Palmdale is a city in the far north of Los Angeles County in the Antelope Valley region of the Mojave Desert in Southern California.

Understand

History

In 1933, the U. S. government established Muroc Air Base (from an original 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 point in 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 miles 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 1 Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD  ^IATA). has no scheduled passenger airline service.  

The next closest airport is Bob Hope Airport (BUR ^IATA) in Burbank, approximately one hour's drive to the south, and is served by most major carriers.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX ^IATA), Ontario International Airport (ONT ^IATA), and Bakersfield Meadows Field (BFL ^IATA) 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 miles), Long Beach Municipal Airport (LGB ^IATA) and John Wayne International (SNA ^IATA) 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

• 2 Palmdale Transportation Center (downtown). daily rail service to Los Angeles area destinations via Metrolink, a commuter rail line. The center is also served by Amtrak California, the national passenger rail carrier, using its Thruway Bus service. It is the metropolitan area's mass-transit hub.  

• 3 Vincent-Grade/Acton Metrolink station. serves southernmost Palmdale and nearby Acton with commuter rail service to/from Los Angeles. Its 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 (661) 945-5825
• Budget (661) 273-8140 or (661) 266-0662
• Dollar (661) 945-1869
• Enterprise (661) 274-2585 or (661) 266-0334
• Hertz (661) 540-0889 or (661) 948-5496

See

Aerospace and flight

• 1 Blackbird Air Park (United States Air Force Plant 42 airpark), 2503 E. Avenue P (Take Highway 14 or Sierra Highway to Avenue P, turn east, drive to 25th Street East.), ☏ +1 661 274-0884. F-Su 10AM-5PM. 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 manned 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. 

Live entertainment & festivals

• Palmdale Amphitheater. Located at Marie Kerr Park on the western side of the city, is a 10,000 seat outdoor amphitheater, featuring the Starlight Concert Series hosting many world famous performers on evenings in the summer. 
• The Palmdale Fall Festival. An annual festival said to be one of the best in California and held every October at Marie Kerr Park. 
• The Palmdale Jazz & Wine Festival. An annual event held in September at the Palmdale Amphitheater. 
• Palmdale Playhouse and Art Gallery. 
• Thursday Night on the Square. Features an outside market, live entertainment, various arts and crafts, refreshments, and children's activities on Thursday nights in the summer. 

Local experience, culture & museums

• Palmdale Civic Center. The location of the Poncitlan Square and the Larry Chimbole Cultural Center downtown. 
• Joe Davies Heritage Airpark at Palmdale Plant 42. And the next-door Air Force Flight Test Center Museum's Blackbird Airpark Annex show off displays of various aircraft built or tested at Palmdale Air Force Plant 42. 
• Palmdale Playhouse and Art Gallery. 
• Palmdale Schoolhouse. At McAdam Park is the only remaining building of the original village of Palmenthal in the late 1800s. 

Do

Outdoors, nature, camping & recreation

• Big Rock Creek Camp. A camping area near Devil's Punchbowl southeast of the city. 
• Joshua Ranch Trail. A natural preservation area, temporarily closed due to a housing development under construction. 
• 1 Littlerock Dam and Recreation Area. Southeast of the city, is a county operated park with a public use lake and several campsites.  
• 2 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/Softball

• Best Of The West Softball Complex. Regularly hosts various state and national softball tournaments. 

Bowling

• Brunswick Vista Lanes. Is located on 30th Street East near Palmdale Blvd. 
• Brunswick Sands Bowl. Is located on Sierra Highway north of Avenue L. 

Golf

• Rancho Vista Golf Course. Is Palmdale's only PGA class golf course. 
• Antelope Valley Country Club. Another major golf course which requires club membership to play. 
• Desert Aire Golf Course. Located near the eastern side of the city. 

Skiing

• Mountain High. A ski resort in nearby Wrightwood, southeast of the city. 

