Overview
Palmdale is a city in the far north of Los Angeles County in the Antelope Valley region of the Mojave Desert in Southern California.
8 sights · 11 things to do · 26 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 9 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Palmdale
Blackbird Air Park
Actually, two museums adjacent to Plant 42, the classified USAF manufacturing plant, also used by NASA. The Blackbird Airpark Museum is an extension of the AFFT Museum at Edwards AFB, while the Joe Davies Heritage Airpar…
Littlerock Dam and Recreation Area
It is a county-operated park with a public use lake and several campsites.
Saddleback Butte State Park
Located in the buttes north of Lake Los Angeles to the northeast of the city, the park has a small camping area. It is known to be an ideal location for late night stargazing and viewing meteor showers on clear nights.
Dry Town Water Park
On Avenue S is open each summer from May to September, it has water slides, a wave pool, and a lazy river.
California Aqueduct
A series of aqueducts, reservoirs, power plants and pumping stations that run the length of the state of California, a portion of which passes through the Antelope Valley along the San Gabriel Mountain foothills. There a…
San Andreas Fault
A low hill, through which the Highway 14 cuts, is called the Palmdale Bulge. It sits immediately above the San Andreas fault. Strata of rock are visible, warped and twisted in dramatic fashion by the tectonic interaction…
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 — 30 mi away (major hub). Directions
- ONT Ontario International Airport, Ontario — 46 mi away (major hub). Directions
Palmdale is about 70 mi north of Downtown Los Angeles off of California State Highway 14, the Antelope Valley Freeway. The A.V. Freeway is the area's principal north - south route. The other end of CA-14 to the North connects Reno, Nevada to the Palmdale area via US Highway 395.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning California Aqueduct, Palmdale Amphitheater, Joe Davies Heritage Airpark at Palmdale Plant 42
- Lunch Boulevard Cafe
- Afternoon Joshua Ranch Trail, Best Of The West Softball Complex
- Dinner Cascades Grill
- Evening El Torito
Day 2
- Morning San Andreas Fault, Littlerock Dam and Recreation Area, Palmdale Playhouse and Art Gallery
- Lunch Schooner Saloon Restaurant
- Afternoon Palmdale Schoolhouse, Bowlero Palmdale
- Dinner Vincent Hill Station
- Evening Horseshoe Club Cantina
Day 3
- Morning Blackbird Air Park, Saddleback Butte State Park, Palmdale Civic Center
- Lunch Q&Q Hawaiian Barbeque
- Afternoon Big Rock Creek Camp, Rancho Vista Golf Course
- Dinner Malhi's Family Indian Cuisine
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Palmdale has eateries to satisfy any palate. Most of the food establishments are located at the intersection of Rancho Vista Blvd. and 10th Street West near the Antelope Valley Mall, or along Palmdale Blvd. between 20th and 30th Streets East.
Where multiple restaurants of the same name are mentioned, they are listed in order of distance from downtown where all hotels are located.
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.
Understand
History
In 1933, the U.S. government established Muroc Air Base (from a founder's name, Effie Corum, spelled backwards), now known as Edwards Air Force Base. They also bought Palmdale Airport in 1952 and established an aerospace development and testing facility called United States Air Force Plant 42. One year later, in 1953, Lockheed established a facility at the airport. After this time, the aerospace industry took over as the primary local source of employment, where it has remained ever since. Today, it's known as the "Aerospace Capital of America", where many of the aircraft used in the United States military are built and tested.
Get in
By car
Palmdale is about 70 mi north of Downtown Los Angeles off of California State Highway 14, the Antelope Valley Freeway. The A.V. Freeway is the area's principal north - south route. The other end of CA-14 to the North connects Reno, Nevada to the Palmdale area via US Highway 395.
California State Highway 138 is the principal east - west route and connects the Inland Empire (Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario) and the "Grapevine" area of Interstate 5 to the Palmdale area.
California State Highway 18 connects the Victor Valley area to the Palmdale area via CA-138.
By plane
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operates the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) at its site near Plant 42 at Avenue P and 25th Street East. However, the
The next closest airport is Bob Hope Airport (BUR) in Burbank, approximately one hour's drive to the south, and is served by most major carriers.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Ontario International Airport (ONT), and Bakersfield Meadows Field (BFL) are all approximately the same distance away timewise, assuming no traffic.
