Local Information

Curious about the local area?

Whether you have been accepted to attend Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) or are simply doing your research, you may want to know more about our immediate area.

EMCC is located approximately 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of downtown Phoenix, located in what we refer to as the West Valley.

EMCC is a scenic campus, with picturesque desert landscaping and serene water features, all nestled within a suburban neighborhood with shopping, restaurants, and entertainment nearby. Please keep in mind, you may not have easy access to public transportation, depending on where you live.

EMCC is located in the city of Avondale, neighbored by the cities of Goodyear and Litchfield Park. There is plenty to enjoy outside of your studies, with various community activities including the annual Tale of Two Cities Parade & Festival, a family-friendly, multi-cultural event that begins with a parade that ends at the EMCC campus where music, food, and fun take center stage.

Arizona is well-known for its year-round sunshine, mild winters, hot summers, beautiful golf courses, and picturesque desert landscape. Although there is plenty to do locally, if you enjoy spectator sports and entertainment, there is even more to do within a short drive (less than 9 miles/13 kilometers) where you'll find the city of Glendale, home of the NFL Cardinals and the Westgate Entertainment District. Due to the sunny weather here in Arizona (generally over 300 days of sunshine each year) we are also home to the Cactus League, where 15 professional baseball teams hold their spring training games, the Goodyear Ballpark being closest to EMCC. In addition to hockey, football, and baseball, Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) is also located less than 10 miles (15 kilometers) south of EMCC.

If you enjoy the outdoors, you will surely appreciate the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert with the Sierra Estrella Mountains and Estrella Mountain Regional Park to the south, and to our west the White Tank Mountain Regional Park where you can hike, mountain bike, camp, and even star gaze.

You can read a general overview about Arizona at the International Student or Arizona Guide websites.