Stand where the downhill half marathon finishes and you get the shape of Fontana in one glance: a course that drops from Lyttle Creek to city hall, and a downtown that fills with merchants and bands once a year for Fontana Days. The rest of the year, the city rewards a slower look, including a house off the train tracks that once belonged to Al Capone and streets that appeared on screen in Terminator 2: Judgement Day.
Fontana suits travellers who are passing through the area and want to see what a place actually offers rather than a packaged itinerary. It also suits runners, who come for the races that anchor the annual celebration.
This guide covers the sights and events the sources describe, with practical notes on how to fit them into a visit.
Top things to do in Fontana
1. Fontana Days
Fontana Days is the annual celebration of the founding of Fontana, held in the downtown area. Local merchants and bands occupy the streets, so the centre of town becomes the event itself rather than a backdrop to it.
The runs are a major part of the festivities. Fontana hosts what is described as the fastest half marathon, a 13.1 mile stretch that runs downhill from Lyttle Creek to city hall. Alongside it are 5k runs, walks, and a children's hundred yard dash. If you want to watch rather than take part, position yourself near the finish at city hall.
2. The half marathon course from Lyttle Creek to city hall
The half marathon route is the event's centrepiece: a downhill 13.1 mile stretch beginning at Lyttle Creek and ending at city hall. Even outside race day, the two endpoints are the landmarks worth knowing, since they frame how the city is laid out.
If you are running it, the downhill profile is the whole point, so plan your effort around that rather than around flat-course pacing. If you are spectating, city hall is the natural place to be.
3. The 5k runs, walks and children's hundred yard dash
Fontana Days also includes 5k runs, walks, and a children's hundred yard dash, which makes the celebration something you can join at almost any level of fitness or age.
These are part of the same Fontana Days programme, so check the event schedule rather than treating them as separate fixtures. They pair naturally with watching the half marathon finish at city hall.
4. The downtown streets during Fontana Days
The downtown area is where the celebration takes place, with local merchants and bands occupying the streets. It is the one time the sources describe the streets themselves as the attraction.
Come for the merchants and stay for the bands, or the reverse. Because the streets are given over to the festivities, plan to move through downtown on foot.
5. The Al Capone house off the train tracks
Al Capone once had a house off the train tracks in Fontana. It is a private residence, so the address is deliberately not published and you should not expect to visit it.
Treat this as something to be aware of as you pass through rather than a stop on an itinerary. Respect the privacy of the people who live there.
6. Terminator 2: Judgement Day filming locations
Scenes from Terminator 2: Judgement Day were filmed in Fontana. For anyone interested in how the city has appeared on screen, this is the other piece of local film history the sources record.
The sources do not identify which specific scenes or locations were used, so treat this as context for your visit rather than a trail to follow. It pairs well with a general wander through the areas you are already seeing.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Lyttle Creek, the high point of the half marathon course, and follow the downhill line of the route toward city hall to get your bearings on the city.
Afternoon: Spend the middle of the day in the downtown area, where Fontana Days takes over the streets with local merchants and bands. If your visit coincides with the event, this is also when the 5k runs, walks and children's hundred yard dash take place.
Evening: Finish at city hall, the end point of the 13.1 mile stretch and the natural place to watch the half marathon come in. If you are passing the train tracks, note the house once associated with Al Capone from a distance, keeping in mind that it is a private residence.
Frequently asked questions
When does Fontana Days take place?
It is the annual celebration of the founding of Fontana, held in the downtown area. The sources do not give a specific date, so check locally before you plan around it.
Can I visit the Al Capone house?
No. It is a private residence, which is why the sources do not publish its address. You can note its location off the train tracks as you pass, but do not intrude on the people living there.
What races are part of Fontana Days?
The programme includes a half marathon described as the fastest, run downhill over 13.1 miles from Lyttle Creek to city hall, plus 5k runs, walks, and a children's hundred yard dash.
Was anything filmed in Fontana?
Yes. Scenes from Terminator 2: Judgement Day were filmed in Fontana, though the sources do not specify which scenes or locations.
Decide whether you are coming for the races or for a quiet look at the city, and start planning your Fontana trip around that.