Driving to Caltech
Caltech is easily accessible from both the Harbor/Pasadena Freeway (110), southwest of campus, and the Foothill Freeway (210), north of campus.
From Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
From Bob Hope Airport (formerly the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport) and Glendale
From Orange County or the San Gabriel Valley
For shuttle service: Tell the driver you are going to Caltech. If you are asked for an address or intersection, the four corners of campus are Wilson Avenue and California Boulevard (southwest); South Hill Avenue and California Boulevard (southeast); South Hill Avenue and Del Mar Boulevard (northeast); and Wilson Avenue and Del Mar Boulevard (northwest). See the campus map for other streets.
By Public Transportation
Visit our transit guide, intended especially for the Caltech community. You will find Caltech-specific information on everything from transit subsidies to bus routes, which will help to make your public-transit trip cheaper and faster.
Downtown Los Angeles to Pasadena: The MTA 485 bus boards at the Busway off of Alameda, in front of Union Station. Exit at Lake and California in Pasadena and walk east to Caltech.
Caltech to JPL: Board the westbound MTA 177 bus on California Boulevard. Discounted monthly and weekly bus passes, as well as student passes, are available through both Foothill Transit and the MTA. Bus and transit maps are not available in bookshops or other local businesses, but may be picked up at the Patsaouras Transit Plaza (behind Union Station) in Los Angeles or in the Keith Spalding Building on the Caltech campus.
Bus and Rail Trip Planner: Detailed bus and rail itineraries for the entire Los Angeles area, including Pasadena, can be found on the Foothill Transit website.
Carpool and other information is available by calling 800-COMMUTE (800-266-6883).
Driving Directions Details
From Los Angeles International Airport (LAX):
- Travel south on Sepulveda Boulevard to the Century Freeway (105).
- Proceed east on the 105 to the Harbor/Pasadena Freeway (110).
- Drive north on the 110 until it ends at Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena.
- Continue north on Arroyo Parkway to California Boulevard.
- Turn right to go east on California Boulevard.
- Access the Harbor/Pasadena Freeway (110) and then proceed north until it ends at Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena.
- Continue north on Arroyo Parkway to California Boulevard.
- Turn right to go east on California Boulevard.
From Bob Hope Airport (BUR) and Glendale:
- Follow the signs leaving the airport to the Golden State Freeway (5).
- Proceed south on the 5 to the Ventura Freeway (134).
- Go east on the 134 to the Foothill Freeway (210).
- Continue east on the 210 to the Hill Avenue exit.
- Turn right on Hill Avenue, traveling south until you reach campus.
- Travel east on the Santa Monica Freeway (10) to the Harbor/Pasadena Freeway (110).
- Go north on the 110 until it ends at Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena.
- Continue north on the Arroyo Parkway to California Boulevard.
- Turn right to go east on California Boulevard.
- Follow signs leaving the airport to the San Bernardino Freeway (10).
- Travel west on the 10 toward Los Angeles to the Orange Freeway (57).
- Go north on the 57 to the Foothill Freeway (210).
- Continue west on the 210 to Pasadena.
- Exit at Hill Avenue.
- Turn left onto Hill Avenue, traveling south until you reach campus.
From Orange County or the San Gabriel Valley:
- Access the San Gabriel River Freeway (605) and drive north to the Foothill Freeway (210).
- Go west on the 210, taking the Hill Avenue exit.
- Turn left on Hill Avenue, traveling south until you reach campus.
Directions
1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena CA 91125