Looking for art, music, and iconic festivals in SoCal? Head to Pomona! Nestled between Los Angeles and the Inland Empire, Pomona blends historic neighborhoods with vibrant culture, a thriving arts district, and the famous L.A. County Fairgrounds. Great for weekend explorers and event seekers.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Pomona is from spring through fall (March to October). Enjoy sunny days for art walks, outdoor concerts, and major festivals like the L.A. County Fair.
How to Get There
- By Car: Located along I-10 and SR-71, Pomona is about 30–45 minutes east of downtown Los Angeles.
- By Train: Metrolink’s Riverside and San Bernardino Lines stop at Pomona North and Downtown Pomona stations.
- By Plane: Ontario International Airport (ONT) is just 20 minutes away. LAX is about 50 minutes west by car.
Where to Stay
- DoubleTree by Hilton Pomona – Modern hotel near Cal Poly Pomona with a pool, restaurant, and mountain views.
- La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham – Affordable and comfortable with easy freeway access and continental breakfast.
- Kellogg West Conference Center & Hotel – Peaceful setting on Cal Poly Pomona’s campus with hillside views and walking trails.
Top Attractions
⮕ Rev Up Your Engines at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum
© Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum
Located in the Fairplex, formerly called the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is dedicated to all things drag racing and houses a collection of automobiles, motorcycles, and memorabilia related to the sport of hot rodding. Named after the founder, Wally Parks, the Museum is based in a 28,500-square-foot building on the grounds of the Fairplex and has been sharing a passion for automobiles and hot rodding for more than 20 years. Exhibits at the museum include a helmet and photo collection of Bob McClung, one of A. J. Foyt's Coyote Indy Cars, the first dragster car to drive faster than 300 mph, and a selection of artifacts and memorabilia from the Indianapolis 500. The museum also hosts a special exhibition dedicated to Gale Banks and his contributions to the sport of drag racing.
1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768, Phone: 909-622-2133
⮕ Feel the Speed at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
© Courtesy of cedsnake05 - Fotolia.com
Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
, also known as Pomona Raceway, is a racing facility that features a quarter-mile dragstrip. Established in 1961, the dragstrip has a seating capacity of 40,000 spectators and hosts several major drag races throughout the year, including the traditional season opener of the Winternationals event and the season's last competition, the NHRA Finals. Nicknamed ‘The Fairplex’ due to its location at the Fairplex, which were formerly known as the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, the Auto Club Raceway hosts a race every weekend throughout the year.
2780 Fairplex Dr, Pomona, CA 91768
⮕ Experience Farm Life at Cal Poly Pomona Farm
© Cal Poly Pomona Farm
The Cal Poly Pomona Farm is a family-friendly working farm that produces a variety of fresh produce which is sold at the on-site farmer’s market and grocery stores and offers a range of farm-activities such as a petting farm and hay rides. The farm hosts numerous events throughout the year, including flower sales, pumpkin patches and more for the whole family to enjoy, and the petting farm provides children with the opportunity to interact with different animals, including rabbits, goats, sheep, rabbits, and a dairy calf. The gift shop sells a range of farm-related gifts and souvenirs, gift baskets, wine, and cheese baskets and more, and fresh produce, such as fruit, vegetables, and herbs can be purchased at the farmer’s market.
4102 S University Dr, Pomona, CA 91768, Phone: 909-869-4906
If you are traveling with kids:
⮕ Explore Clay and Creativity at the American Museum of Ceramic Art
© American Museum of Ceramic Art
The American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA) is dedicated to educating and inspiring an interest in the art, history, creation, and technology of ceramics. Founded by David Armstrong in 2003, the museum hosts a variety of exhibitions and collections of ceramic art throughout the year, as well as educational and outreach programs for students and the public. The American Museum of Ceramic Art has a permanent collection that consists of more than 7,000 pieces, including ancient vessels from the Americas, Mettach ceramics, functional and sculptural contemporary ceramics, Southern California dinnerware, fine porcelains of Asia and Europe, factory-made ceramics, and industrial ceramics. The museum also houses a research library with more than 3,000 books, exhibitions catalogs, technical handbooks, along with 2,000 periodicals and over 4,000 monographs.
399 N Garey Ave, Pomona, CA 91767
⮕ Join the Fun and Festivities at the LA County Fair
© Courtesy of littlekitty - Fotolia.com
The Los Angeles County Fair is an annual county fair that is held each September on the 543-acre fairground known as the Fairplex and is one of the largest county fairs in the U.S. Founded in 1922 and visited by more than a million people every year, the show focuses on California’s heritage and prosperous agriculture industry and features a wide array of activities, entertainment, and delicious food. The Fair boasts a 13-acre carnival, an outdoor miniature garden railroad, an operational farm, California’s Heritage Square historical exhibit and America’s Kids-Education Expo, which provides children with the opportunity to learn through play. Other forms of entertainment include the ‘End of Summer Concert Series’ which features 19 nights of first-run musical entertainment and freestyle motocross.
LA County Fair, 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768-1639
Romantic Ideas:
⮕ Sip Student-Crafted Brews at Innovation Brew Works
© Innovation Brew Works
Innovation Brew Works is a unique educational brewery-restaurant located in the Innovation Village Research Park on Cal Poly Pomona campus that features a learn-by-doing educational laboratory for Cal Poly Pomona students, a microbrewery, and a casual café. Founded to provide students, alumni, faculty and the general public the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with brewing and brewpub operations at the brewery, Innovation Brew Works produces a range of beers using locally grown ingredients which are named after prominent figures of the university, as well as the city of Pomona. The café at the brewery serves a selection of light fare and snack food, and visitors can purchase Innovation Brew Works-related apparel, pint glasses, and refillable growlers.
3650 W Temple Ave, Pomona, CA 91768, Phone: 909-979-6197
⮕ Step Aboard History at the RailGiants Train Museum
© RailGiants Train Museum
Located in the Fairplex, the RailGiants Train Museum is a historic railroad museum that takes visitors on a journey back in time to the glory days of the American Railroad. Managed by the Southern California Chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, the museum features a variety of railroad-related exhibits and displays, including the historic Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway train station, which was built in 1887 in a gingerbread Victorian-style architecture and features a collection of ‘railroadiana.’ The museum also houses some of the country’s most well-preserved locomotives, including two 3-Cylinder steam locomotives and a Union Pacific “Centennial” diesel locomotive. In addition to the station and the engines, the museum also features a library archive historical and a gift shop. The RailGiants Train Museum is open to the public the second weekend of each month.
1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768, Phone: 909-623-0190
⮕ Tour the Historic Kellogg House at Cal Poly Pomona
© Kellogg House at Cal Poly Pomona
Resting atop a tree-covered hill on the northern side of the Cal Poly Pomona campus, Kellogg House is a historical ranch-style estate that was built in 1926 by W.K. Kellogg as his West Coast retreat. Designed by renowned architect Myron Hunt in a ranch-style, the 8,777 square foot house boasts sweeping views and elegant architectural accents and exudes historic charm. The house is surrounded by lush landscapes designed and laid out by distinguished landscape architect Charles Gibbs Adams and is the perfect venue for special occasions such as weddings, birthday parties, corporate meetings, and other special events for up to 200 people. Kellogg House is also open to the public for tours.
3801 W Temple Ave Bldg. 112, Pomona, CA 91768, Phone: 909-869-3004
⮕ Unwind with Local Craft Beer at The Old Stump Brewing Co.
© The Old Stump Brewing Co.
The Old Stump Brewing Co. is one of the Inland Empire’s newest craft beer production breweries and tasting room. Located in the Metropolitan Place, the brewery produces a large selection of handcrafted beer, including light beers such as Blonde Conniption, Muffin Top, Passionate Blonde, and Jalapeñobiznes Blonde. Other brews on the tasting list include Red Hammock – Grapefruit IPA, IPA, Double IPA, and Disarray IPA, while specialty beers include Rusty Gasket – Red, Brown Ale, Milk Stout, and P-Town Porter. The tasting room offers a comfortable atmosphere for indulging in new experiences, tasting new flavors, and enjoying great music, and the brewery sells a range of beer-related merchandise. The Old Stump Brewing Co. is open from Thursday through Monday in the afternoons and evenings for tastings and tours.
2896 Metropolitan Pl, Pomona, CA 91767, Phone: 909-860-9052
⮕ Tee Off with Scenic Views at Mountain Meadows Golf Course
© Courtesy of amenic181 - Fotolia.com
Nestled in the hills of the San Gabriel Basin just 25 miles east of Los Angeles, the Mountain Meadows Golf Course is a 6,440-yard, 18-hole championship golf course that offers a challenging game for all levels of golfer. Surrounded by towering jacaranda trees and other native foliage the pristinely manicured course features several unique holes with relatively blind tee shots, elevation changes, and sidehill lies designed to offer an unrivaled golfing experience. The golf course has a casual restaurant and bar that serves a creative food menu, state-of-the-art beers on tap and bottled beer selection, large flat-screen televisions for watching sports games, and a charming garden patio with gorgeous views over the course.
