Overview
Arcadia is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California.
2 sights · 2 things to do · 5 places to eat · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Arcadia
Los Angeles County Arboretum
Occupying the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita, The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a unique, 127-acre botanical garden and historical site jointly operated by the Los Angeles Arboretum Found…
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita is the oldest thoroughbred race track in Southern California. The Art Deco-style grandstand dates back to the 1930s. In 2000, Santa Anita Race Track was listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation'…
Live Oak Library
Fancy hitting a library and just checking out some books? Rather obscure compared to the city library on the southwest corner of Duarte Rd. and Santa Anita Ave., the county library is very cozy and has a good selection o…
The Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–Jun. Summer highs reach about 91°F; winter lows dip to about 45°F. Very hot (Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby Pasadena)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BUR Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport, Burbank — 19 mi away (major hub). Directions
- HHR Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne — 22 mi away. Directions
Arcadia is accessible by Interstate 210. There are three exits: Baldwin Avenue, Santa Anita Avenue, and Huntington Drive.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Los Angeles County Arboretum, Santa Anita Park
- Lunch May Mei
- Afternoon Live Oak Library, The Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum
- Dinner J.J. Bakery
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Arcadia is accessible by Interstate 210. There are three exits: Baldwin Avenue, Santa Anita Avenue, and Huntington Drive.
From Interstate 10, get off at Temple City Blvd. (Westbound), Baldwin Avenue (Eastbound), or Santa Anita Avenue and head north for about 4.5 miles. Alternatively, switch from the Interstate 10 to the 605 N, exit Live Oak Ave, and head north from there.
Get around
The easiest way to get around Arcadia is via private automobile, as it is a primarily residential suburb in the Los Angeles area. Metro, the transportation agency of Los Angeles County, and Foothill Transit, another public transportation agency, run bus routes on major roads, such as Santa Anita Ave., Duarte Rd., Baldwin Ave., and Huntington Dr., but the buses run infrequently (about an hour's wait between buses for most routes), especially on weekends and holidays. Metro also operates the A Line light rail service west to Pasadena and Downtown L.A. and east to Pomona, which stops in Arcadia at 1st Avenue and Santa Clara Street.
See
See Los Angeles County Arboretum
Occupying the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita, The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a unique, 127-acre botanical garden and historical site jointly operated by the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. Home to plant collections from all over the world, including many rare and endangered species, The Arboretum also houses outdoor historical landmarks representative of the major phases of California history.
See Santa Anita Park (Santa Anita Race Track)
Santa Anita is the oldest thoroughbred race track in Southern California. The Art Deco-style grandstand dates back to the 1930s. In 2000, Santa Anita Race Track was listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places". The track was also home to a Japanese Internment Assembly Center during World War II. Today, the site is remembered with a historical marker near the entrance.
Do
Do Live Oak Library
Fancy hitting a library and just checking out some books? Rather obscure compared to the city library on the southwest corner of Duarte Rd. and Santa Anita Ave., the county library is very cozy and has a good selection of books. Its front is nearly invisible as it's small - there is a parking lot in the back, however, just turn the corner and slide through the small alley-like road right after (just follow the green signs marking the direction).
Buy
- Westfield Shoppingtown (commonly known as Arcadia Mall) is on the northeast corner of Baldwin Avenue and Huntington Drive. It is right beside the famous Santa Anita Park.
- American Life Plaza: Also in the same plaza as Joann, next to the Au 79 Tea House. Sells Asian trinkets, CDs, DVDs, and souvenir items.
Eat
Eat May Mei (美味居)
Excellent Chinese restaurant near several others in the same plaza. Some customers' favorite is Beef Cubes French Style. Its clientele is mostly Chinese, but don't be intimidated! They speak English (although Mandarin is probably preferred) and their menus are bilingual.
Eat J.J. Bakery
Rather popular and serves Taiwanese-style baked goods.
Eat Din Tai Fung Dumpling House
While the chain's first North American location in Baldwin Plaza has closed permanently due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its location in the Westfield Santa Anita mall remains open. Popular and its Chinese food is said to be excellent.
Eat In-N-Out
More drive-thru than restaurant, although it has outside seating. Very popular, part of a unique southern California burger chain. Simple selection, good prices, excellent hamburgers.
Eat Taco Lita
A favorite of the locals. Get there early for lunch unless you want to stand in a pretty long line. American tacos and burritos done well. Great hot sauce. Decent value. Can get crowded at lunchtime. Very little seating area.
Drink
- Dave and Busters: in Westfield Shoppingtown, across from the AMC movie theater on the second floor. Contains a bar and an arcade.
Sleep
Stay Embassy Suites by Hilton Arcadia
Suites provide Wi-Fi access, flat-screen TVs and wet bars, plus microwaves, minifridges and coffeemakers. Complimentary amenities include an area shuttle, cooked breakfast, and evening receptions with snacks and drinks. There's also a restaurant, a business center, an indoor pool, a hot tub and a 24-hour gym.
Nearby
Monrovia
City / town · 9 listings · 2 mi away
San Marino
City / town · 2 listings · 4 mi away
El Monte
City / town · 3 listings · 4 mi away
San Gabriel
City / town · 5 listings · 5 mi away
Rosemead
City / town · 4 listings · 5 mi away
Baldwin Park
City / town · 1 listings · 5 mi away
Pasadena
City / town · 64 listings · 6 mi away
Alhambra
City / town · 11 listings · 7 mi away
My experience
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