Saturday, July 14, 2018

How to get to OzCon International (2018 edition)

One of the things about going on a vacation to a specific location is getting there. It's one thing if you're driving, and another if you're flying or taking a Greyhound bus or an Amtrak train. Because while these get you very far from home and in a short distance to the site, they don't take you right there.

OzCon International is no exception. During the Asilomar years, I was able to take a public transit bus from the Greyhound station in Salinas to Asilomar in Pacific Grove. In San Diego and Portland, the convention sites were very close to public transit trolley cars.

But this year, I'm flying at last, and there's a few options.

Our site this year is Kellogg West, a little hilltop conference center and hotel on the Cal Poly campus in Pomona, California. Getting to Kellogg West can be tricky if you're not following directions.

If you're flying into Ontario airport, you're in luck as Kellogg West will—with at least 48 hours advance notice—send a shuttle to pick you up. But note, this is only for Ontario. If you are arriving at Ontario, call (909) 869-2222 to arrange a shuttle.

LAX and John Wayne International airport aren't too far, and while it's possible to arrange shuttles to get to Kellogg West, you will have to pay for those. (One convention goer informed me that flying to LAX and paying for a shuttle to Kellogg was cheaper than flying straight to Ontario in his case.) For a shuttle from or to other airports, Kellogg West suggests Super Shuttle, which can be called at (800) 258-3826.

Public transportation is also an option, however, Kellogg West is not on any stops, resulting in at least a 23 minute walk from the nearest stop. Google Maps is helpful in finding your specific route. Just enter where you need to go in the directions bar. Fares in Pomona appear to be $1.25 for a ticket with a $.50 charge for a transfer, or $5 for a day pass.

I can't say I recommend it as a budget friendly option, but if you want, there's the option of calling a taxi, or using ride share services such as Uber or Lyft.

If you're a local to the area or are renting a car for the weekend and driving to the site, here's some instructions from the Kellogg West website. Make sure to follow them as missing a step can get you a little lost. I have been informed that a driver using a GPS discovered that his system lumped Kellogg in with the Cal-Poly university, so it's best to take some notes. Kellogg West also provides a PDF map on their website, click this link to download/view. The Google Maps mobile app is suggested for getting there, but please remember to not look at your phone instead of the road while driving!

Kellogg West will have free open parking on the days of the convention, but if you're arriving Thursday or staying after Sunday, make sure to register your car at the check in desk so you don't get a ticket.

From Downtown Los Angeles

Take Interstate 10 east; exit at Kellogg Drive.  Right at University Drive.   Take Horse Hill Drive, staying to your left at the fork, to the Kellogg West Conference Center & Hotel.

From San Bernardino/Ontario
Take Interstate 10 west to Route 57 south. Exit Temple Avenue and make a right hand turn. Take Temple Avenue to University Drive and make a right hand turn. Take University Drive to Horse Hill Drive and make a right hand turn. Take Horse Hill Drive, staying to your left at the fork, to the Kellogg West Conference Center & Hotel.

From Orange County/Anaheim

Take Route 57 north. Exit Temple Avenue and make a left hand turn. Take Temple Avenue to University Drive and make a right hand turn. Take University Drive to Horse Hill Drive and make a right hand turn. Take Horse Hill Drive, staying to your left at the fork, to the Kellogg West Conference Center & Hotel.

From Pasadena

Take Interstate 210 east to Route 57 south. Exit Temple Avenue and make a right hand turn. Take Temple Avenue to University Drive and make a right hand turn. Take University Drive to Horse Hill Drive and make a right hand turn. Take Horse Hill Drive, staying to your left at the fork, to the Kellogg West Conference Center & Hotel.

I hope this information proved useful and I hope to see you at OzCon International!

OzCon International
August 10-12, 2018
Registration and information at

Kellogg West Conference Center and Hotel 
3801 W. Temple Avenue
Pomona, CA 91768
1-800-KWEST-76 or 909-869-2222 

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