Blackburn’s sober living homes and sober apartments for men are on the Westside of Los Angeles, about 60 miles from the Antelope Valley by road. The homes are in Venice, Mar Vista, Cheviot Hills and Mid City; the apartments are in West Los Angeles. This page is for men from Lancaster, Palmdale, Quartz Hill, Lake Los Angeles, Acton and Sun Village who are thinking about making that move, and for the families who would stay behind.
For the apartments, schedule an apartment tour.
The high desert, by the numbers
The Antelope Valley is the northern edge of Los Angeles County, on the far side of the San Gabriel Mountains from the city. It holds two of the county’s larger cities and a scatter of smaller desert communities.
- Lancaster: about 166,200 residents in the 2023 estimate (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts), roughly 65 miles from Mar Vista by road.
- Palmdale: about 161,400 residents in the 2023 estimate (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts), roughly 58 miles away.
- Lake Los Angeles: about 13,100 residents, roughly 70 miles away (Census Bureau 2022 estimate via LA Almanac).
- Sun Village about 11,500, Quartz Hill about 10,100 and Acton about 7,300 (same source), roughly 48 to 61 miles away.
Every distance here is an approximate road figure. Check a map before planning a trip, because the drive over the mountains can vary a lot.
A three hour commute, or a move
Getting from the Antelope Valley to the Westside is the longest trip in this section of our site, and the transit options make that plain.
- AVTA Route 786. Runs from Palmdale to Century City and Westwood, Mondays to Fridays. A one-way trip takes about 3 hours 6 minutes to 3 hours 28 minutes (Antelope Valley Transit Authority schedule).
- Metrolink Antelope Valley Line. Runs from Lancaster to Union Station, about 76.6 miles with 13 stations (Metrolink route data). From Union Station, the Metro E Line runs west to Culver City, Palms and Santa Monica.
Those numbers explain a lot. A man from Palmdale with a job in Century City is looking at six or more hours a day on a bus. A man from Lancaster in an outpatient program on the Westside is looking at a train, a transfer and a long ride in each direction. At some point the question stops being “how do I commute” and becomes “should I live closer.”
Why men from the Antelope Valley come to the Westside
For some, it is that commute. Living on the Westside turns hours of travel into a short bus or train ride, and that time goes back into meetings, work and rest.
For others, it is distance. The Antelope Valley is far enough from the rest of the county that a move to the Westside is a true fresh start: different streets, different people, a different pace. It is also close enough that family can still drive down for a weekend visit, or ride Metrolink.
And some men are leaving treatment and want access to more than they would have at home. The Westside has a large recovery community with meetings throughout the day, and most of daily life is reachable without a car. In the high desert, where distances are long and transit is thinner, that can make a real difference in the first months.
Because the move is a big one, we take the first call seriously. If a man is better served by staying near home, we will say so.
Sober living, or the apartments
For men moving a long way from home, sober living is usually the right first step. It includes drug testing 3 times a week, daily alcohol testing, medication management systems and weekly updates to families, providers and treatment teams. Residents can hold full time jobs and take classes at local colleges.
The sober apartments are the next step for many: furnished, month to month, utilities and WiFi included, with weekly random drug and alcohol testing and no curfew. You do not need to have been in a Blackburn home, but you do need to be ready for independent living. Schedule an apartment tour, or call or text (888) 305-5422.
For families and providers in the Antelope Valley
Distance is the hardest part for families here. You can start with a virtual tour of a sober living home instead of driving down. Once your loved one is settled in one of our homes, weekly updates keep you, his providers and his treatment team in the loop. Our free virtual family support group, every other Tuesday from 6 to 7 PM Pacific and led by a licensed therapist from Blackburn Clinical Services, can be joined from Lancaster or Palmdale. For the move itself, we offer sober transport and sober companion support. More on our families page and the treatment professionals page.
LA County’s public Substance Abuse Service Helpline, 1-800-854-7771 option 2, covers the Antelope Valley as well (LA County Substance Abuse Prevention and Control).
Questions from the Antelope Valley
How long does it take to get from Palmdale to the Westside by bus?
AVTA Route 786 runs from Palmdale to Century City and Westwood on weekdays, and a one-way trip takes about 3 hours 6 minutes to 3 hours 28 minutes, according to AVTA’s schedule.
Can I take the train from Lancaster?
Yes. The Metrolink Antelope Valley Line runs from Lancaster to Union Station, and the Metro E Line runs from there to the Westside. It is a long trip, so it works best for visits rather than a daily commute.
Can you help me get from Lancaster to the Westside on move-in day?
Yes. Blackburn offers sober transport and sober companion support. Call us and we will help plan the move.
My family cannot drive down for a tour. What are the options?
Sober living tours can be done virtually. For the apartments, schedule an in-person tour or call or text (888) 305-5422 and we will find a time that works for you.
Nearby places and regions
Place pages: Palmdale and Lancaster. Neighboring regions: Santa Clarita Valley and San Fernando Valley. Read about the neighborhoods where the homes are: Venice, Mar Vista, Cheviot Hills and Mid City. Back to all areas in Los Angeles County.
For the apartments, schedule an apartment tour.