LAX has the most travel options and is generally the least expensive, but is significantly crowded and has many a long line in addition to the excessive traffic one must usually contend with to get to/from the airport.
Ontario will be much less crowded and easier to use. Traffic can be bad at times, but not nearly as bad as LAX.
Bakersfield is also an easy to use, uncrowded airport like Ontario, but has less flight options and is also generally more expensive, however, there is little to no traffic problems reaching BFL.
If you are willing to drive really far (90-120 mi), Long Beach Municipal Airport (LGB) and John Wayne International (SNA) may also be used as alternates.
Shuttle buses operate to/from LAX, costing approximately $70 one way:
- Antelope Valley Airport Express, +1 661 945-2529.
By train
Go Palmdale Transportation Center
The Metrolink commuter rail system runs eleven round trips on weekdays and six round trips on weekends between Lancaster and Los Angeles via Palmdale on its Antelope Valley Line. The center is also served by Amtrak, the national passenger rail carrier, using its Thruway Bus service. It is the metropolitan area's mass-transit hub.
Go Vincent-Grade/Acton Metrolink station
It serves southernmost Palmdale and nearby Acton with commuter rail service to/from Los Angeles. It's on the same Metrolink line as Palmdale Transportation Center
Other than coming to or leaving town, rail service is not particularly used in this area as there are only 2 stations serving Palmdale and 1 more in nearby Lancaster.
By bus
Greyhound Bus Lines serves the Palmdale Transportation Center daily.
The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) has daily commuter bus lines that connect to the Palmdale Transportation Center from various areas in Los Angeles. The AVTA is also the operator of the city's public bus system.
Santa Clarita Transit has a daily commuter bus line that runs to the Palmdale Transportation Center from the nearby city of Santa Clarita.
Get around
By bus
Palmdale has a local city bus system, operated by the Antelope Valley Transit Authority. These buses operate on most major thoroughfares throughout the metropolitan area and arrive on average of every 15 to 20 minutes. There are 2 major transfer centers in the city for switching bus lines, one at the Antelope Valley Mall and the primary one at the Palmdale Transportation Center. Santa Clarita Transit is the nearby city of Santa Clarita's public bus system and it offers connecting bus service from the PTC as well. Greyhound Bus also serves the Palmdale Transportation Center.
By taxi
Palmdale has taxi services by several companies. However, these taxis must always be called ahead of time, they are rarely in a position to be flagged down like in New York City or Los Angeles. If you plan on using a taxi service when arriving at Palmdale Regional Airport, there is a pay phone in the terminal that can be used to call them.
By car
Palmdale has most of the major rental car companies present. If arriving at Palmdale Regional Airport, there is a phone available to contact the rental car companies. The rental car companies do not have lots on the airport site, but they will come and pick you up from the airport and take you to the rental car facility. They will also likewise return you to the airport in the same manner.
- Avis/ Budget, 1342 E Palmdale Blvd +1 661-274-7822
- Dollar, 412 Auto Vista Dr +1 661-449-8580
- Enterprise, 811 W Ave K, Lancaster +1 661-945-4611
- Hertz, 43440 10th St W STE 101, Lancaster +1 661-726-2060
See
See California Aqueduct (California State Water Project)
A series of aqueducts, reservoirs, power plants and pumping stations that run the length of the state of California, a portion of which passes through the Antelope Valley along the San Gabriel Mountain foothills. There are many vantage points where the waterway can be seen. There are also many miles of bicycleways along the aqueduct.
See San Andreas Fault
A low hill, through which the Highway 14 cuts, is called the Palmdale Bulge. It sits immediately above the San Andreas fault. Strata of rock are visible, warped and twisted in dramatic fashion by the tectonic interaction of the Pacific and North American plates. It is possible to park and hike about one-half mile through the desert to overlook the formations. Be careful and do not approach too close to the edge of the steep cutaway.
