Compton is one of the Gateway Cities of Los Angeles, and is mainly known for being the birthplace of rappers Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, NWA and The Game, as well as of professional athletes Serena and Venus Williams.

Get in

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Compton is west of the north-south I-710 freeway, between CA-91 on the south and I-105 (Century Freeway) on the north. The Metro Rail Blue Line runs directly from Downtown L.A. to Compton via South Central L.A.

Get around

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  • 1 Heritage House (north west corner of Willowbrook Avenue and Myrrh Street). The Heritage House, built in 1869, is a California Historic Landmark. It is the oldest house in Compton and was restored as a tribute to early settlers.
  • 2 Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum, 961 W. Alondra Blvd (at the Compton Airport), +1 310 618-1155, . M-F 8AM-7PM, Sa 8AM-8PM. Small air museum with a goal of exposing youth to the careers in aeronautics. Several aircraft are on display including a T-38 Talon, the plane that astronauts fly during their training. Free but donations are appreciated..
  • 1 Celebrity Helicopters, Inc, 961 West Alondra Blvd (at the Compton Airport), toll-free: +1-877-999-2099, . You can take a nice air flight on a helicopter here and see a big part of Los Angeles. $99-479.
  • 2 Crystal Casino, 123 E. Artesia Blvd., +1 310 661-4884. Table gaming with Baccarat, Blackjack, Three Card Poker, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, and Spanish 21.
  • 1 Gateway Towne Center, Towne Center Drive (off Alameda St. between Greenleaf Dr. and Artesia Blvd). Has numerous retail stores including Best Buy, Target, Home Depot, Staples, Marshalls and Party City. It is one of the best places to shop and the safest place in Compton. This shopping center alone has four on-duty patrolling police officers.
  • 1 Dale's Donuts, 15904 S Atlantic Ave, +1 310 635-2667. Dale's Donuts is one of the places in the Los Angeles area which features the famous "Giant Donut". Good donuts and coffee.
  • 2 Tacos El Unico (Atlantic Ave.), 12920 Atlantic Ave., +1 310 608-3677. Su-Th 8AM–midnight, F-Sa 8AM–2:30AM. Very authentic Mexican food in the Compton area. This place has some good tacos, tortas and burritos. Their burgers are also worth trying.
  • 3 Winchell's Donut House, 1300 E Alondra Blvd., +1 310 762-9435.

Gateway Center

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Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial located outside the Compton Courthouse

Drink

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Sleep

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Stay safe

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This city has many parts which are highly dangerous, as well as parts that are friendly. North Compton is dangerous, an area well known for high prostitution, gang and narcotic activities. South Compton is relatively better, with houses with no iron bars on the windows, and far fewer active gangs.

Go next

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Routes through Compton
East LA Lynwood  N  S  Long Beach END
END Gardena  W  E  Long Beach Anaheim
Downtown L.A. South Central L.A.  N  S  Long Beach END


This city travel guide to Compton is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.