Nestled between the San Gabriel and the Rio Hondo rivers, the city lies just 12 miles east of Los Angeles and is easily accessible by Interstates 605 and 10. It's close to everything, from the sights of LA to the best outdoor activities at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. Head over to Whittier Narrows to paddleboat on one of three area lakes or simply enjoy a stroll on the lakeside. Kids will love the playgrounds and ample space to ride bikes and scooters, and everyone will enjoy playing disc golf and visiting the horse center.
Bring something to grill at the barbecue stations for lunch or dinner, and you'll have a whole day of affordable fun outside. If you'd like to escape the sun for a while, visit the American Military Museum on site (Saturdays and Sundays only) or check out the shooting range. If you just want to hit the basketball courts or play a game of catch on the ball field, check out El Monte's smaller Lambert Park.
Practice your best Western quick draw at Triple B Clays, one of the few clay and skeet shooting courses in Southern California. Continue with an air gun shootout at Tac City Airsoft. And because a long day's work (or play) calls for a visit to the local saloon, visit the Silver Dollar Saloon, which is El Monte's spot for pitchers of beer and games of darts. If you prefer local craft brews, El Monte's Progress Brewing offers 26 house-made microbrews on tap and tasty offerings from the venue's rotating schedule of food trucks.
If you travel just 4 miles from El Monte, you can place your bets at the Santa Anita Race Park in Arcadia or visit the Los Angeles County Arboretum and The Huntington Desert Garden. Others make a pilgrimage to pursue great deals at the vast Camarillo Premium Outlets.
With a little bit of Old Western-style swagger, California cool, and Latin flair, El Monte offers a mix of entertainment and style to interest everyone.
What time of year is best to visit El Monte, California?
Most visitors come to El Monte in September, when the summer highs start to dwindle into the comfortable 80s. It's the perfect time to plan a family visit to Whittier Narrows in South El Monte and spend some time on the lake.
Summers are hot, but temperatures during the mild autumn and winter dip into the 70s. You can expect significant rainfall in the winter months, from January to March, but the cooler temps make a visit worth it, and finding accommodation is easy.
Visit El Monte throughout the year for events like the Annual Emily Ishigaki Children's Day Parade and the Harvest Festival at Arceo Park in mid-October. El Monte also makes a great spot to stay if you plan on seeing the Pasadena Rose Parade on New Year's Day, but book your hotel well in advance to secure your spot.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in El Monte, CA:
El Monte, CA: Prices by Star Rating Class
Below are 3 charts illustrating avg. price trends by star rating class in El Monte, CA. Browse these illustrations to determine the cheapest time period to book a room in El Monte throughout the year.
Where are the best luxury hotels around El Monte, CA?
4 Star Average Prices: $191.00
Only 7 miles from El Monte, luxury awaits at The Langham Huntington Pasadena. The palatial property is surrounded by grand grounds filled with palms and fountains and framed by a mountain landscape. From the elegant bar and full afternoon tea service, you can expect old-world elegance and high-class service from The Langham at every turn. Guests with children will love the attentive and thoughtful services, like kids' scavenger hunts that are coordinated by the hotel staff, but adults will also enjoy amenities like a poolside bar and the full-service spa. You can also bring pets to this luxury hotel in El Monte, California.
The Westin Pasadena also lies just 8 miles away, offering a luxurious stay right in downtown Pasadena's historic district. Just 10 miles from Rose Bowl Stadium, Warner Brothers Studio, and Dodger Stadium, The Westin will put you up in luxury that's close to LA and El Monte. Premium pillow-top bedding, cable programming, and an in-room fridge make your overnight stay more than comfortable. Be prepared to feel spoiled after you take advantage of the 24-hour fitness center, outdoor pool, and concierge service.
What are the options in El Monte, CA for affordable hotels?