Aerospace and flight
See Blackbird Air Park (United States Air Force Plant 42 airpark)
Actually, two museums adjacent to Plant 42, the classified USAF manufacturing plant, also used by NASA. The Blackbird Airpark Museum is an extension of the AFFT Museum at Edwards AFB, while the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark (formerly Palmdale Plant 42 Heritage Airpark) is operated by the municipality. Both are staffed by retirees who had previously worked in the aerospace industry, some actually having worked on the aircraft displayed at the two parks. All of the aircraft have been carefully restored for public display. View and walk around retired SR-71A (Blackbird), A-12 and U-2 aircraft. Aircraft in flight can be seen irregularly—many of the United States' most advanced airplanes have been assembled and test-flown here. Most impressive to see in flight are the B-2 Spirit Bombers which are assembled at Air Force Plant 42, located along Sierra Highway. Other advanced aircraft such as the F-35 can be seen in test flights, as well as some older aircraft such as F-22s, T-38s, B-1s, C- and KC-135s, and even the occasional B-52 or C-5 Galaxy. A small dirt parking lot at the intersection of Avenue N and Sierra Highway affords a straight-down-the-runway look at whatever is flying that day. The SR-71 and F-117 are not seen in the skies anymore, but the frames of these and other history-making airplanes can be seen at Blackbird Park. The Space Shuttle fleet was also built at the Rockwell International buildings once located here. Lockheed Martin's Skunkworks is located at a hangar at the western edge of the Plant 42 property, and the little skunk logo can be easily seen from Sierra Highway.
Local experience, culture & museums
Do
Outdoors, nature, camping & recreation
Do Joshua Ranch Trail
A natural preservation area, temporarily closed due to a housing development under construction.
Do Littlerock Dam and Recreation Area
It is a county-operated park with a public use lake and several campsites.
Do Saddleback Butte State Park
Located in the buttes north of Lake Los Angeles to the northeast of the city, the park has a small camping area. It is known to be an ideal location for late night stargazing and viewing meteor showers on clear nights.
Sports
Baseball and softball
Do Best Of The West Softball Complex
Regularly hosts various state and national softball tournaments.
Bowling
Golf
Do Desert Aire Golf Course
Skiing
Youth activities
Do Hammack Activity Center and Roller Hockey Rink
A family-friendly facility providing various activities for youth.
Buy
Palmdale has many of the stores found in the typical middle-class cities across the United States. Most of these stores are found at the intersection of Rancho Vista Blvd. and 10th Street West in and around the Antelope Valley Mall. There is also another heavy retail shopping cooridor growing on 47th Street East at Avenue S. The third main shopping area is located along Palmdale Blvd. between 17th Street East and 30th Street East.
As far as shopping unique to Palmdale, there really isn't any. You may find local area postcards in some of the stores like Wal-Mart or Target, but that's about as far as it goes.
Eat
Palmdale has eateries to satisfy any palate. Most of the food establishments are located at the intersection of Rancho Vista Blvd. and 10th Street West near the Antelope Valley Mall, or along Palmdale Blvd. between 20th and 30th Streets East.
Where multiple restaurants of the same name are mentioned, they are listed in order of distance from downtown where all hotels are located.
American and BBQ
Hawaiian
Indian
Italian
Japanese & sushi
Mexican
Mongolian
Seafood
Thai
Fast food
Drink
Sleep
Go next
- Lancaster - Palmdale's twin city to the north on Highway 14, Lancaster is the largest city in the Antelope Valley. Lancaster provides extensive services for travelers, as well as the whimsical "Musical Road", a recreation of a road built in Lancaster for a Honda commercial that has grooves cut into it that generate an approximation of the William Tell Overture when a car passes over them.
- Santa Clarita - Located 37 miles southwest of Palmdale on Highway 14, Santa Clarita is the home of Six Flags Magic Mountain, an amusement park that is legendary among roller coaster fanatics, with many of the rides having held world records for height or speed.
Nearby
Lancaster
City / town · 27 listings · 7 mi away
Angeles National Forest
Park · 12 listings · 18 mi away
Rosamond
City / town · 9 listings · 19 mi away
Santa Clarita
City / town · 22 listings · 26 mi away
La Cañada Flintridge
City / town · 3 listings · 27 mi away
Glendale
City / town · 27 listings · 29 mi away
Pasadena
City / town · 64 listings · 29 mi away
Valencia
City / town · 10 listings · 30 mi away
My experience
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