John Wayne Airport, also known as SNA, is about a 27-minute drive from Hyland Motel Brea. The airport is in Orange County, and you can reach it by several freeways; rental cars, taxis, and OCTA bus routes are other options to investigate for a trip between the airport and Brea.
- Airport: John Wayne Airport-Orange County Airport (SNA)
- Drive from the motel: about 27 minutes
- Airport road access: I-405, SR-55, and SR-73
- Ground transport: on-site and off-site rental cars, taxis, and OCTA buses
How far is John Wayne Airport from Brea?
John Wayne Airport is about a 27-minute drive from Hyland Motel Brea. That travel time gives you a starting point for planning your arrival, though it does not describe a bus journey or account for particular traffic conditions.
The airport’s full name is John Wayne Airport-Orange County Airport, and SNA is its airport code.
Driving from SNA toward Brea
John Wayne Airport is accessible by the San Diego (I-405) Freeway, the Costa Mesa (SR-55) Freeway, and the Corona Del Mar Freeway/San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Toll Road (SR-73). Choose a route for your destination and check current driving conditions before setting out.
If you are driving yourself, plan your airport pickup before you reach the terminal. The airport’s free cell-phone waiting lot has 18 designated spaces south of Parking Structure C, near MacArthur Boulevard and Campus Drive. Drivers can wait there until arriving passengers call or text that they are ready.
Airport pickup and rental-car basics
- Ticket
- counter area on the Departure (upper) Level or in baggage claim on the Arrival (
The airport says on-site rental-car counters are on the Arrival (lower) Level between Terminals A and B, across from the John Wayne statue. Rental-car pickup and return are on level 0 of Parking Structures A2 and B2. On-site companies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Sixt, and Thrifty.
Licensed off-site rental-car companies collect passengers at the Ground Transportation Center and shuttle them to their locations. Greeters may wait in the ticket-counter area on the Departure (upper) Level or in baggage claim on the Arrival (lower) Level.
The airport encourages passenger pickup on the Departure (upper) Level after 9:00 am because it is less congested than the Arrival (lower) Level. You can also arrange to meet a driver at the cell-phone waiting lot once you are ready to be collected.
Public and private transport to check
Cabco Yellow, Inc. taxis pick up at the Ground Transportation Center on the Arrival (lower) Level between Terminals A and B, and near Column 14 on Terminal C’s Arrival Level. Head to the pickup location for your terminal and confirm your destination with the driver.
OCTA’s Route 76 runs between Huntington Beach and John Wayne Airport, Route 57 between Brea and Newport Beach, and Route 143 between La Habra and Brea. The City of Brea identifies OCTA as the local bus operator and says several routes intersect at Brea Mall. The ONT airport transportation guide covers another airport route to Brea.
These route descriptions do not establish a direct airport-to-Brea bus connection. Use OCTA’s trip planner to check routing for your exact starting point and destination, and check the official site before you go for current schedules and pickup arrangements.
Planning an arrival in Brea
For a car journey, allow about 27 minutes from John Wayne Airport to a motel in Brea, then plan your pickup around your arrival and chosen transport.
If you are renting a car, note that the counters and vehicle pickup areas are in different locations. If someone is collecting you, agree on a terminal and pickup level before leaving the airport.
For another route comparison, the Long Beach Airport to Brea guide focuses on that airport journey.
FAQs
What is the airport code for John Wayne Airport?
John Wayne Airport is also known by the code SNA.
Where are the on-site rental-car counters?
The counters are on the Arrival (lower) Level between Terminals A and B, across from the John Wayne statue. Rental-car pickup and return are on level 0 of Parking Structures A2 and B2.
Which OCTA routes are relevant to Brea and John Wayne Airport?
Route 76 connects Huntington Beach and John Wayne Airport, while Routes 57 and 143 include Brea in their endpoints. Use OCTA’s trip planner to check a journey between specific locations.
Where can a driver wait before picking someone up?
The free cell-phone waiting lot has 18 designated spaces south of Parking Structure C, near MacArthur Boulevard and Campus Drive. Drivers can wait there until the arriving passenger calls or texts that they are ready.