Ditching the Car at CMC: Your Ultimate Guide to Claremont McKenna Public Transportation
So, you’re headed to Claremont McKenna College. Awesome choice. You’re probably thinking about classes, dorm life, & maybe even which clubs to join. But let's talk about something that might not be top of your mind but is SUPER important: getting around. Specifically, getting around without a car.
A lot of people think Southern California is impossible without your own set of wheels. & honestly, in many parts of it, they're not wrong. The image of endless freeways & bumper-to-bumper traffic is a thing for a reason. But Claremont is a bit of a gem, a little oasis that’s surprisingly manageable, especially for a college student. Turns out, you can not only survive but actually thrive at CMC without bringing a car to campus. It saves you money, the headache of parking, & it’s way better for the planet.
This is your deep-dive, insider guide to mastering the public transportation scene at Claremont McKenna & the surrounding area. We’ll cover everything from free bus passes to train adventures into the heart of Los Angeles.
The Big Question: Do You REALLY Need a Car at Claremont?
Let's just get this out of the way. The short answer? Probably not.
Claremont itself is incredibly walkable. The "Claremont Village" is right there, packed with shops, cafes, restaurants, art galleries, & a movie theater. It's all within a few blocks, making it easy to grab a coffee, pick up groceries, or have a nice dinner without ever needing a car. The Claremont Colleges themselves are designed to be pedestrian-friendly.
But what about getting out of Claremont? To explore LA, get to an internship, or just visit a friend in a neighboring town? That's where people start to think a car is essential. Here’s the thing, though: The Claremont Colleges have put a LOT of thought into this. They've partnered with local transit agencies to make it not just possible, but easy to get around.
Of course, having a car offers a certain kind of freedom. But it also comes with a price tag: gas, insurance, maintenance, & the ever-present stress of finding a parking spot. On-campus parking can be limited & a hassle. This is where a service like Prked can be a lifesaver. If you absolutely MUST bring a car but can't find a spot on campus, or maybe you only need it occasionally & want to keep it somewhere safe, you could rent a private driveway or garage from a local homeowner through Prked. It’s a pretty clever way to solve the parking puzzle without relying on limited campus options.
But for most of your time here, you’ll find that the combination of walking, biking, & public transit is more than enough.
Your Golden Ticket: The Foothill Transit Class Pass
This is, without a doubt, the single most important piece of your transportation puzzle at CMC. The Foothill Transit Class Pass is your key to unlocking the entire region, & the best part? It's COMPLETELY FREE for Claremont McKenna students, faculty, & staff.
Yes, you read that right. Free, unlimited rides on all of Foothill Transit’s local & Silver Streak buses. This is a HUGE perk. It’s not a trial or a limited-time offer; it’s a program designed to reduce traffic & parking congestion around the colleges & make your life easier.
How to Get Your Class Pass
Getting your pass is a straightforward process. You'll need a TAP card, which is the standard for all LA County transit.
- Get a TAP Card: If you don't have one, you can get one at The Connection, located in the Honnold/Mudd Library.
- Check Your Email: At the beginning of the school year, you’ll receive an email from The Claremont Colleges Services with a unique activation code.
- Activate Online: You’ll go to a specific website (taptogo.net/ClaremontClassPass), enter your TAP card number & your activation code.
- Tap & Ride: Once it’s activated, you just have to use it within 14 days to keep it active. Then, every time you board a bus, you just tap your card on the farebox reader, listen for the beep, & you're good to go.
The pass you get in the fall works through the winter intersession, & the one you get in the spring works through the summer. It’s a year-round benefit.
Where Can the Class Pass Take You?
This isn't just for getting around the immediate campus area. Foothill Transit connects 22 different cities across the San Gabriel & Pomona Valleys, & it even gets you to Downtown Los Angeles.
Here are the key bus lines that run right through or next to the Claremont Colleges campus: Lines 188, 197, 292, 480, 492, & 690. These buses stop along major streets like Indian Hill Blvd, 1st Street, & Claremont Blvd, so there’s almost always a stop within a short walk. Most of these lines run seven days a week.
So, what does this mean in practical terms?
- Shopping & Errands: Need to go to Target, Best Buy, or Trader Joe's? The bus will take you right there. Lines 480 & 492 head to Montclair Place, which has all those stores.
- Exploring Other Towns: Want to check out Old Town Pasadena? Take Line 188 to the Azusa Intermodal Transit Center & transfer to Line 187. It's a great day trip.
- Connecting to LA: The Silver Streak bus is a fast, express-style bus that takes you directly to Downtown LA. You can get on it from the Montclair Transit Center or by taking Line 480 to the Pomona Transit Center & making a free transfer. This bus stops at key locations like Cal State LA, Union Station, & near the Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center).
Honestly, the bus system is your best friend for local & regional travel. A student-run publication, The Student Life, mentioned that the buses are usually clean, not too crowded, & comfortable. The only catch is that they can sometimes run a few minutes late, so it’s always a good idea to use a transit app to track your bus in real-time.
Riding the Rails: Metrolink Adventures
For longer trips, especially into the heart of LA, the Metrolink train is your go-to. The Claremont Metrolink Station is conveniently located at the historic depot on First Street, just a short walk or bike ride from campus.
