rate.
• 📍 Save the exact hotel pin offline; airport drivers may know districts better than street names.
• 💵 Carry small local cash for the first transfer, baggage carts, snacks, or phone calls.
• 🌐 Install an eSIM before departure so you can message your driver immediately after landing.

Public transport and metro

Use Los Angeles Subway Map or Los Angeles Guide and Subway from the supplied app list for LA Metro rail, bus, airport shuttle, and city routing. LGB has bus links toward Long Beach and Metro A Line connections, but no rail station inside the terminal.

Where public transport exists, it is usually best for daylight arrivals with light luggage. For late flights, family travel, heavy bags, or first-time visits, a taxi, hotel transfer, or pre-booked private driver is usually worth the extra cost.

Taxi prices and transfer strategy

Taxi prices around airports are rarely as neat as an official table. Time of day, luggage, driver availability, fuel prices, and whether the destination is inside or outside the central city all matter. The ranges above are realistic planning budgets, but the best practice is simple: agree the fare before moving, keep your phone map open, and avoid changing money with random drivers.

For smoother arrival logistics:

• 🚕 Use official taxi ranks or a hotel-arranged driver where available.
• 🧳 Pre-book a transfer if you land late, carry equipment, or travel with children.
• 🚗 Compare rental cars before arrival with DiscoverCars if you need regional freedom.
• 🏨 Use Expedia to check hotels near the airport and in the city before choosing a transfer.

Airport facilities, shops, and restaurants

• Compact passenger airport with airline counters, TSA, baggage claim, rental cars, taxis/rideshare, Long Beach Transit bus stops, restaurants, coffee, shops, outdoor patio-style spaces, and close parking.
• LGB is one of the more pleasant small-airport experiences in California, but food and retail are not as deep as LAX.
• Security and baggage are usually easier than at LAX, though peak Southwest waves can still crowd the terminal.
• Marine layer, LA traffic, and cruise/port timing are the main planning variables.

The smart rule at LGB is to treat the terminal as a transfer point rather than as a shopping destination. Eat before arriving when possible, keep a refillable bottle where security rules allow, and bring a small power bank. If you have a long delay, an airport-area hotel or city hotel is usually more comfortable than waiting in the terminal.

Airlines and where the airport flies

Long Beach Airport promotes nonstop flights to 21 airports and one-stop access to nearly 400 global cities. Public sources and booking pages show Southwest as the central carrier, with Hawaiian and Delta/Avelo-style service depending on date. Common destinations include Las Vegas, Sacramento, Oakland, Phoenix, Denver, Honolulu, Kahului, Salt Lake City, and other West/Southwest markets.

Southwest is the defining airline at LGB. Hawaiian is important for Hawaii service, and Delta or other smaller carriers may appear by schedule. For long-haul international and full alliance depth, compare LAX.

Cheap routes to check first

• Long Beach to Las Vegas, Oakland, Sacramento, Phoenix, Denver, or Salt Lake City: core Southwest-style searches.
• Long Beach to Honolulu or Maui: compare Hawaiian and Southern California airport alternatives.
• LGB versus LAX/SNA/BUR: compare not only fare but traffic, parking, and terminal stress.

Cheap airport strategy is different from simply sorting by lowest fare. Always compare the final cost after checked baggage, seat selection, payment fees, transfer costs, and missed-connection risk. A slightly more expensive flight into the correct airport can be cheaper than a low base fare that forces a long taxi ride or overnight hotel.

Where to buy flights and hotels

Start with broad searches, then verify the exact airport code before paying. This is especially important in cities with more than one airport or with airport transitions.

eSIM, internet, insurance, and car rental

• 🌐 Internet: install Yesim eSIM before the flight. Airport Wi-Fi can be slow, blocked by SMS verification, or unavailable exactly when you need maps.
• 🛡️ Insurance: compare policy wording with SafetyWing. Read exclusions for the destination, adventure activities, medical evacuation, political/security events, and pre-existing conditions.
• 🚗 Cars: compare vehicles on DiscoverCars before arrival. Airport counters can run out of automatic cars or quote higher walk-up rates.
• 🎟️ Tours: use Viator for airport transfers, city tours, day trips, and guided experiences when independent transport is inconvenient.

Practical arrival checklist

Safety and travel notes

For U.S. airport travel in 2026, check TSA identification rules before departure because REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025. Bring a REAL ID-compliant license or another TSA-accepted document, watch local weather, and leave extra time for security peaks, rental-car shuttles, and rideshare pickup walks. Southern California driving can be the biggest risk to timing. Leave freeway buffers for cruise departures, events, and Friday/Sunday traffic.

The most reliable traveler is the boringly prepared traveler: documents printed, data working, transport confirmed, hotel address saved, and enough time between every moving part of the itinerary.

Short airport excursion idea

If you have a long layover or an overnight stop, choose one simple plan rather than trying to see everything. Stay close to the city center or a known hotel district, keep the return transfer booked, and avoid cutting the return to the airport too close. In smaller airports, a missed flight may mean waiting a day or more for the next practical departure.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Long Beach International Airport from Long Beach?

About 5 miles northeast of downtown Long Beach, 20-25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, and close to Lakewood, Signal Hill, and the port area.

How much is a taxi from LGB airport?

Typical taxi planning ranges are shown in the transport table above. The safest method is to confirm the price before loading luggage and to use a hotel-arranged driver when arriving late or visiting for the first time.

Are there restaurants and shops at Long Beach International Airport?

Yes, but the depth of choice depends on the airport size and operating schedule. Expect practical cafes or snack options at smaller airports and a better range at major hubs. Carry backup snacks and water for delays.

Which airlines should I check first?

Southwest is the defining airline at LGB. Hawaiian is important for Hawaii service, and Delta or other smaller carriers may appear by schedule. For long-haul international and full alliance depth, compare LAX.

Is there a metro to the airport?

Use Los Angeles Subway Map or Los Angeles Guide and Subway from the supplied app list for LA Metro rail, bus, airport shuttle, and city routing. LGB has bus links toward Long Beach and Metro A Line connections, but no rail station inside the terminal.

Sources checked

• https://www.longbeach.gov/lgb/airlines-destinations/
• https://www.longbeach.gov/lgb/airlines-destinations/transportation/
• https://ridelbt.com/route-104/
• https://www.flightsfrom.com/LGB
• https://www.tsa.gov/realid