3 Star Average Prices: $145.25
America's Best Value Inn & Suites-El Monte/Los Angeles in El Monte offers the perfect combination of reasonably priced and comfortable rooms for those who are looking for affordable hotels in El Monte, California. This roadside motel's immaculately kept grounds, from the outdoor pool with loungers to the sculpted landscaping, point to the management's uncompromising standard of excellence. Guest rooms feature new carpeting and clean, cozy bedding. Guests enjoy air conditioning, complimentary wireless internet, and cable programming. You can also make your own coffee and tea in your room in the morning thanks to the coffee maker, or you can head down to enjoy the free continental breakfast service.
2 Star Average Prices: $102.23
What hotels have the best discounts in El Monte, California?
If you're planning on a long stay or happen to be a AAA member, you'll find great discounted rates at Ramada by Wyndham South El Monte. You'll also be within 13 miles of Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Staples Center, and you'll be just three minutes from Whittier Narrows.
This hotel offers lovely grounds that are perfect for hosting small events, even intimate wedding receptions or ceremonies. Enjoy a dip in the pool and spa tub, work out in the fitness center, then take a relaxing shower. If you need a crib or rollaway bed, simply request it. Should you feel hungry, Ramada's on-site restaurant takes the guesswork out of where to go.
What hotels in El Monte, CA have the best value?
Quality Inn Rosemead-Los Angeles puts you just 10 minutes from Whittier Narrows and San Gabriel Mission and offers a mix of value rates and great amenities that are second-to-none. Guests enjoy the complimentary wireless internet, free daily breakfast service, free newspapers, and free coffee and tea in the lobby.
However, if you'd like a cappuccino, Starbucks is right across the street. The hotel is also situated within walking distance of local shops and restaurants. Check out the fitness center while you're on the hotel property, and if you're traveling on business, be sure to get your suit pressed thanks to the hotel's on-site dry cleaning and laundry service.
Should you follow the Santa Fe Trail to El Monte, California?
The first Europeans arrived in 1770 in the area today known as El Monte; Spanish soldiers and missionaries stopped to rest here. Although you might think the city's name references a mountain, the name actually comes from an archaic Spanish word meaning "the wood," a reference to the area's original wooded landscape. You can connect with the past at the historic Mission San Gabriel Archangel, which was the seat of Spanish life in the colonial days.
In 1841, a group of travelers known as the "Workman-Rowland Party" traveled from Santa Fe to El Monte. They traveled on what became known as the Santa Fe Trail, which started in Kansas City, went through Santa Fe, and continued west to El Monte. The first immigrant settlers arrived and set up homesteads in 1849 during the California Gold Rush. The rich soil near the San Gabriel River yielded bountiful harvests and fostered the growing agricultural community. The Santa Fe Trail Historical Park in El Monte commemorates the importance of the trail in El Monte's history.
As a crossroads town between San Bernardino and LA, El Monte also attracted its share of gamblers and bandits to its saloons. The Monte Rangers formed in 1854 to combat the rising lawlessness of the Old West, and the peace was later informally upheld by local vigilantes, called the "El Monte Boys." A stagecoach station was established in 1858, followed by a Southern Pacific Railroad depot in 1873, and the town grew larger.
After the pioneer era, more settlers arrived in El Monte during the Great Depression, thanks to Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal homestead project. The land grant helped families relocate and provided single-family ranch houses to applicants who had suffered hardships during the Dust Bowl.
In the 1950s, LA vehemently opposed the emerging rock 'n' roll sound, and these kinds of concerts were banned from LA. Because of El Monte's location, just miles outside LA's city limits, The El Monte Legion Stadium hosted some of the greatest acts and personalities of the early rock 'n' roll era, including Ritchie Valens; The Grateful Dead; Earth, Wind & Fire; and The Beatles. Though the stadium closed long ago, El Monte's importance in the history of rock 'n' roll remains alive and well.
Whether you're traveling on business, need a lake weekend, or just want to be close to LA to see the sights, you'll enjoy your stay in El Monte, California.
FAQs about hotels in El Monte