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PHL to LAX: distance & flight time
Philadelphia (Philadelphia International Airport) → Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport)
2,396 mi
3,856 km · 2,082 nm
5h 10m
estimated nonstop flight time
-3h
time difference · heading west
See live PHL→LAX fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
2,396 miles nonstop takes roughly 5h 10m 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
- PHL — Philadelphia International Airport · Philadelphia, 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 PHL
- BBX · Wings Field18 mi away
- PNE · Northeast Philadelphia Airport19 mi away
- LLY · South Jersey Regional Airport22 mi away
- NXX · Willow Grove Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base23 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 PHL from LAX?
The flight distance from Philadelphia (PHL) to Los Angeles (LAX) is 2,396 miles (3,856 km, 2,082 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from PHL to LAX?
A nonstop flight takes about 5h 10m 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 PHL to LAX?
Nonstop service on PHL–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 10m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Philadelphia and Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is 3 hours behind Philadelphia.
What is the cheapest way to fly from PHL to LAX?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on PHL–LAX that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some PHL to LAX fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain PHL–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.