Overview
Ontario is in San Bernardino County and the Southern California region, more than 35 miles (50 km) east of Los Angeles. From a traveler's perspective, Ontario is noteworthy mainly as the home of a large mall and the Ontario International Airport, a less crowded alternative to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the main airport serving the Inland Empire.
2 sights · 9 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Ontario
Museum of History and Art
Ontario Convention Center
The convention center hosts various events and exhibitions throughout the year such as the NACAC Annual College Fair. It was also the filming location for Yes Man (2008) and Due Date (2010) and for various TV commercials…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–May. Summer highs reach about 97°F; winter lows dip to about 42°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby San Bernardino)
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.
- ONT Ontario International Airport, Ontario — 2 mi away (major hub). Directions
- SBD San Bernardino International Airport, San Bernardino — 23 mi away (major hub). Directions
There are only two terminals for commercial flights, numbered 2 & 4:
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 Museum of History and Art
- Afternoon Ontario Convention Center
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
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
By plane
Go Ontario International Airport (ONT)
The regional airport for commercial flights serving the Inland Empire and the eastern part of the greater Los Angeles area. It is less busy and quieter than LAX. The airport is 2 mi east of Ontario's Business District off of I-10 at the Archibald Ave/Ontario Airport (Exit #55/55A) and the Haven Ave (Exit #56) exits.
There are only two terminals for commercial flights, numbered 2 & 4:
*Terminal 1: The Bobe Hope USO is in the (old) Terminal 1 building for military personnel and their families transiting into or out of the area. Terminal 1 is also the location of the airport administration offices.The International Arrivals terminal is in a separate building next to Terminal 1 for arrivals from El Salvador, Mexico, and Taiwan. There is a free shuttle bus from the old terminal 1 and international arrivals to Terminals 2 & 4. International departures with Avianca, China Airlines and Volaris are at Terminal 2 while Starlux departs from Terminal 4. *Terminal 2: Avianca El Salvador (Gate 204), Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air (Gates 205 & 206), Delta/Delta Connection (Gates 207-209); Frontier (Gate 210 & 211); JetBlue (Gate 203), United (Gates 201-203); Volaris (Gate 207); China Airlines (Gate 212), *Terminal 4: American/American Eagle (Gates 408 & 410); Hawaiian (Gate 401), Southwest (Gates 403-407), Starlux, and New Pacific (Chartered only) (Gate 413). *Car Rental Terminal ... at 3450 E Airport Dr in the NE Corner of the airport grounds at E Airport Dr & N Haven. From Terminals 2 & 4 there is a frequent and free shuttle bus going over to the consolidated car rental terminal to pick up a rental car. If renting from Fox they will send their shuttle to pick up customers at the consolidated car rental terminal instead of the airline terminals. For a better rate on car rentals it is best to shop around and reserve a car online or over the phone prior to arrival. A private car is a convenient way to get around locally and for going out to remote locales such as Joshua Tree.
By public transit, OmniTrans 61 goes east and west between Fontana and Pomona (via Civic Center, Airport, Ontario Mills) while the ONT Connect (380) operates a direct non-stop route to the Rancho Cucamonga Metrolink Station. The bus stops for the #61 and 380 (ONT Connect) buses are located at the far right (east) next to Terminals 2 & 4 where the access road merges into the main E Terminal Way, past the taxi stands. The #81 bus goes north and south connecting Chaffey College to the East Ontario Metrolink Station along Haven Ave (via Ontario Mills Mall). It passes by the Airport at S Haven & Airport Dr and does NOT go to the airport terminals. Bus stops are along Haven Dr, SW & NE of its intersection with Airport Dr.