The Metrolink operates on the San Bernardino Line, which runs from San Bernardino all the way to Los Angeles Union Station. This is your direct link to the central hub of all public transportation in Southern California. An average trip from Claremont to Union Station takes about an hour, which is often faster than driving in traffic.
Tickets & Fares
While the Metrolink isn't free like the bus, it's still very affordable, especially for students. You can buy a round-trip ticket to Union Station for about $10.50 with a student discount. The easiest way to handle this is by downloading the Metrolink app on your phone. You can buy your ticket right there, & it will show a QR code that the conductor will scan on the train.
There’s also a Student Adventure Pass program that sometimes offers free rides, so it's always worth checking the Metrolink website for the latest deals.
What’s at Union Station?
Arriving at Union Station is an experience in itself. It's a stunning, historic building known as "the last of the great train stations." But more importantly, it's a massive transit hub. From here, you can connect to:
- LA Metro Rail: The subway & light rail system that can take you to Hollywood, Santa Monica, Universal Studios, Koreatown, & dozens of other neighborhoods.
- Amtrak: For traveling to other major cities like San Diego or Santa Barbara.
- More Buses: Countless bus lines that serve every corner of Los Angeles County.
A trip on the Metrolink is the perfect starting point for a weekend adventure exploring everything LA has to offer.
Parking at the Station
One of the great things about the Claremont Metrolink station is that parking is FREE for Metrolink passengers. There are nearly 400 spaces. This is where having a car for occasional use, perhaps one you share with a friend, could be handy. You could keep it parked at a nearby home using a service like Prked, drive it to the station for a weekend trip, & not worry about paying for parking.
Other Handy Transportation Options
While the bus & train will be your mainstays, there are a few other services that can fill in the gaps.
Claremont Dial-A-Ride
This is a local, on-demand shuttle service for getting around the city of Claremont. It’s a shared-ride service, so it’s super affordable, though you might have to share the vehicle with other passengers. It’s perfect for those times when you have heavy groceries or it’s raining & you don’t feel like walking.
Ridesharing & Zipcar
Of course, Uber & Lyft are available & widely used. They are great for late-night trips or getting to a specific location that isn't easily accessible by bus or train.
Pomona College also has a partnership with Zipcar, a car-sharing service. You can sign up for a membership & then rent a car by the hour or day. There are Zipcars located in parking lots right on the Claremont Colleges campus. This is a fantastic option for a group of friends who want to take a day trip to the beach or go on a hike.
Biking
Don't underestimate the power of a good bike in Claremont. The city is relatively flat, the weather is usually great, & there are bike lanes on many major streets. Pomona College even has a "Green Bikes" program where you can rent a bike for a whole semester. It's the perfect way to get around the different Claremont College campuses, zip into the Village, or get to the Metrolink station.
Life Beyond Campus: Day Trips & Destinations
So now you know how to get around. But where should you go? Here are some ideas for amazing trips you can take using only public transit.
- Downtown LA (DTLA): Take the Metrolink to Union Station. From there, you can walk or take a short Metro ride to places like Grand Central Market for amazing food, The Broad museum for contemporary art, Walt Disney Concert Hall, or a Lakers game at the Crypto.com Arena. The Silver Streak bus also gets you here.
- Old Town Pasadena: As mentioned before, a couple of bus rides will get you to this charming historic district with great shopping & dining. It feels a world away from the hustle of LA.
- The Huntington Library, Art Museum, & Botanical Gardens: This is a true Southern California treasure. It requires a bit of a multi-step journey (Metrolink to LA, then a Metro A-Line train, then a short bus ride), but it is absolutely worth the effort.
- Local Hikes: While some trailheads are hard to reach without a car, others are accessible. For example, you can take a bus towards the foothills & get reasonably close to the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park.
- The Beach: Getting to the beach via public transit is a bit more of a trek, but it’s doable! You can take the Metrolink to Union Station & then transfer to a Metro line that goes to Santa Monica or Long Beach. It’s a full-day commitment, but a classic SoCal experience.
What About Storage? The Other Side of a Car-Free Life
Living without a car sometimes means you need to be smart about your stuff. If you're flying in from out of state, you can't just load up a car with everything you own. This is where you might need a small storage solution. Instead of a traditional, expensive storage unit, you could use Prked to find a more local & affordable option. People rent out space in their garage, attic, or even a spare closet. It’s perfect for storing those extra boxes, seasonal clothes, or sports equipment that you don't need in your dorm room all the time. It’s a flexible & community-based way to handle the logistics of college life.
The Takeaway
Living at Claremont McKenna College without a car isn't a sacrifice; it's an opportunity. It encourages you to explore your immediate community, get comfortable with a new city in a more intimate way, & save a significant amount of money & stress. The combination of the free Foothill Transit Class Pass & the convenient Metrolink train puts a huge part of Southern California within your reach.
It might take a little planning at first. You’ll want to download a good transit app (like Google Maps or the Moovit app) to help you navigate routes & schedules. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll feel a sense of freedom that’s different from what a car provides—it’s the freedom of knowing you can navigate a major metropolitan area on your own terms.
So embrace the car-free lifestyle. Your wallet, your stress levels, & the planet will thank you for it.
Hope this was helpful & gives you a good starting point for your transportation adventures at CMC! Let me know what you think.
