Rancho Cucamonga

Just east of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Mountains, Rancho Cucamonga has found some fame over the years. First it was for its wine, and then its location on Route 66—and then just for its name.

The fun-to-say “Cucamonga”—derived from a Native Tongva word that means “sandy place by the waters”—became a running bit in Bugs Bunny cartoons and the Jack Benny Program in the 1950s and ‘60s. In 2011, the Comedy Central sitcom Workaholics was set there because, as star Blake Anderson admitted, “it just sounded funny.” Today, the town offers an easy home base for Southern California explorations.

Rancho Cucamonga’s History

Before the jokes, there were vineyards and wineries. This part of San Bernardino County known as the Cucamonga Valley was a thriving grape-growing region in the late 1800s and early 1900s, thanks to its warm weather and that sandy soil. Although the vineyards gave way to suburban development in the 1950s, you can still enjoy wine at Galleano Winery, founded in the 1930s, which specializes in Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, and port. (As of 2025, the Joseph Filippi Winery, which had been operating here since 1922, was in the process of being redeveloped by a new owner.)

During the 1920s and beyond, the town embraced its location along the new highway Route 66, which ran from Los Angeles to Chicago, connecting eight states and 2,448 miles. Today you can trace the remnants of Route 66 when driving along Foothill Boulevard—notice the occasional vintage neon signs and older motels left over from the heyday of the Mother Road. The crown jewel landmark is the Cucamonga Service Station, a bright-yellow, 1915 gas station that was restored and is now a small Route 66 museum filled with memorabilia.
 

 

 

 

 

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More Route 66 Landmarks, Including Magic Lamp Inn and The Sycamore Inn

A few of those landmarks are restaurants that are still serving today. The Sycamore Inn on Foothill Blvd. started as a stagecoach stop way back in the 1800s but became a steakhouse in 1939 and today does a surf-and-turf menu with a long wine list.

The supper club Magic Lamp Inn opened in the 1950s and still offers retro ambience with its massive red-leather banquettes, brick roundabout fireplace and a menu featuring shrimp cocktail, filet mignon, and rack of lamb. On some Friday nights, the restaurant hosts live singers to wander around and sing classic Sinatra songs, and if you’re really lucky an Elvis impersonator might surprise diners. Check the Magic Lamp’s social media for specific dates.

Where to Eat in Rancho Cucamonga

For old-school Italian, head to Vince’s Spaghetti: The Rancho Cucamonga location opened in the 1980s, and the original location opened in nearby Ontario in 1946, and once boasted of being the largest Italian restaurant west of the Mississippi.

The town offers plenty of new and diverse culinary options too. Just south of Foothill is Haven City Market, which often hosts trivia nights, workshops, live music, and seasonal markets. Here you’ll find Milo’s for Hawaiian barbecue, Sabaidee for Lao and Thai street food, and JoJo’s Kitchen Taiwan Eats for dan dan noodles. Rancho Cucamonga also has locations of a few buzzy Southern California chains including Mexican bistro Mama Por Dios, the Day-of-the-Dead-themed Kalaveras, and San Diego-born breakfast spot Broken Yolk Cafe.

You’ll also find great mom-and-pop Mexican restaurants and taquerias. Longtime favorites include Sabor a Oaxaca, known for its Oaxacan specialties (such as chapulines, or toasted grasshoppers) and live music on weekends; La Casita Mexican Restaurant, beloved for its breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros; and El Perico Ranchero, where the combo plates are generous and the margaritas strong.

Things to Do in Rancho Cucamonga

Today, the town’s nerve center is Victoria Gardens, a mall with 170 shops and restaurants whose complex extends to a Cultural Center that includes live theater at the Lewis Family Playhouse and a public library; the playhouse is home to a statue of Jack Benny holding his signature violin. If you’re in town with kids, be sure to pop in at the library and head upstairs for the Randall Lewis Second Story and Beyond, a large, colorful children’s museum with hands-on STEM and art activities.

Just a mile away, the local minor league baseball team, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, a Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, plays at LoanMart Field. (In 2026, the team will shift to become an affiliate of the Angels.)

Architecture fans won’t want to miss the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation for Arts and Crafts: Tour the 1950 Arts and Crafts–style home built by 20th-century furniture maker Sam Maloof, known for his rocking chairs that were like works of art.

Outdoor Fun in Rancho Cucamonga

For a nature escape, head to North Etiwanda Preserve, dotted with California buckwheat and sagebrush, and do the 5-mile hike that includes Etiwanda Falls. Combine some history with a hike or bike ride along Pacific Electric Trail: The 20-mile converted rail line features interpretive markers and public art installations that celebrate both the area’s agricultural past and the electric “red car” railway that once connected the Inland Empire to Los Angeles.
 

 

 

 

 

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Where to Stay and More to Do Near Rancho Cucamonga

Its location—45 miles from Burbank and Hollywood, and 35 miles from Anaheim—makes Rancho Cucamonga a convenient home base for any Southern California getaway (it’s also a short drive from Ontario Airport). You’ll find a wide variety of value-oriented brands in town, such as DoubleTree and Hampton Inn. For a boutique stay, consider the Aloft Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga or Sanctity Hotel Rancho Cucamonga; the latter, a Hilton Tapestry property, has both an onsite spa and a rooftop lounge with views of the San Gabriel Mountains.

For more nearby adventures, explore the Yucaipa Valley wine country, Inland Empire craft breweries, and the nearby towns of Redlands and Claremont.