Six hour transfer in Los Angeles - best options?

Question

I'm flying to Toronto across August and September, and my trip there from Australia arrives in Los Angeles as a quick stopover. I'll arrive at 440pm at Terminal B and then leave at 11:10pm from Terminal 2. In that 6.5 hours, I know there'll be some time taken in getting in and out of the terminal and through security etc, but it's a substantial time there that I was seeking what would be a good option to fill my time. I've read some people suggest staying in the terminals because there's places to eat. Others say doing in-and-out burger (which I've never had and am very curious about) and some have said might get away with a venice beach visit. Just thought I'd put it out there to see what people think the best way to spend the time without risking any rushed time.

Answer

Hi! With a 6.5-hour layover at LAX, you have some options, but it’s important to balance sightseeing with the time needed for customs, security, and traveling between terminals. Arriving at 4:40 pm in Terminal B and departing from Terminal 2 at 11:10 pm gives you roughly 5–5.5 hours of usable time after accounting for deplaning, immigration, luggage (if any), and re-checking for your next flight.

Here are the main approaches to spending your layover:

Stay inside the airport: LAX has a variety of dining and lounge options across terminals. Staying inside is the safest choice if you want minimal stress. You can try:

In-N-Out Burger – There’s a location on Sepulveda Blvd close to the airport. If you take a short Uber ride, you can grab the iconic burger and be back quickly.
Airport lounges – If you have access, lounges offer food, drinks, comfortable seating, and Wi-Fi for relaxing or catching up on emails.
Terminal dining – Grab a meal at local or chain restaurants inside Terminal 2 or nearby terminals.

Short trip offsite: While Venice Beach or Santa Monica are appealing, realistically you risk rushing. With traffic, even mid-afternoon to evening, it can take 45–60 minutes each way. Consider this only if you are comfortable with a tight schedule and using Uber or Lyft. A safer short excursion is:

Visit the In-N-Out Burger near LAX – less than 15 minutes each way, letting you taste it without the stress of LA traffic.
Explore nearby Manhattan Beach or Playa del Rey – a quick seaside stroll, low risk if you keep an eye on the time.

Tips for your layover:

Factor in at least 1–1.5 hours for immigration, security, and boarding before your next flight.
Use Uber or Lyft rather than renting a car for short excursions; LAX traffic can be unpredictable.
Keep luggage accessible or use an airport luggage storage service if needed.
Check Terminal maps ahead of time for dining and lounges in Terminal 2, so you can move efficiently.

Summary recommendation: If you want to maximize safety and avoid stress, stay in or very near the airport and enjoy a local In-N-Out or airport dining. If you’re feeling adventurous and confident with timing, a very short beach visit or quick ride to In-N-Out offsite is possible, but anything beyond that (like Venice Beach) risks missing your connection due to LA traffic.