By car
Ontario is located along Interstate 10 (I-10), west of the Interstate 10 & 15 junction, approximately 37 mi east of Los Angeles (39 min), 24 mi (25 min) west of San Bernardino, 71 mi (1 hr) west of Palm Springs, and 114 mi (2hr 14min) northeast of San Diego (off of Interstate 15):
- San Bernardino Freeway Interstate 10 connects Los Angeles to Coachella Valley (Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio), through Ontario and San Bernardino. Ontario is accessed from exits 49 ("Central Ave") through 59 ("Etiwanda Ave") along I-10. Ontario does not have a clearly defined downtown except the neighborhood northeast of the intersection of Euclid Ave & Holt Blvd, as that is where city hall and other city government functions are located at. To get there, exit off at the Euclid Ave (California State Route 83)/Upland off-ramp at exit 51 and go south along Euclid Ave to Holt Blvd. There are 9 exits into Ontario from I-10.
- From San Diego, go northbound on I-15, through Riverside. Ontario is accessed from exits 103 ("Limonite Ave") through 110 ("4th St") along I-15. There are six exits into Ontario from I-15.
- Pomona Freeway connects from Los Angeles to Beumont where it merges into I-10, though Ontario and Riverside. Ontario is accessed from exits 34 ("Mountain Ave") through 41 ("Milliken Ave/Hamner Ave").
- & W Foothill Blvd goes east-west does through Claremont, Upland and Rancho Cucamonga, north of Ontario, which does not go through Ontario. From W Foothill Blvd, there are multiple north south roads between N Benson Ave and I-15 one can take (go south on) to get into Ontario.
- Euclid Ave goes north-south through Ontario between Old US Route 66 in Upland to CA-71 south of town. From the junction of CA-81 and 71, one can continue south to get to
- Riverside Freeway connects the Inland Empire (at its junction with I-15 and 215) to Torrance through Santa Ana and Anaheim in Orange County. Getting to Ontario one can exit off of the 91 via the 71 (at Exit 45) and 83 (Euclid Ave) or continue to the 15 (Exit 51) and go north on the 15 to the 10 or 60.
By train
Ontario has two train stations. East Ontario station is served daily only by the Metrolink Riverside Line, connecting Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to Riverside. Ontario Amtrak sees trains just three times a week, when the Sunset Limited between Los Angeles and New Orleans (with through-cars towards Chicago on the Texas Eagle) make a stop here. Nearest cross platform transfer station between Amtrak and Metrolink trains is only in Pomona.
By bus
Go Greyhound, Flixbus & Cruceros-USA
Greyhound operates along Interstate 10 (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Phoenix, Tucson & El Paso); I-10/I-15 (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Barstow & Las Vegas). Tickets are not available for purchase at this stop, however; they must be bought in advance online or at the nearest full-service terminal in San Bernardino or Los Angeles.
*
Go Las Vegas Shuttle
Connects Las Vegas to San Ysidro & Tijuana on one route and to Los Angeles on another. Their shuttles running between Las Vegas and San Diego/Tijuana stop in Hesperia and San Bernardino. Prearrangements for pick-up and drop-off at these locations may be required. Check tickets or ask to confirm pick-up and drop-off locations.
Go Tufesa
Connects Los Angeles to Sacramento (via Bakersfield, Fresno, etc); to Salt Lake City (via Barstow, Las Vegas, St George, etc); to Hermosillo (via Phoenix, Tucson, Nogales); to San Francisco Bay Area (Stockton, San Jose, San Francisco & Oakland); and to Tijuana (via Santa Ana, San Diego/San Ysidro). They also have a depot in Fontana at 16803 Valley Blvd Suite C.
See By bus under Get in of the San Bernardino article for a list of additional bus and shuttle companies serving the area.
Get around
There are car rental agencies at the airport.
See
Buy
Sleep
Stay Holiday Inn Express Rancho Cucamonga
Nearby
Chino
City / town · 8 listings · 4 mi away
Upland
City / town · 20 listings · 5 mi away
Rancho Cucamonga
City / town · 10 listings · 6 mi away
Claremont
City / town · 38 listings · 7 mi away
Pomona
City / town · 13 listings · 8 mi away
Chino Hills
City / town · 13 listings · 9 mi away
La Verne
City / town · 2 listings · 9 mi away
Norco
City / town · 1 listings · 10 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.