Travel Information

Conference Sessions

Most of the conference sessions will be held at the Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, 1216 E. California Bvd., Caltech, Pasadena, CA, USA; bldg. 17 on the Caltech map.

Additional sessions will be held at the Carnegie Observatories, 813 Santa Barbara St., Pasadena, CA, USA; at the Griffith Observatory, 2800 E. Observatory Rd., Los Angeles, CA, USA, and at ArtCenter College of Design, 1700 Lida St., Pasadena, CA, USA.

Lodging for out-of-town attendees

There are a number of hotels that are close to the Caltech campus where we have a negotiated rate. (Please note that this negotiated rate does not guarantee you the lowest rate as there may be internet specials or AAA rates that may be better.) California Institute of Technology preferred rates apply for Institute business, guests and visitors. Air B&B is another good option.

We are currently exploring other low cost housing options; the information will be posted here.

Maps and General Information on Pasadena

• Caltech Maps
• The City of Pasadena
• Caltech Parking

General Driving Directions

Caltech is easily accessible from both the 110 (Harbor) Freeway (southwest of campus) and the 210 (Foothill) Freeway (north of campus).
           
If you are taking the 110 freeway to Pasadena, follow the freeway north until it ends (where it becomes the Arroyo Parkway). Take Arroyo Parkway straight ahead (north); turn right (east) on California Blvd. Proceed approximately 1.1 miles. Turn left onto S. Wilson Ave and proceed to Caltech's Parking Structure #1 or Parking Structure #2. Please park in a commuter spot. The overflow parking is located in Parking Structure #3 (under the softball field) on California Blvd (next to the tennis courts). Purchase a parking permit at the kiosk inside the Parking Structures #1 or #3 and display it on your dashboard. JPLers may use their JPL hang tag.

If you are taking the 210 freeway, use exit 27 at Hill Avenue. Turn south onto Hill (this is a right from Burbank) and drive south to E Del Mar Blvd. Turn right onto E Del Mar Blvd and drive for 0.4 miles. Turn left onto S Wilson Ave and proceed to Caltech's Parking Structure #1, Parking Structure #2 or Parking Structure #3. Parking Structure #3 is the closest to Cahill Center. It is located under the athletic field (next to the tennis courts) on California Blvd. For Parking Structure #3, please park on the B2 (commuter) or B3 (student) levels in any unnamed spaces. Permits are required in all campus lots between the hours of 7:00 am-5:00 pm. Free parking after 5:00 pm. Purchase a parking permit at the kiosk inside the Parking Structures #1 or #3 and display it on your dashboard. JPLers may use their JPL hang tag.

From Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Driving Directions:

Take Sepulveda Blvd. south to the Glenn Anderson Fwy (105) east to the Harbor Fwy (110) north to the Pasadena Fwy, which becomes the Arroyo Parkway.

OR

Take the San Diego Fwy (405) north to the Santa Monica Fwy (10) east to the Harbor Fwy (110) north to the Pasadena Fwy, which becomes the Arroyo Parkway.

THEN

Take Arroyo Parkway straight ahead (north); turn right (east) on California Blvd. Proceed approximately 1.1 miles. Turn left onto S. Wilson Ave and proceed to Caltech's Parking Structure #1, Parking Structure #2 or Parking Structure #3. Parking Structure #3 is the closest to Cahill Center. It is located under the athletic field (next to the tennis courts) on California Blvd. For Parking Structure #3, please park on the B2 (commuter) or B3 (student) levels in any unnamed spaces. Permits are required in all campus lots between the hours of 7:00 am-5:00 pm. Free parking after 5:00 pm. Purchase a parking permit at the kiosk inside the Parking Structures #1 or #3 and display it on your dashboard. JPLers may use their JPL hang tag.

Public Transportation from LAX to Pasadena:

The easiest solution is to take an Uber or a Lyft.  The cost may be in the range ~ $50-100 one way depending on when do you arrive.  A taxi would cost more.

A less expensive, but longer (~ 2.5 hours) way is by using a public transportation:

• FlyAway buses pick up at every LAX terminal on the Arrival/Lower level under the green signs indicating "FlyAway, Buses and Long-Distance Vans." Get on a FlyAway bus going to Union Station.
• Once arriving at Union Station, disembark the bus and walk to the Gold Line, located at Tracks 1 and 2.
• Board the Gold Line with direction to Pasadena.
• Exit at Lake St. station, which is a 10-15 minute walk from campus. (The Del Mar station is closest to the Sheraton and Hilton, the Lake station is closest to Vagabond Inn, and the Allen station station is closest to Saga Motor Hotel and Athenaeum). Once in Pasadena, there are LA Metro buses that run within Pasadena, or you could walk. There is also a separate bus system just for Pasadena called ARTS that you can use once in Pasadena, but it only stops every 25 minutes, and it closes before 8:00 pm.
  

For more information on detailed bus and rail itineraries for the entire Los Angeles area, please visit the Bus and Rail Trip Planner.

From Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR)

Driving Directions:

Take the Golden State Fwy (Interstate 5) south to the Ventura Fwy (134) east to the Foothill Fwy (210) east. Use exit 27 at Hill Avenue. Turn south onto Hill (this is a right from Burbank) and drive south to E Del Mar Blvd. Turn right onto E Del Mar Blvd and drive for 0.4 miles. Turn left onto S Wilson Ave and proceed to Caltech's Parking Structure #1, Parking Structure #2 or Parking Structure #3. Parking Structure #3 is the closest to Cahill Center. It is located under the athletic field (next to the tennis courts) on California Blvd. For Parking Structure #3, please park on the B2 (commuter) or B3 (student) levels in any unnamed spaces. Permits are required in all campus lots between the hours of 7:00 am-5:00 pm. Free parking after 5:00 pm. Purchase a parking permit at the kiosk inside the Parking Structures #1 or #3 and display it on your dashboard. JPLers may use their JPL hang tag.

Public Transportation:

(Please note that the trip will take between 1.5 and 2 hours)
The Metro 794 bus (toward Downtown LA - Hill - Venice) can be boarded at Hollywood Way and Thorton. Take that to the Los Feliz/San Fernando stop and board the Metro 780 bus (toward Pasadena City College). Get off at the Colorado/Lake stop. Here you have an option to walk to the Cahill Center at Caltech or board the Pasadena ARTS 20cw bus (toward Lake and Fair Oaks). Exit at the California Blvd. and Lake Ave. stop and walk to Caltech.

For more information on detailed bus and rail itineraries for the entire Los Angeles area, please visit the Bus and Rail Trip Planner.

From Ontario Airport (ONT)

Driving Directions:

If you are driving, take the San Bernardino Fwy (10) west to Orange Freeway (57) north to the Foothill Fwy (210); take the 210 west to Pasadena. Use exit 27 at Hill Avenue. Turn south onto Hill (left) and drive south to E Del Mar Blvd. Turn right onto E Del Mar Blvd and drive for 0.4 miles. Turn left onto S Wilson Ave and proceed to Caltech's Parking Structure #1, Parking Structure #2 or Parking Structure #3. Parking Structure #3 is the closest to Cahill Center. It is located under the athletic field (next to the tennis courts) on California Blvd. For Parking Structure #3, please park on the B2 (commuter) or B3 (student) levels in any unnamed spaces. Permits are required in all campus lots between the hours of 7:00 am-5:00 pm. Free parking after 5:00 pm. Purchase a parking permit at the kiosk inside the Parking Structures #1 or #3 and display it on your dashboard. JPLers may use their JPL hang tag.

Public Transportation:

It is not advised to take public transportation from Ontario to Pasadena.