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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Fontana
Spend a half day in Fontana for the half‑marathon event or a quick stop on Route 66; otherwise skip as a base.
Fontana is a spread‑out Southern California city with a Metrolink stop, a historic Route 66 stretch and the annual Fontana Days half‑marathon. It works as a brief stopover (4–6 h) rather than a multi‑day base.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Oct–Apr (mild weather, marathon season)
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (hot, low event activity)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $30–$50 excl. bed · Mid $50–$80 excl. bed · High $80+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police/Fire/Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | $2–$4 |
| Fast food (e.g., taco) | $5–$8 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3.80–$4.20 |
| Metrolink ride | $7–$10 |
| Omnibus bus fare | $1.50–$2.00 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ONT · Ontario International Airport
- ≈15 km (9.3 mi) north, shuttle or rideshare 20 min≈9.3 mi (15 km) north, shuttle or rideshare 20 min
Typical fares
- Metrolink LA ↔ Fontana
- about $8 one‑way, 45 min (check)
- Omnibus city bus
- $1.75 per ride, cash only
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Metrolink train to Los Angeles and San Bernardino; local Omnibus bus routes to malls and colleges; car on I‑10, CA‑210 and historic Route 66; bicycle on the Pacific Electric trail (under construction).
See and do
Known for
- Fontana Days half‑marathon
- Route 66 historic stretch
- Metrolink station
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Metrolink to LA Union Station, about 45 min | ≈1 h |
| San Bernardino | Metrolink east, about 20 min | ≈45 min |
Sleep
- Motel 6 Fontana
- Budget option near I‑10, easy access for a night if needed
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis‑koo‑lpe |
| Thank you | Graciasgra‑see‑as |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwan‑to kwes‑ta |
| Where is the restroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?don‑de es‑ta el ba‑nyo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Walking distances are long; plan trips by car or transit.
- Metrolink schedules vary on weekends; check times before travel.
Fontana is generally safe; stay aware of traffic on I‑10 and keep belongings secure in crowded events.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Fontana yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Fontana Days half‑marathon
- Route 66 historic stretch
- Metrolink station
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Fontana: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Fontana, revision 4739638 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4739638
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Fontana
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police/Fire/Ambulance911
US consulate in Los Angeles (check address); other nations' consulates in LA.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/fontana). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.