1875 Fairplex Dr, Pomona, CA 91768, Phone: 909-623-3704
If you are a first time visitor:
- Fairplex (L.A. County Fairgrounds) – Massive venue for the L.A. County Fair, concerts, expos, and year-round events.
- Downtown Pomona Arts Colony – Walkable district packed with galleries, murals, antique shops, and cafés.
- Fox Theater Pomona – Historic venue hosting live music, comedy shows, and indie film events.
- Pomona College Museum of Art – Contemporary art exhibits and campus collections open to the public in nearby Claremont.
Where to Eat
- Coco Palm Restaurant – Elegant Cuban cuisine and sweeping views, ideal for sunset dinners and special occasions.
- O’Donovan’s Restaurant & Pub – Laid-back Irish-American eatery with burgers, brews, and a downtown Pomona location.
- Mi Chula Linda – Stylish Mexican fusion spot known for tacos, craft cocktails, and weekend brunch.
If you are interested in local events:
- L.A. County Fair (May) – Food, rides, concerts, and exhibits at one of the country’s largest county fairs.
- Pomona Art Walk (2nd Saturdays) – Monthly celebration of local artists, live music, and open galleries downtown.
- NHRA Winternationals (February) – High-octane drag racing event at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.
If you are looking for unique day trips within 30 Minutes of Pomona, California:
- Claremont Village (10–15 min) – Quaint downtown with bookstores, wine bars, and the Claremont Colleges campus.
- Mt. Baldy (30 min) – Hike, ski, or take a scenic chairlift ride in this rugged mountain retreat.
- Raging Waters Los Angeles (20–25 min) – Southern California’s largest water park located in nearby San Dimas.
- Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park (15–20 min) – Swim, fish, kayak, or picnic by the lake near La Verne.
- Ontario Mills (20–25 min) – Huge indoor outlet mall with shopping, dining, and entertainment options.
- Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (15–20 min) – Explore California-native plant gardens and walking trails in Claremont.
- Chino Hills State Park (20–30 min) – Hike, bike, or horseback ride through rolling foothills and wildflower meadows.
- Phillips Mansion (10–15 min) – Step back in time at this historic 1875 home, part of Pomona’s heritage.
- Auto Club Raceway at Pomona (5–10 min) – Catch NHRA drag racing events at this iconic Southern California track.
FAQ:
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Q: Where is Pomona located?
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A: Pomona is set between the Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley in the Pomona Valley, California.
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Q: What are some attractions in Pomona?
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A: Pomona is home to many historical sites, cultural attractions, and outdoor recreational activities. Notable attractions include the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, the Auto Club Raceway, the American Museum of Ceramic Art, and the Rail Giants Train Museum.
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Q: What can automobile enthusiasts do in Pomona?
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A: Automobile lovers can visit the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and the Auto Club Raceway for hours of fun and excitement.
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Q: What can history buffs enjoy in Pomona?
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A: History enthusiasts can explore the American Museum of Ceramic Art and the Rail Giants Train Museum to learn more about the past.
At a Glance:
Best Time to Visit |
Places to Stay |
Tips for Visiting |
Spring (March-May) – Pleasant weather, blooming gardens, and outdoor events. |
Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center – Comfortable stay near the Fairplex grounds. |
Visit the Fairplex Garden Railroad – Explore beautifully landscaped miniature train displays. |
Summer (June-August) – Warm, sunny conditions ideal for festivals and exploring outdoors. |
DoubleTree by Hilton Pomona – Modern accommodations with excellent amenities and location. |
Attend the LA County Fair – Enjoy food, rides, concerts, and family-friendly entertainment. |
Fall (September-November) – Comfortable temperatures, community festivals, and vibrant atmosphere. |
La Quinta Inn & Suites Pomona – Convenient hotel close to local attractions. |
Explore Pomona Art Walk – Discover local galleries, street art, and lively performances. |
Winter (December-February) – Mild weather perfect for exploring indoor venues and historic sites. |
Comfort Inn Pomona near Fairplex – Cozy rooms close to dining and downtown activities. |
Visit the American Museum of Ceramic Art – Enjoy captivating exhibitions and creative workshops. |
Pomona is 1 hr 5 min (30.1 miles via I-10 E) from LA.
Plan Your Trip
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