Los Angeles lies about 1,800 miles (2,900 km) southwest of Nashville, yet the route is well covered: three airlines operate roughly seven direct flights a day in each direction. The flight from Nashville International Airport (BNA) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) takes four and a half to five hours, and the return trip is usually shorter. One-way fares begin at $150, with round trips typically costing $300 to $450.
Duration of a Flight from Nashville Airport to LAX
| Route | Scheduled Nonstop Time | Notes |
| BNA → LAX (westbound) | 4h 25m – 5h 00m | Headwinds add time |
| LAX → BNA (eastbound) | 3h 45m – 4h 15m | Tailwinds shorten the trip |
Don’t forget to account for the time zones while setting your itinerary. Since Los Angeles is two hours behind Nashville, if you board a plane from Nashville at 9:00 AM, you will land in Los Angeles at 11:40 AM.
Direct Flights from Nashville (BNA) to Los Angeles (LAX)
There are three airlines operating non-stop flights, and they do so on a daily basis.
| Airline | Daily Nonstops (Each Way) | LAX Terminal | Typical Position on Price |
| Southwest Airlines | 2–3 | Terminal 1 | Usually the lowest nonstop fares |
| Delta Air Lines | 2–3 | Terminals 2 & 3 | Competitive; strong schedule coverage |
| American Airlines | ~2 | Terminals 4 & 5 | Mid-range; connects to its DFW/CLT hubs |
Important Tip: The prices and the departure times will change based on the season; therefore, be sure to compare the three airlines based on the dates you wish to travel.
How Much Do Flights from BNA to Los Angeles Cost?
Prices on this route are stable by transcontinental standards. Based on 12 months of observed fares, here is what you can realistically expect to pay:
| Fare Type | Typical Price | Details |
| Nonstop round trip (off-peak) | $300-$450 | Southwest fares have dipped to $296 |
| Nonstop round trip (peak) | $380-$640 | July is the most expensive month |
| One-way nonstop | From ~$150 | Occasional Delta/Southwest deals |
| Round trip with 1 stop | From ~$179 | Frontier via Denver; adds 8+ hours of travel time |
These are a few ways to book that always work well for this flight:
- Book 5-6 weeks in advance: According to fare data, the optimum booking time frame is 40 days prior to travel.
- Travel in December or January: This is the least expensive month to travel, both directions, where round-trip flights can range between $190-$305. The most expensive month is July.
- Choose flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays: Off-peak days offer cheaper rates.
- Set an alert for fares: Given seven non-stop departures a day, prices tend to change often.
Planning Your Flight From LAX To BNA
For the return journey from LAX to Nashville Airport, everything is almost similar in terms of airlines operating and departure times as well. Flights from LAX to BNA are approximately four hours long, and December happens to be the cheapest month for booking this flight at an average fare of around $165.
Nonstop round-trip costs have gone as low as $296 during the off-season in winter. Remember, Nashville is two hours ahead, so adjust your arrival plans keeping that in mind. The departure in the afternoon from Los Angeles will get you to Music City by evening.
When to Arrive at BNA and LAX
- BNA has just one terminal, so travelers must plan to be there 2 hours before the flight.
- When traveling to LAX, consider that there will be traffic on the 405 (I-405) and you should know the terminal number of your airline (Southwest-T1, Delta-T2/T3, American-T4/T5).
- Do not travel during high event periods in terms of pricing; summer in general and July in particular have the highest rates on this route.
Final Thoughts
Flying from Nashville (BNA) to Los Angeles (LAX) is a pretty easy trip. It takes slightly less than 5 hours to reach there, and you will have 7 daily flights from which to choose. It is possible to book a round-trip ticket for about $300 or less, provided that you schedule your journey during the off-peak periods.
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