Youth activities

• 3 Dry Town Water Park, ☏ +1 661 267-6161. On Avenue S is open each summer from May to September, it has water slides, a wave pool, and a lazy river.  
• 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 the city center where all hotels are located.

American & BBQ

• Bakers Square, 350 W. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 273-1020. 
• Cascades Grill, 3905 Club Rancho Dr, ☏ +1 661 272-9082. 

• Country Cafe, 2211 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 273-3082. 

• Greenhouse Cafe, 1233 W. Rancho Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 661 272-8866. 

• Pines Cafe, 4343 Pearblossom Highway. 

• Schooner Saloon Restaurant, 38417 20th Street East, ☏ +1 661 947-3006. 

• Steer N' Stein, 2162 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 274-2311. 

• Ten West Bar & Grill, 40420 10th Street West, ☏ +1 661 273-9764. 

• Texas Cattle Company, 1233 W. Rancho Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 661 273-6642, fax: +1 661 273-6672. 

• Vincent Hill Station, 553 Sierra Highway, ☏ +1 661 272-4799. 

Chinese

• China Garden, 2321 E. Avenue S, ☏ +1 661 272-9913. 

• China Palace, 232 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 273-7481. 

• Lucky Star, 38414 Division St, ☏ +1 661 273-0943. 

• Mr. Wok, 3025 E. Avenue S, ☏ +1 661 947-3138. 

• Nopgow Chinese Restaurant West, 39522 10th Street West, ☏ +1 661 273-0875. 

• Nopgow Chinese Restaurant East, 2551 E. Avenue S, ☏ +1 661 538-0590. 

• Phoenix Inn, 2250 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 265-9988. 

• Something to Eat, 39224 10th Street West, ☏ +1 661 274-8838. 

Greek

• 1 Mediterranean Delight, 1233 W. Rancho Vista Blvd (Exit Highway 14 at 10th St. W. Drive south one block, turn right into Antelope Valley Mall. Restaurant located inside mall.), ☏ +1 661 273-1128. 

Hawaiian

• L&L Hawaiian Barbeque, 39438 Trade Center Dr, ☏ +1 661 538-0500. 

• Q&Q Hawaiian Barbeque, 39445 10th Street West, ☏ +1 661 265-8889. 

Indian

• Malhi's Family Indian Cuisine, 39256 10th Street West, ☏ +1 661 947-4400. 

Italian

• Eduardo's Italian Restaurant, 819 W. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 273-0955. 

• Me & Ed's Pizzeria, 39202 10th Street West, ☏ +1 661 266-8570. 

Japanese & sushi

• Big Tuna, 39409 10th Street West, ☏ +1 661 273-9966. 

• Geisha Japanese Restaurant, 120 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 266-2202. 
• Shogun Sushi, 828 E. Avenue Q-6, ☏ +1 661-947-5557. 

• Shogun Teriyaki, 1233 W. Rancho Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 661 947-0629. 

• Tokyo Steakhouse, 2106 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 538-1578. 
• Tokyo Sushi, 2211 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 272-1219. 

• Uozumi Restaurant, 38575 6th Street East, ☏ +1 661 274-7777. 

Mexican

• Don Juan's Mexican Cantina, 38350 30th Street East, ☏ +1 661 947-7166. 
• El Dorado Restaurant & Bar, 2072 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 947-7611. 

• El Torito, 1161 W. Rancho Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 661 274-4502. 

• El Toreo West, 38801 10th Street West, ☏ +1 661 273-4050. 
• El Toreo East, 3025 E. Avenue S, ☏ +1 661 266-8496. 

• Los Arco's Mexican Food, 3115 W. Rancho Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 661 267-0298. 

• Medrano's Mexican Restaurant, 1823 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 272-0335. 
• Sharky's Mexican Grill, 39532 10th Street West, ☏ +1 661 273-4713. 

• Speedy Joes Mexican Restaurant, 40205 10th Street West, ☏ +1 661 266-9625. 

