From Rancho Cucamonga, a visit to MOCA means heading into downtown Los Angeles to see a museum devoted to contemporary art. MOCA Grand Avenue is at 250 South Grand Avenue; general admission is free, but reserve a timed-entry ticket before you go.
- Location: MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Admission: Free general admission; reserve a timed-entry ticket in advance
- Regular hours: Tuesday–Wednesday and Friday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Transit: The nearest Metro station is Grand Ave Arts / Bunker Hill
Which MOCA location should you plan for?
MOCA Grand Avenue is the location to use for this itinerary. Its address is 250 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012, and its building was designed by architect Arata Isozaki in 1986.
The museum’s other site, The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, is in Little Tokyo. It occupies a former police-car warehouse that Frank Gehry renovated; it opened in 1983 as The Temporary Contemporary. The two locations have different histories, so check which one is named on your reservation before setting out.
How do you get from Rancho Cucamonga to MOCA?
From New Kansan Motel, MOCA Grand Avenue is about 15 minutes by car to the Chaffey Community Museum of Art; plan the onward trip to Los Angeles separately. The nearest Metro station to MOCA is Grand Ave Arts / Bunker Hill.
Metrolink’s timetable includes departures from Rancho Cucamonga and arrivals at Los Angeles Union Station. Since schedules can change, check the current Metrolink timetable before traveling and plan the connection from Union Station to MOCA separately.
For driving, MOCA identifies metered street parking on Grand Avenue, plus nearby parking at Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Broad, and public lots on surrounding streets. The museum does not validate parking, so account for parking separately when planning the day.
For local orientation before you leave, the guide to getting around Rancho Cucamonga covers transportation in the hotel’s city.
A practical museum-day sequence
Start by reserving timed entry for MOCA Grand Avenue, then check the museum’s regular hours and plan your trip into Los Angeles around your entry time. General admission includes the exhibitions on view, and you can leave the museum and return the same day if you keep your ticket.
At the museum, allow time to find the entrance: it is down two flights of stairs at 250 South Grand Avenue. If you need a wheelchair, MOCA offers them free at its reception or lobby desks; check in with a Gallery Attendant.
For a meal nearby, MOCA lists restaurants next door at Cal Marketplace.
MOCA admission, hours and access
General admission to MOCA Grand Avenue is free, and you need a free advance timed-entry reservation. A limited number of tickets may also be available at the ticket desk on a first-come, first-served basis, but advance online purchase is required to guarantee entry.
Regular hours are Tuesday–Wednesday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; and Saturday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. MOCA is closed on Mondays and on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Hours and ticket arrangements can change, so check the official site before you go.
MOCA offers a complimentary bag check. Backpacks, large purses, oversized bags, food, drinks, and water bottles must be checked. ADA service animals are welcome in the galleries, but pets and emotional-support animals are not permitted.
For the overnight part of a longer visit, the motel’s room options are in Rancho Cucamonga.
FAQs
Is MOCA Grand Avenue free?
Yes. General admission is free, but you need a free advance timed-entry reservation to guarantee entry.
What is the nearest Metro station to MOCA Grand Avenue?
The nearest station is Grand Ave Arts / Bunker Hill.
Can you leave MOCA and come back the same day?
Yes. You may leave and return the same day if you keep your ticket.
Does MOCA have parking?
MOCA identifies metered street parking on Grand Avenue and nearby parking at Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Broad, and public lots on surrounding streets. The museum does not validate parking.