The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is located on the coast of California, about 40 miles southwest (as the car drives) from Pasadena. The most direct route is to take Interstate 105 eastbound to Interstate 110 northbound and proceed on I-110 into Pasadena.
LAX is laid out like a giant horse-shoe, with the open ends pointing east. The open ends are the entrance and exits to the airport. If you rent a car, you will be leaving LAX from the car rental places, which are some distance away from this large airport. Also, if you are renting a car, there are free shuttle buses (GREEN tram stops) that will take you to the car rental areas. Car rental agencies have their own shuttle buses - just look for the big Hertz, Alamo, etc. names and colors on the buses.
If you are renting a car, ask for directions to Interstate 105 or consult the map that is usually provided by the rental agency. In most cases, you will get on I-105 from Sepulveda Blvd which is just east of the airport.
From Sepulveda Blvd be sure to take I-105 EAST. Continue on I-105 for about 15 miles to Interstate 110. Take I-110 NORTH. You will continue on I-110 north all the way into Pasadena, going right by downtown L.A. I-110 ends in Pasadena, becoming Arroyo Parkway.
To go directly to IPAC, continue north on Arroyo Parkway to California Blvd. (approx. 1 mile from the end of I-110). Turn right (east) onto California Blvd. and proceed for about 2 miles to Wilson Avenue. Turn right (south) onto Wilson Ave. We are located at 770 So. Wilson Ave. (east side of street).
Take Hollywood Way to the Ventura Fwy (134). Go East on highway 134 towards Pasadena. Take the Lake St exit and turn right (south) on Lake St. Continue down Lake St. to California Blvd. Make a left (east) on California Blvd and go down 1 block to Wilson Ave. Make a right (south) on Wilson. We are located at 770 So. Wilson Ave. (east side of street).
Hilton 150 S. Los Robles Ave. 626 577-1000 $155 (Caltech Room Rate/1 person) Holiday Inn 303 E. Cordova St. 626-449-4000 $95 (Caltech Room Rate/1 person) Saga Motor Hotel 1633 E. Colorada Blvd 626-795-0431 $51 (Caltech Room Rate/1 person) Vagabond Inn 1203 E. Colorado Blvd 800-522-1555 $64 (Caltech Room Rate/1 person)The Hilton is located at 150 S. Los Robles in Pasadena. Rooms have coffee makers, mini bars, and computer modem phones. From the Hilton travel east on Cordova to Wilson. South on Wilson to 770 S. Wilson (IPAC).
The Holiday Inn is located at 303 East Cordova St. From I-110/Arroyo Parkway, continue north on Arroyo to Cordova (if you pass Colorado Blvd, you went 2 blocks too far). Turn right (east) onto Cordova. Continue east on Cordova for several blocks. The Holiday Inn is on the left (north) side of the street.
From the Holiday Inn to IPAC, take Cordova east to Wilson (3 blocks past Lake St.). Turn right (south) on Wilson and go past all the Caltech buildings and California Blvd to 770 South Wilson (4th building south of California). We are on the left (east) side of the street.
The Saga Motor Hotel is located at 1633 E. Colorado Blvd. The Saga has recently remodeled and now provide a real continential breakfast in the lobby in the mornings. To get there from IPAC, drive north on Wilson Ave. and turn right (east) onto California Blvd. Continue east on California to Hill Ave. Turn left (north) onto Hill and right (east) onto Colorado Blvd. The Saga will be on the left side of the street, approx. 2 blocks east from Hill Ave.
The Vagabond Inn is the closest hotel to IPAC, located at 1203 E. Colorado Blvd. The Caltech campus is 4 short blocks directly south of the Vagabond. Of course, IPAC is the southern-most building on the campus! If you want to avoid getting lost on campus, from the Vagabond, walk down Michigan Ave. to Del Mar, then head west a block to Wilson. Walk down Wilson past California and past several other buildings to IPAC, at 770 S. Wilson.