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JFK to LAX: distance & flight time
New York (John F Kennedy International Airport) → Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport)
2,469 mi
3,974 km · 2,146 nm
5h 19m
estimated nonstop flight time
-3h
time difference · heading west
See live JFK→LAX fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
2,469 miles nonstop takes roughly 5h 19m gate to gate, flying west. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 3-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- JFK — John F Kennedy International Airport · New York, United States
- LAX — Los Angeles International Airport · Los Angeles, United States
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near JFK
- LGA · La Guardia Airport11 mi away
- EWR · Newark Liberty International Airport21 mi away
- JRB · Downtown-Manhattan/Wall St Heliport13 mi away
- JRA · West 30th St. Heliport14 mi away
Near LAX
- HHR · Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport4 mi away
- SMO · Santa Monica Municipal Airport6 mi away
- TOA · Zamperini Field10 mi away
- LGB · Long Beach /Daugherty Field/ Airport17 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is JFK from LAX?
The flight distance from New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX) is 2,469 miles (3,974 km, 2,146 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from JFK to LAX?
A nonstop flight takes about 5h 19m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
Are there nonstop flights from JFK to LAX?
Nonstop service on JFK–LAX depends on the season and the day of week. Run the fare search on this page with the nonstop filter applied to see current direct options; when there is no nonstop, a single connection through a carrier hub adds roughly 2–4 hours to the 5h 19m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between New York and Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is 3 hours behind New York.
What is the cheapest way to fly from JFK to LAX?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on JFK–LAX that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some JFK to LAX fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain JFK–LAX tickets below the price airlines permit us to publish online, so those fares can only be quoted over the phone. Call the travel desk and an agent will check phone-only inventory for your dates.