LAX to UC-Irvine (San Diego, Orange, Costa Mesa: rental car, rentals, hotels) - Orange County - California (CA) - City-Data Forum

ffknight918 · 05-24-2008, 01:29 PM

I currently live in Milwaukee, WI, but during the end of June I will be flying into LAX, then needing to get to UC-Irvine. I have a test with the Orange County Fire Authority. Is there a way to get there by rail or bus from LAX? I know that there is the metrolink, but I'm not sure if this would work getting to the college. It would be nice not having to drive. Thanks.

missionhome · 05-24-2008, 01:46 PM

I would do a shared ride van. Super Shuttle or something, although there may be a few stops a long the way taking more time. You could take the Fly Away bus to Union Station in Downtown LA and ride the Metrolink to Irvine or Tustin station, but then the OCTA bus service sort of sucks for getting you to UCI. You have to make like three transfers. Even in LA public transport is iffy and not the best, but in Orange County public transport literally is the worst. It makes LA public transport look amazing.

If you want to leave the UCI campus, you will probably want a car or something anyhow, so renting a car might be the best option. There aren't many places to walk to from UCI

ffknight918 · 05-24-2008, 02:01 PM

Thanks a lot. I might end up just renting from LAX. Otherwise is there a place near the Irvine Metrolink station with car rentals? I could definitely get to Union Station in LA without a problem though. I went to LA in both Jan and Feb for interviews with the LAFD and used the rail there.

I could also fly into San Diego if it would be easier, but I think LA might work better?

phoenix_talons · 05-24-2008, 02:18 PM

Getting from LAX to UC-Irvine is most convenient by driving there yourself. Just get on 405-South and keep driving until you reach Culver. Then make a right. UC-Irvine is 5 minutes away.

Public transportation is no good, whether MetroLink, bus or what have they. It may take half a day to get there. Depending on time of day, driving yourself can take as little as under an hour.

missionhome · 05-24-2008, 02:20 PM

There are Enterprise Rental Car locations adjacent to both Tustin and Irvine train stations. It is a five to ten minute drive from these stations to the university.

Do know that in free flowing traffic, driving from LAX-Irvine is substancially faster. I have done this route in as little as 50 minutes when there isn't traffic. When there is traffic though (which is often), it is a nightmare, usually 1.5 hours.

You could also do your driving in your area and fly out of Chicago Ohare (which I know is a nightmare airport) instead of Milwaukee and go nonstop into John Wayne Airport (SNA) which is about 1 mile from UCI. United and American Airlines both fly that route nonstop and at least you won't have to spend as much time navigating our freeways which you are not as familiar with.

Here is metrolinks website: Metrolink :: Welcome ,you want schedules for the Orange County Line. You will probably find the schedules are bad or trains slow, but at least you will see how long it takes. Going to downtown LA from LAX is sort of out of the way for going to Irvine. Taking public transport is going to probably be 2 hours or more anyhow since you go so out of the way.

ffknight918 · 05-24-2008, 02:40 PM

Thanks again to both of you. I'm thinking I'll just rent a car.

I actually need to fly from Milwaukee. I recently started at Midwest Express Airlines so that I could fly for free to test at fire departments since I want to work somewhere else in the country. I haven't been there long enough for the agreements we have with a few other airlines. So I'll just end up going to LAX.
Would San Diego be close? Because that is an option as well.

I also get a 25% discount with AVIS so the drive sounds like the best option right now.

Last, are there any hotels in the area? My test is probably going to be early on a Saturday morning so I want to be close by.

missionhome · 05-24-2008, 03:03 PM

There are plenty of hotels in the area. With John Wayne Airport being so close and UCI being adjacent to one of Orange County's largest emplyment centers, the Irvine Business Park, there are lots of clean business hotels in the area. The Irvine Marriott, Bayview Marriott, Hyatt Irvine, Embassy Suites Irvine, and Fairmont are some of the more expensive hotels. The Courtyard Irvine, Residence Inn, Ayres Suites Costa Mesa (a very good local chain by the way), and Atrium Hotel (a boutique hotel trying to cater to the "hip" hotel look) are mid range hotels. Can't think of any motels in the area, the airport area generally is a pretty professional area.

I like the Hyatt best of the more expensive hotels and the Ayres Suite for the midrange.

All these hotels are five to ten minutes to UCI. LAX is probably going to be quicker than San Diego.

Havnfun · 05-25-2008, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ffknight918

Thanks again to both of you. I'm thinking I'll just rent a car.

I actually need to fly from Milwaukee. I recently started at Midwest Express Airlines so that I could fly for free to test at fire departments since I want to work somewhere else in the country. I haven't been there long enough for the agreements we have with a few other airlines. So I'll just end up going to LAX.
Would San Diego be close? Because that is an option as well.

I also get a 25% discount with AVIS so the drive sounds like the best option right now.

Last, are there any hotels in the area? My test is probably going to be early on a Saturday morning so I want to be close by.

Even with the 25% discount at AVIS you might still want to check the rates with Dollar. I find that they are often half of what AVIS is and I have never had any trouble with them. I just rented with Dollar at the beginning of May for a week and the cost was $85. + taxes for a Dodge Caliber.

ffknight918 · 05-25-2008, 10:01 AM

Thanks again everyone. What the Irvine Metrolink station like? Are there shuttle buses or cabs that might be easier? I'll check out Dollar though. So far the cheapest I found was I think Enterprise at $80.

EscapeCalifornia · 05-25-2008, 11:29 AM

Definitely rent a car at the airport. A navigation system is also a good idea. If you don't own a portable GPS, see if you can rent one from the car rental place, borrow one from a friend, or just buy one yourself. It'll save tons of aggravation. Having a car will give you the flexibility you need. Public transportation is for people who live and work right next to the stations or don't mind making lots of transfers and taking forever to get anywhere.