Orlando (MCO) to Los Angeles (LAX)

Distance, flight time and the air traffic controllers who guide you.

Quick answer

Orlando (MCO) to Los Angeles (LAX) is 2,214 miles in a straight line, about 4h 56m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 10 air traffic control facilities along the way.

2,214miles
1,924nautical miles
3,562kilometers
~4h 56mestimated flight time
−3 htime change on arrival
Westinitial heading

Who handles your flight

Every airliner is passed from one air traffic control facility to the next. On the most direct path, these are the teams that guide you, in order. Weather and traffic can send a flight through other centers, so your actual flight may differ a little.

  1. MCOTowerOrlando International Tower (MCO)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. F11TRACONCentral Florida TRACON (F11)Guides the climb outThank them →
  3. ZJXCenterJacksonville ARTCC (ZJX)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  4. ZMACenterMiami ARTCC (ZMA)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  5. ZHUCenterHouston ARTCC (ZHU)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  6. ZFWCenterFort Worth ARTCC (ZFW)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  7. ZABCenterAlbuquerque ARTCC (ZAB)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  8. ZLACenterLos Angeles ARTCC (ZLA)Starts your descentThank them →
  9. SCTTRACONSouthern California TRACON (SCT)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  10. LAXTowerLos Angeles International Tower (LAX)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Los Angeles (LAX) to Orlando (MCO)

LAX → SCT → ZLA → ZAB → ZFW → ZHU → ZMA → ZJX → F11 → MCO

About the airports

Orlando International Airport

Orlando, FL

Codes: MCO · KMCO

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Orlando International Tower (MCO)

Thank the tower →

Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles, CA

Codes: LAX · KLAX

Time zone: Pacific

Control tower: Los Angeles International Tower (LAX)

Thank the tower →

More routes

All flight routes →

How we figure this out

Distance is the great-circle distance between the two airports, the shortest path over the curved Earth. Flight time assumes an average airliner speed of about 500 mph plus about 30 minutes for taxi, takeoff and landing. The list of facilities follows the same path, using each airport's tower and approach control and the FAA's en route center boundaries.

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Common questions

How long is the flight from Orlando (MCO) to Los Angeles (LAX)?

About 4h 56m gate to gate for the 2,214-mile trip. Flying west, you often fight a headwind, so it can take a little longer.

How far is Orlando (MCO) from Los Angeles (LAX)?

2,214 miles (1,924 nautical miles, 3,562 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Orlando (MCO) to Los Angeles (LAX)?

Usually 10 facilities: Orlando International Tower (MCO), Central Florida TRACON (F11), Jacksonville ARTCC (ZJX), Miami ARTCC (ZMA), Houston ARTCC (ZHU), Fort Worth ARTCC (ZFW), Albuquerque ARTCC (ZAB), Los Angeles ARTCC (ZLA), Southern California TRACON (SCT) and Los Angeles International Tower (LAX). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between Orlando (MCO) and Los Angeles (LAX)?

Yes. Los Angeles (LAX) is 3 hours behind Orlando (MCO).

Updated October 2026

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