Pomona
Introduction
Pomona sits in the San Gabriel Valley, in the eastern part of Los Angeles County. It is the largest city in the valley, and its streets spread across the flats and foothills of this corner of Southern California.
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona — known as Cal Poly Pomona — has its main campus partly within the city limits, giving Pomona a college-town thread that runs alongside its role as one of the valley's major population centers.
Getting there
Getting to Pomona is easiest by car, since the city sits at the junction of several major freeways in the eastern Los Angeles area. If you're arriving from Los Angeles or elsewhere in Southern California, plan on driving; the freeway network puts the city within reach of the wider region. If you'd rather not drive, you can also reach Pomona by train, with rail service connecting the city to other points in the area.Getting around
Pomona sits in the Pomona Valley within the wider Los Angeles metropolitan region, so think of transport here as regional rather than self-contained. Regional commuter rail connects the city to central Los Angeles and other parts of the region without a car, but treat rail as your link to other cities rather than a way to move around Pomona itself. Local and regional buses fill the gaps rail does not cover, including short hops within the city and connections to neighbouring towns; because these networks are run at county or regional level, one agency may not cover every route you want. Use buses for short local journeys and for reaching rail stations, and if you plan to combine the two, look for a regional pass covering multiple operators instead of buying separate tickets each time.
Pomona is largely car-oriented, so walking works best within a neighbourhood or commercial district rather than between distant parts of the city; pair a walk with a bus or rail leg for longer journeys, and check daylight hours since some areas are more comfortable by day. Taxis and ride-hailing are straightforward for trips that are awkward by bus or rail, for late-night travel, or when you are carrying luggage, and you will likely lean on them more in the evening when bus frequencies drop. Pomona has no major commercial airport of its own, so arrivals typically land at one of the large Los Angeles-area airports and continue by ride-hailing, taxi, airport shuttle, or a combination of rail and bus. Decide early whether you will rent a car, and keep the name confusion in mind: many places share the name Pomona, so double-check that tickets, addresses, and station names refer to Pomona, California. Verify schedules, fares, and service hours locally, as these details change frequently.
Where to stay
For a comfortable stay with plenty of amenities, consider La Quinta Inn & Suites on Temple Avenue, where rooms come with pillowtop beds, flat-panel televisions with premium cable, free wireless internet, and coffee makers. The hotel also offers free breakfast with waffles, cereal, muffins, and fresh fruit, plus a 24-hour fitness center, pool, spa, business center, and a Bright Side Market. Pets are welcome. If you prefer to stay closer to the fairgrounds, the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel on West McKinley Avenue is a convenient option. Budget-minded travelers can look to Motel 6 Los Angeles - Pomona on South Garey Avenue. For a campus setting, the Kellogg West Conference Center and Hotel sits on the Cal Poly campus, where hospitality students practice their skills; it features a pool, a breakfast buffet, and refined landscaping.Food & drink
For inexpensive Mexican, Salvadoran, and Guatemalan cooking in a casual setting, head to Guasalmex Restaurant on West Holt Avenue. It is the kind of unfussy spot where you can settle in for a straightforward meal without dressing up. The source lists no dedicated bars, cafes, or nightlife, so plan your drinking around your meal rather than expecting a separate scene.What to see and do
Pomona's sights cluster around a few themes: speed, citrus-era history, and a surprisingly strong museum lineup. Car enthusiasts should head to the NHRA Motorsports Museum, which covers the world of drag racing, and the RailGiants Train Museum, devoted to the iron horse and home to the Big Boy Steam Dream. For a sense of the city's roots, visit the Palomares Adobe, Pomona's oldest structure, once owned by rancher Ygnacio Palomares, or the Phillips Mansion, built by Lewis Phillips, who developed the land as a rail stop and set Pomona on the path to incorporation. Art lovers can take in the American Museum of Ceramic Art, while the African-American Museum of Beginnings explores the region's Black history. The campus of Cal Poly Pomona is worth a wander for its Japanese Gardens, the Rain Biotrek Preserve, and the horses ambling in the paddocks of the W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center, all on land that was once cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg's ranch. For live entertainment, catch a show at the Fox Theater Pomona, a historic venue where Hollywood films were once test-screened for local audiences. And if your timing is right, the Pomona Fairplex hosts the annual Los Angeles County Fair each September along with events through the year, including the NHRA Drag Racing Winter Nationals in November.Three days in Pomona
Day one: Start in Pomona itself, the anchor of the Pomona Valley within Los Angeles County. Get your bearings in Southern California by exploring the local streets and the character of the surrounding San Gabriel Valley. If you have time, head toward California State Polytechnic University, known as Cal Poly Pomona, to see the campus that shapes much of the city's rhythm. For dinner, look for the Mexican, Salvadoran and Guatemalan cooking that reflects the area's Central American communities, with Guasalmex Restaurant on West Holt Avenue as one option.
Day two: Use Pomona as your base for a wider look at the region. Decide whether to spend the day in Los Angeles or stay closer to the Pomona Valley, then plan your transport accordingly. Regional and local services connect the area, and taxis are another way to get around if you prefer not to drive. A car gives you the most flexibility for reaching the NHRA Motorsports Museum and other points across Los Angeles County. Verify schedules and routes before you set out, since options vary by day.
Day three: Take a slower morning and pick up supplies at Bright Side Market. If you are travelling with pets, confirm policies before booking, as some properties are more accommodating than others. Among the places to stay in the area are the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel on West McKinley Avenue, the Kellogg West Conference Center and Hotel at Cal Poly, the La Quinta Inn and Suites on Temple Avenue, and budget motels along South Garey Avenue. Close your trip with a final meal of Mexican, Salvadoran or Guatemalan food before heading on.