Getting to Claremont 5C and Where Parents Stay

Flying in

Most far from home families land at Ontario International Airport (ONT). Pomona's visitor guide says ONT is served by most major airlines and every major rental car company, and that a rideshare or cab to Claremont takes about 20 minutes. For a quick Family Weekend trip, that short hop is hard to beat.

LAX often has more nonstop flights, but Pomona cautions that getting from LAX to Claremont by rental car or shuttle van may take up to two hours, especially at morning and evening rush hours. Pomona also lists Hollywood Burbank (BUR), John Wayne in Santa Ana (SNA) and Long Beach (LGB) as alternates within a 45 mile radius.

If you are booking for Scripps Family Weekend in February 2027, Scripps flags that Super Bowl LXI on Feb 14 may affect airfare and flight availability, with heavier traffic expected at LAX and BUR.

Taking the train

The Claremont Metrolink station at 201 W. 1st St. is on the San Bernardino Line, which runs to L.A. Union Station. Parking there is free for Metrolink riders, with 396 spaces; overnight parking is allowed in the lot on First Street east of College Avenue, and other station areas have a 3 hour limit. Foothill Transit buses also stop at the station. To walk to Pomona, Pomona's directions say to turn right (east) one block to College Avenue, then left (north) two blocks.

Driving and visitor parking

Pomona's driving directions use Interstate 10 and Interstate 210. Campus Safety, which handles parking for the colleges, says every vehicle needs a valid permit or an authorized guest pass, and permits can be registered online or in person at the Campus Safety office weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitor passes come through college offices, so ask your student's college before you park in a campus lot.

At Pomona, visitor parking is in the main structure at 295 E. First Street, with more visitor and accessible spaces at the Alexander Hall lot (N. College Avenue and Sixth Street) and limited street parking along College Avenue. Public EV charging costs $1.25 an hour. If your student is a first year at CMC, note that first years cannot bring cars to campus.

Where families stay

Claremont Village and Foothill Boulevard. The closest options are Hotel Casa 425 on First Street in the Village and the DoubleTree by Hilton Claremont on Foothill Boulevard, each about a mile from Scripps according to the Scripps lodging list.

Pomona. The Sheraton at the Fairplex is about 5 miles away.

Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga. The Embassy Suites on East Guasti Road, by ONT, is about 14 miles from Scripps, and the Aloft in Rancho Cucamonga about 10. Staying here makes an early flight out of ONT simple, at the cost of a freeway drive to campus each day.

Busy weekends

Pomona (Oct 23 to 24) and Pitzer (Nov 6 to 8) host fall family weekends, and Pitzer says hotel space may be limited. Harvey Mudd arranged group hotel rates for its February 2026 weekend, with booking deadlines about three to four weeks out. Commencement weekend, May 15 to 16, 2027, puts families from all five colleges in town together, so Claremont rooms for graduation are worth reserving as soon as you know your plans.