Mongolian

• Mongolian Express, 1233 W. Rancho Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 661 274-1703. 

Seafood

• Mi Ranchito Seafood, 1060 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 273-2135. 

Soul food

• Louisiana Hots, 2728 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 274-8000. 

• Original M&M Soul Food, 2260 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 273-5003. 

Thai

• Nopgow Thai Restaurant West, 39522 10th Street West, ☏ +1 661 273-0875. 

• Nopgow Thai Restaurant East, 2551 E. Avenue S, ☏ +1 661 538-0590. 
• Thai Cafe Cuisine, 827 W. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 266-8429. 

• Thai Palms Restaurant, 957 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 272-1267. 

Fast food

• Alice's Burgers, 801 W. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 266-8550. 

• Brussels Deli, 906 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 265-7643. 
• Buffet King, 2053 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 267-1888. 

• Cupid's Hotdogs, 820 W. Rancho Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 661 273-7668. 

• Doublz Burgers, 2230 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 266-0353. 
• Dragon Express, 3005 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 947-4989. Suite# 18 

• Fatburger, 39256 10th Street West, ☏ +1 661 575-0664. 

• Great Steak & Potato Company, 1233 W. Rancho Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 661 266-0505. 
• Green Burrito, 1031 W. Rancho Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 661 266-4582. 

• Green Burrito, 2505 E. Avenue S, ☏ +1 661 266-4928. 

• H. Salt Seafood, 2551 E. Avenue S, ☏ +1 661 272-0128. 

• Philly Cheesesteak & Company, 38745 Tierra Subida Ave, ☏ +1 661 274-4864. 

• Primo Burger's, 4654 E. Avenue S, ☏ +1 661 533-6806. 

• Que Rico's, 473 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 265-1771. 

• Rubio's Mexican Grill, 39445 10th Street West, ☏ +1 661 225-9564. 
• Tom's #25, 695 W. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 947-9777. 

Drink

• Don Chato’s Mexican Cantina, 38350 30th Street East, ☏ +1 661 947-7166. 

• El Dorado Restaurant Bar Dancing, 2072 E. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 947-7611. 

• El Torito, 1161 W. Rancho Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 661 274-4502. 

• Horseshoe Club Cantina, 38426 6th St. East 

• Texas Cattle Company, 1233 W. Rancho Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 661 273-6642. 

• Vaughn’s Billiards, 2015 E. Palmdale Blvd. 

Sleep

• Best Western - John Jay Inn & Suites, 600 W. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 575-9322. 

• Courtyard Palmdale, 530 W. Rancho Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 661 947-4100, fax: +1 661 947-0153. 

• Embassy Suites by Hilton Palmdale, 39375 5th Street West, ☏ +1 661 266-3756, fax: +1 661 266-3625. 

• EZ 8 Motel Palmdale, 430 W. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 273-6400. 

• Hampton Inn & Suites Palmdale, 39428 Trade Center Dr, ☏ +1 661 265-7400. 

• Hilton Garden Inn Palmdale, 1309 W. Rancho Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 661 266-4411, fax: +1 661 274-2510. 

• Holiday Inn Palmdale-Lancaster, 38630 5th Street West, ☏ +1 661 947-8055. 

• Motel 6, 407 W. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 272-0660, fax: +1 661 272-8935. 

• Residence Inn Palmdale Lancaster, 514 W. Rancho Vista Blvd, ☏ +1 661 947-4204, fax: +1 661 947-0107. 

• Staybridge Suites Palmdale, 420 W. Westpark Drive., toll-free: +1-800-970-4534. 

• Red Roof Inn Palmdale/Lancaster, 200 W. Palmdale Blvd, ☏ +1 661 273-8000. 

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.

Routes through Palmdale

Bishop ← Lancaster ←	N  S	→ Santa Clarita → Los Angeles via
Junction ← Lancaster ←	W  E	→ Jct E → Jct