Palomar Observer Travel

Contents

1. Driving information
2. Shuttle services
3. Accommodations
4. Security gate
5. NAOC-specific information

Palomar Observatory is located near the Cleveland National Forest on Palomar Mountain in North San Diego County. Our street address is:

Map of Southern California and Palomar Observatory. (Palomar/Caltech)

Palomar Observatory
35899 Canfield Road
Palomar Mountain, CA 92060-0200

The following are a collection of travel resources for Palomar observers and visitors.

Driving Information

Most observers/visitors will be driving themselves to Palomar. This Google Maps link will do a good job of providing directions (see the "Get directions" link). If you find yourself needing more driving information, please see our Palomar Driving Directions page.

IMPORTANT: the roads to Palomar, Highway 76 and South Grade Road (S-6), can be difficult during and just after rain and/or snow events. Road closures and rock/mud slides are possible at these times.

For current road conditions:

• Visit Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) or call 800-427-7623
• Google traffic information

Please note that many online and GPS programs can give incorrect directions for reaching the Observatory. Roads like Nate Harrison Grade and anything labelled a "truck trail" are not passable by ordinary vehicles. One happy exception is the Google Maps link cited above.

Shuttle Services

If you would rather not drive yourself to the observatory, we have identified a number of shuttle/towncar providers who can serve travellers arriving at either Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) (roughly 135 miles to the Observatory) or San Diego Airport (SAN) (estimated 80 miles to the Observatory). Typical per-mile rates quoted to us are approximately $3.50/mile + gratuity.

From LAX:

• West Coast Limo
• LA Private Car Service
• Roadrunner Shuttle and Limousine Service

From SAN:

• Greenride
• Selam Transportation
• Stay Classy Transportation

Please note that shuttle service information is provided for the convenience of our observers, and that the inclusion of these links do not constitute an endorsement of these providers or their services by Caltech or Palomar Observatory.

Accommodations: The Palomar Monastery

The Monastery (observers dormitory). (Palomar/Caltech)

Our full-service observer dormitory (food and room included) is called "The Monastery." If you already have a reservation system account with us, you can book your Monastery reservations online from the Palomar Observer Login Page. Please see the Palomar Observer FAQ for information on accounts and creating same, Monastery reservations, and observer information in general.

If you do not have a reservation system account, coo-lodge [at] astro.caltech.edu can assist you in making Monastery arrangements. Please note that reservations booked less than one week in advance will be assessed a late fee.

Check-in: Monastery check-in is handled at the Monastery itself. Visitor (dome rather than room) keys are available at check-in time.

Food: Pre-prepared self-serve meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and night lunch) and ingredients are included in your Monastery stay. Monastery guests with specialized dietary preferences are encouraged to bring provisions to support their Palomar stay (refrigerator, freezer, and microwave access is provided).

Compound: First-time observers may find the full-size Palomar campus map PDF helpful in finding your way around the Palomar site.

Our Monastery guest fee structure is (effective 01 May 2024):

1. The basic Monastery fee will be $135/guest-night, including room, linens, and food.
2. Late Monastery reservation fees for reservations made less than a week in advance will be as follows: reservations booked 4-6 days in advance assessed a $44 late fee per reservation; reservations booked < 4 days in advance assessed a $65 late fee per reservation. Late fees do not apply for Monastery reservations booked 7 or more days in advance.
3. Changes or cancellations made less than 48-hours/two days from arrival date shall be assessed a $35 change/cancellation fee.
4. The Monastery day-use (food only) fee shall be $25.
5. Additional guest fee for double-occupancy rooms (Monastery rooms 9 & 10) shall be $40/guest-night (charged in addition to the basic $135/guest-night fee for the first guest).

Alternative Accommodations

Occasionally alternative accommodations are necessary or convenient; in these circumstances please consult the actively updated list of Palomar Rentals.

The Security Gate

Outside normal business hours (typically weekdays 9a–4p) access to the Observatory compound is protected by a security gate. Gate access instructions are available through the Palomar Observer Login Page or from the Observatory support staff (phone 760-742-2100).

NAOC-Specific Information [show]