For things to do in downtown Riverside, build a day around The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture, the Riverside Art Museum and the Mission Inn Museum. The first two share an admission schedule, and all three are on or near Mission Inn Avenue and Main Street.
- The Cheech: 3581 Mission Inn Avenue.
- Riverside Art Museum: 3425 Mission Inn Avenue.
- Mission Inn Museum: 3598 Main Street.
Start with a Downtown Riverside Orientation
Begin with the museums on Mission Inn Avenue, then continue to the Mission Inn Museum on Main Street. This sequence groups the two museums with a shared admission schedule before adding a stop focused on the history of the Mission Inn.
The Cheech and Riverside Art Museum are at 3581 and 3425 Mission Inn Avenue, respectively. Their addresses make them a natural pair for a downtown cultural outing, though the visit length depends on how much time you give each museum.
Visit The Cheech Marin Center
The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture is at 3581 Mission Inn Avenue in Riverside. You can pair it with the Riverside Art Museum using their shared admission schedule.
The museums give adults admission for $17.95; seniors age 65 and older, educators and college students with ID, and visitors ages 13–17 pay $12.95. Children 12 and under and museum members enter free. The Cheech’s focus on Chicano art and culture also features in this guide to The Cheech Marin Center in Riverside.
Museum for All admission is $1 per person for up to four people. To use it, show an EBT, SNAP or WIC card and photo ID in person at Guest Services. The museums offer free admission from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on First Thursdays as part of Arts Walk.
Add Another Downtown Cultural Stop
The Mission Inn Museum adds local history to a downtown museum day, with exhibits and a collection covering the Mission Inn from 1876 to the present. It is at 3598 Main Street, Riverside.
The Riverside Art Museum is another arts-focused stop at 3425 Mission Inn Avenue, close to The Cheech. Both museums offer accessible exhibits, and wheelchairs are available at each site on a first-come, first-served basis during operating hours. The Hilbert Museum of California Art is another Riverside art museum to consider for a separate visit.
Plan a Lunch and Walking Break
Use the gap between museum visits for a walking break around the downtown streets connecting Mission Inn Avenue and Main Street. Choose a lunch spot based on what is open when you visit.
Accessible parking for The Cheech and Riverside Art Museum is available on Orange Street between Mission Inn Avenue and 6th Street. Check posted signs for parking time limits.
How do you get from Arlington Inn to downtown Riverside?
The Cheech and Riverside Art Museum state that they are accessible by Metrolink and Riverside Transit Agency service. Riverside-Downtown is a Metrolink station, with Riverside Transit Agency buses and CommuterLink Express identified as connecting services.
Ontario International Airport is about 30 minutes by car from Arlington Inn. If you are planning ONT airport transportation to Riverside, you can factor that drive into your arrival plans.
Check Hours and Events Before You Go
Check the museums’ official sites before you go for current hours, admission and program details. Admission prices and special programs can change.
The Riverside Art Museum offers a free-admission First Sundays program from October through May, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with crafts and family-friendly activities. Both museums’ exhibits are wheelchair- and stroller-accessible; wheelchairs are available first-come, first-served during operating hours.
FAQs
What museums can you visit in downtown Riverside?
The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture and the Riverside Art Museum are both on Mission Inn Avenue. The Mission Inn Museum, which covers the Mission Inn’s history from 1876 to the present, is on Main Street.
Do The Cheech and Riverside Art Museum have accessible exhibits?
Yes. Both museums state that all exhibits are wheelchair- and stroller-accessible. Wheelchairs are available first-come, first-served during operating hours.
Is there free admission at The Cheech and Riverside Art Museum?
The museums offer free admission from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on First Thursdays during Arts Walk. The Riverside Art Museum also has a free First Sundays program from October through May.