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Major city · United States

ArcadiaArcadia, California

Base in Arcadia only if you have a car: one full day covers the Arboretum and Santa Anita Park; without a car, use the A Line and stay near the station.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
avoid Jul–Sep (inland heat, 32–36 °C); Santa Anita race meets are seasonal, check dates
Airports
LAX · BUR · ONT
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Arcadia is a San Gabriel Valley suburb 20 km northeast of downtown Los Angeles, built around the old Rancho Santa Anita. Its two anchors are the 127-acre Los Angeles County Arboretum and Santa Anita Park race track, both walkable from each other. It is a practical, cheaper base for Pasadena and the valley's Chinese restaurants, not a sightseeing city in itself.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Arcadia, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeUS$4–6
  • Taxi, about 5 kmRideshare, 5 kmUS$12–20
  • Metro or bus rideMetro / Foothill Transit single rideUS$1.75–2.50
  • Museum or sight ticketArboretum adult entrycheck the official site
  • Budget bedSuite (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$180
  • Mid-range bedChain hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$180
  • High-end bedChain hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$320

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$160 · High US$280

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic GardenSanta Anita Park race trackSan Gabriel Valley Chinese and Taiwanese foodWestfield Santa Anita mall
Airports
LAX Los Angeles International (About 40–60 min by car outside rush hour; no direct rail link to Arcadia.) · BUR Hollywood Burbank (Often quicker for the valley: about 30–40 min by car via the 210.) · ONT Ontario International (East of Arcadia; about 40 min by car, useful if you arrive from the east.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Arcadia: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

20°C

8°C

6 rd

Feb

20°C

8°C

6 rd

Mar

22°C

9°C

5 rd

Apr

24°C

11°C

3 rd

May

26°C

13°C

2 rd

Jun

29°C

15°C

1 rd

Jul

33°C

17°C

0 rd

Aug

34°C

18°C

0 rd

Sep

33°C

17°C

1 rd

Oct

28°C

14°C

2 rd

Nov

24°C

10°C

3 rd

Dec

20°C

7°C

5 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the default: the city is residential and spread out, and the 210 has exits at Baldwin Ave, Santa Anita Ave and Huntington Dr. Metro and Foothill Transit buses run on the main roads but often only about once an hour, worse at weekends. Metro's A Line light rail stops at 1st Ave and Santa Clara St, west to Pasadena and downtown LA, east toward Pomona.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Pasadenago

Door to door: About 20–30 min

A Line light rail from 1st Ave and Santa Clara St, or 15 min by car on the 210

Old Pasadena, the Norton Simon and the Huntington make a full day.

Monrovia

go

Door to door: About 15 min

A Line one stop east, or 10 min by car

Small old-town strip for an evening; pairs with a race day.

Alhambra

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Car via Huntington Dr and Atlantic Blvd, about 15 min

Dense Chinese restaurant strip; go for dinner, not sights.

Monterey Park

go

Door to door: About 25 min

Car via the 10, about 20 min

More of the same food belt; combine with Alhambra in one evening.

Hacienda Heights

caution

Door to door: About 30 min

Car via the 60, about 25 min

Main draw is a hilltop temple; check opening hours before driving out.

Claremontcaution

Door to door: About 45 min

Car via the 210 east, about 35 min

College town with gardens; a half day, better as a stop toward Pomona.

Pomona

caution

Door to door: About 40 min

A Line east, or 30 min by car

Check what is on at the fairplex before you commit.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Huntington Drive corridor

Hotel row between 1st and 5th Ave: walkable to the Arboretum and the mall, close to the 210.

Downtown Arcadia / 1st Ave and Santa Clara St

Around the A Line station; best if you arrive by rail and want restaurants on foot.

Baldwin Ave and Duarte Rd

Supermarket plazas and Chinese restaurants; car-first, parking is easy.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
US$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
US$150–230 excl. bed
High
US$250+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Chain hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$180US$180
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$160US$320
Rideshare LAX ↔ Arcadia, one way1 × US$60 · higher in rush hourUS$60
Metro day pass, one person2 × US$5US$10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$60
Trip total≈ US$330 per person per day, bed includedUS$660

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at the till. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeUS$4–6
Chinese restaurant main, per personUS$12–22
In-N-Out burger mealUS$10–13
Arboretum adult entrycheck the official site
Rideshare, 5 kmUS$12–20
Metro / Foothill Transit single rideUS$1.75–2.50

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Arcadia is a low-crime suburban city; the real issues are heat in summer, fast traffic on Huntington Dr and Baldwin Ave, and relying on hourly buses after dark. 911 for anything urgent.
  • Buses on Santa Anita Ave, Baldwin Ave, Duarte Rd and Huntington Dr can be hourly: check the timetable before you rely on one.
  • Summer afternoons inland are hot; do the Arboretum in the morning.
  • Santa Anita Park racing is seasonal: check the meet calendar before planning a day around it.
  • Sales tax is added at the till; posted prices are before tax.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Arcadia Police (non-emergency)
626-574-5151
Poison control
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ArcadiaArcadia, California

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Can you take me to this address, please?To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Arcadia Police (non-emergency)626-574-5151
  • Poison control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies in Arcadia; consulates-general are in downtown Los Angeles (check your country's listing).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • LAX → Arcadia, rideshare: US$50–80, 40–60 min
  • A Line Arcadia → Pasadena: about US$2, 15–20 min
  • Arcadia → downtown LA, A Line: about US$2, 45–55 min

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the Metro station? — Where is the station?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Could we get the check, please? — The check, please
  • Is this seat taken? — Is this seat free?
  • I need help — I need help

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, US$1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis and rideshares.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Arcadia. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Sep (inland heat, 32–36 °C); Santa Anita race meets are seasonal, check dates · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for LAX, BUR and ONT with field-checked drive times and a rideshare fallback.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Arboretum and Baldwin Ave, Santa Anita Park and the mall, downtown and the A Line station.
  3. Place pages with verified hours and last entry (Arboretum, Santa Anita Park, Gilb Museum) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Race-day and heat-day fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources