Ontario Airport (ONT) Flights & Information

California’s Ontario International Airport (ONT), located about 40 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, is a good alternative airport to consider for travel to L.A. or anywhere in Southern California.

Note that this airport is NOT in Ontario, Canada, but rather in a L.A. suburb by the name of Ontario.

As a long-time Los Angeles resident, I sometimes chose Ontario Airport instead of LAX, despite the longer drive commute, because of the smaller airport’s ease of use (and because LAX is always such a huge hassle).

I’d recommend you look at Ontario Airport particularly for travels north and east of Los Angeles. Given L.A.’s notoriously bad traffic, ONT can be a shortcut to get to Pasadena and Burbank vs. using LAX. And the airport is much closer than LAX to tourist destinations like Palm Springs and Big Bear.

How to get to and from Ontario Airport

Ontario Airport’s location east of Los Angeles just off the I-10 expressway makes it a convenient airport to use for Southern California travels.

Ontario airport location

Ontario International Airport (ONT) is located near San Bernardino, California, about 40 miles from downtown Los Angeles and 65 miles from Palm Springs. The nearby I-10 highway can take you all the way to the beach in Santa Monica, or straight to Arizona if you’re looking for a road trip.

I’d recommend Ontario Airport as the best Los Angeles area airport to use if you’re traveling anywhere in the eastern L.A. metro area, and for road trips farther east from L.A. like the vacation destinations of Big Bear, Palm Springs or Joshua Tree National Park.

I’d also consider Ontario Airport as an alternative to LAX if you’re going to cities north of Los Angeles like Pasadena or Burbank. Obviously, Burbank airport would be closer to those spots, but I have used ONT for work trips to Pasadena and Monrovia due to scheduling and flight availability.

Shuttle services at ONT

Free hotel shuttle buses are available for more than a dozen hotels near ONT, the best option if you just have an overnight layover or local business. On-demand shared shuttles and vans (like Super Shuttle) are available, I think a good choice to save money on longer rides in the L.A. metro area—particularly when traffic is considered.

Taxis and rideshare services at ONT

You can easily find taxis and rideshares just outside of the terminals, and drop-offs are convenient as well. Note that the ride into Los Angeles can be quite expensive, particularly during high traffic times. I think this is one of the few airports where I’d recommend taking a shared shuttle or renting a car versus taking a taxi or rideshare for commutes into town.

Public Transit access to ONT

The Los Angeles area is not known for its public transit options (for good reason), but Ontario Airport does have a free bus shuttle connecting it to Rancho Cucamonga Station. From there, multiple rail lines lead to stations all around the greater L.A. region.

Trying to navigate around L.A. without a car is a challenge, to say the least. I wouldn’t recommend public transit from ONT unless you have local family or friends you’re meeting with a car, or maybe if you’re going to a local concert or event where traffic is expected to be particularly bad.

Rental cars at ONT

If you’re coming to the L.A. area, you’re probably going to want a car. ONT’s rental car center has ten major companies stocking vehicles, with some more agencies offsite. I’d recommend sticking with the on-site companies, as often the off-site savings is not worth the hassle. Shuttles arrive pretty regularly to a curbside location outside of baggage claim. Nearby highway access to I-10 will get you on the road with your car quickly.

Navigating ONT terminals

I think Ontario is quite a convenient airport to use for travel. It’s small for an international airport, with a simple layout that makes for an overall less-stressful travel experience especially when compared to LAX.

Ontario Airport is divided into two terminals, somewhat confusingly named Terminal 2 and Terminal 4. There are no terminals 1 or 3. The older Terminal 1 was shut down, and a planned Terminal 3 has yet to be built.

The two terminals each have just about a dozen gates, so ONT is definitely on the small side for an international airport. Southwest Airlines dominates traffic at Terminal 4, while international flights and larger long-haul aircraft use Terminal 2.

The two terminals are connected by a walkway which takes about 5-10 minutes to traverse between the areas. Keep in mind you’ll have to then walk to your gate, which may add another 10 minutes, so plan your transfers accordingly. A free shuttle bus runs between the terminals every 10-15 minutes, but between the wait for the bus and the travel time, walking should be quicker

Airport security

Ontario operates a TSA security checkpoint area at the center of both Terminals 2 and 4. I’ve found the process usually much smoother and quicker than the often-packed security checkpoints at the larger LAX. Access lines for CLEAR and TSA PreCheck are available at both security checkpoints. These lines are more helpful during weekend leisure travel times versus weekday business travel times, as most commuters use these services.

If you have family or friends who want to see you off at the gate past security, ONT offers a nice new amenity, the ONT+ Visitor Pass Program. A non-ticketed person can apply up to a week in advance for TSA approval to go through security and hang out in the pre-flight terminal area. The visitor needs to go through the same security and is subject to the same rules for prohibited items and liquids.

Airport food and drink

ONT doesn’t have a wealth of food options, being a small airport, but a couple stand out over the fast food shops. I’d suggest the Tap & Pour Gastropub in Terminal 2 and Mi Casa Cantina in Terminal 4 for pre-flight meals and drinks.

Lounges at ONT

Ontario Airport hosts an Aspire Lounge in both Terminal 2 and Terminal 4. The lounges are fairly typical for the chain of pre-flight food, drink and relaxation rooms. If you have free access via flight class or status, or if your credit card gives you entry, then it’s worthwhile to hang out here before a flight. The daily entry rate is relatively expensive for the quality of food and drink, so I’d suggest you skip it unless you have complimentary access.

Note that these Aspire Lounges can get fully booked for China Airlines passengers on days when that airline has departing flights. So I’d highly recommend trying to make reservations for lounge space—at least you’ll know in advance if it’s sold out so you can plan accordingly.

Airline service from Ontario Airport

With a substantial Southwest Airlines presence at ONT, the airport provides good coverage to Western U.S. cities. As multiple other airlines from ONT cover those same routes, pricing is competitive, and many flights are available. I’ve often used Ontario as my commuter airport for work trips between Northern and Southern California.

Eleven airlines currently schedule flights from ONT including United, America and Delta. These airlines book cross-country flights, so you can include ONT in your searches for long-distance travel as well as commuter flights in and out of the L.A. area.

International travel to and from ONT

Ontario Airport offers regular service to a handful of international destinations, including flights to Mexico, Taiwan and El Salvador.

International arrivals at ONT disembark at a dedicated two-gate international terminal with its own passport control and customs designated “FIS” on the arrivals board. The terminal is small and easy to get through, just remember to tell your ride you’ll be arriving at this mini terminal—or you can do a short walk to Terminal 2 for pickup. Departing international passengers leave from Terminal 2 as do domestic fliers.

Parking at ONT

ONT has five parking lots located near the terminals, making it easy to drive and park here both for short term and long term timing. Parking in the closest lots sometimes gets full during the week for business travelers, so I’d advise making a reservation to ensure a spot.

Ontario Airport’s Lot 2 and Lot 4 are located directly adjacent to those terminals, a short walk even if you’re not using the closest Premium category spots. The hourly rate is reasonable, so if you’re coming to pick someone up, I’d say it’s more convenient to park here rather than circle the lot waiting for the person.

ONT’s Lot 3 is located between the two terminals, a slightly longer walk that may be worth the savings if you’re parking here for a few days. Lots 5 and 6 are still a fairly short walk to Terminal 4, and also have a shuttle bus to deliver you to Terminal 2, your best choice for long term parking.

ONT even has valet parking if you’re in a rush, though the price is double that of even the cost for the Premium lot spaces, so only use this if you have a generous expense account.