One-way rental · LAS → LAX
Need a one-way car rental from Las Vegas to Los Angeles? This LAS → LAX guide covers whether the different drop-off works, what the one-way fee might add, how pickup works at LAS, where you return the car at LAX, and what to watch for on the 270-mile I-15 drive — so the return location doesn't eat your budget.
Search Las Vegas pickup on Discover Cars →Harry Reid International uses a separate Rent-A-Car Center at 7135 Gilespie Street, about three miles south of the airport. From Terminal 1, follow Ground Transportation signs on Level 1 to the rental-car shuttle stop outside doors 10 and 11. From Terminal 3, rental-car shuttles depart from the Ground Transportation areas on Level Zero. The airport provides courtesy shuttles between the terminals and the Rent-A-Car Center.
Airport pickup logistics: Harry Reid International Airport rental-car information ↗ · checked Sep 2026
Drive back down from Las Vegas to Los Angeles and fly out of LAX instead of backtracking to Nevada. It's roughly 270 miles, about 4 to 5 hours via I-15, mainly on I-15 southwest across the Mojave.
Route heads-up: Sunday-afternoon returns to LA are notorious for I-15 backups near Baker and the state line. LA's all-electronic ExpressLanes (FasTrak) bill any use back through the rental's toll program.
At Los Angeles International, participating rental companies use the LAX Rental Car Center (RCC) at 5251 W 98th St. Return the car to your supplier at the RCC, then use the company's courtesy shuttle back to the airline terminals. Some rental companies operate off airport property instead of inside the RCC, so confirm the exact return location on your reservation before driving into the airport area. Leave enough buffer for the vehicle return and shuttle transfer.
Current LAX return setup: Los Angeles World Airports rental-car information ↗ · checked Sep 2026
Local toll heads-up at LAX: LA's 91 Express, I-110/I-10 ExpressLanes and Metro toll lanes are all-electronic FasTrak; rental companies pass any tolls through with a per-day service fee.
One-way fees are set by the rental brand, not the airport, and they change — confirm with your supplier. Here's how the major brands handle a different drop-off:
| Company | One-way rentals | Drop-off fee | Cross-region | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Enterprise US one-way policy ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | May apply; varies by route & season | Yes | One-way rentals must be booked in advance. Returns within the same city can still trigger a drop charge, mileage charge, or a higher rate. |
| National National US one-way fees ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | Often none airport-to-airport | Yes | Unlimited mileage on most U.S. and Canada one-ways; some specialty vehicles (large vans, large SUVs) have mileage limits. Certain one-way routes are not allowed. |
| Alamo Alamo one-way policy ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | May apply; varies by location | Yes | Book one-way rentals in advance. Same-city returns can still be charged, and certain one-way routes are not allowed. |
| Hertz Hertz US one-way rentals ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | No separate drop-off fee (US) | Yes | About 1,700 U.S. locations (airport and neighborhood). Free unlimited mileage on most rentals; SUVs, minivans and Prestige vehicles can be rented one-way. |
| Avis Avis one-way car rental FAQ ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | Most locations: none | Yes | Book one-way rentals in advance. Driving out of state is allowed; review any fees during booking. Car type and availability vary by participating location. |
| Budget Budget one-way car rental ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | May apply; same metro usually free | Yes | One-way hire is available from most Budget locations; the price quoted online already includes any applicable one-way charge. |
| Sixt Sixt USA rental information ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | Shown upfront; free on select FL/CA/NV routes | With conditions | U.S. one-way rentals are generally allowed between Sixt locations; international one-ways are not permitted, and driving outside permitted areas adds a per-mile fee. |
| Dollar Dollar general policies (one-way) ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | Drop fee applies; varies | Yes | One-way rentals within the U.S. and within Canada vary by Dollar location and vehicle availability. Book in advance. |
| Thrifty Thrifty one-way car rental ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | Drop fee applies; varies | Yes | One-way rentals within the U.S. and within Canada vary by Thrifty location and vehicle availability. Prices vary by location, date, length and car class. |
How we source this: each row links to the rental company's own published one-way / drop-off policy, with the month we last checked it. These policies change often and vary by route, location and vehicle class, so treat them as a guide and always confirm the current one-way fee and terms with your supplier before you book.
There's no single "one-way only" button on the big search engines, but on a comparison site like Discover Cars you can set the different drop-off in a couple of steps:
Arriving the night before your flight out of LAX? Compare hotels around Los Angeles:
Yes. Most major brands — including Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Budget, National, Alamo and Sixt — allow you to pick up at Harry Reid International (LAS) and return at Los Angeles International (LAX), as long as you book the one-way in advance. Availability and the car classes offered vary by location, so reserve early.
It depends entirely on the brand, dates and vehicle. Some suppliers charge no separate drop-off fee on domestic one-ways, while others add a one-time drop charge or a higher one-way rate that is disclosed when you book. The Las Vegas to Los Angeles corridor is well served, so it is worth comparing a few suppliers on the drop fee, not just the daily rate.
At Los Angeles International, the rental cars are at the new consolidated Rental Car Center on W. 98th Street (off-airport) (off-airport, roughly 1.5 miles by shuttle); to reach it you take the free shuttle from the 'LAX Shuttle' signs at baggage claim (an automated people-mover connection is being phased in). Confirm your specific brand's drop-off location and hours before you travel.
Sunday-afternoon returns to LA are notorious for I-15 backups near Baker and the state line. LA's all-electronic ExpressLanes (FasTrak) bill any use back through the rental's toll program. Ask your rental company how it handles tolls so you are not surprised by add-on fees.
It is roughly 270 miles, about 4 to 5 hours via I-15, mainly on I-15 southwest across the Mojave. Build in extra time for traffic, fuel and the rental return process at LAX.
Starting from Los Angeles instead? See the LAX → LAS one-way rental guide for pickup in Los Angeles and return in Las Vegas. Drop-off fees, traffic timing, tolls, and availability can differ by direction.