Everyone says you need a car in Los Angeles. Around USC, you can get by without one for most things. If you’re comparing graduate housing USC students use, look at what’s within a walk and a train ride. From University Gateway on Figueroa, that’s a lot. Here are four car-free weekends.
What can you reach from graduate housing USC students choose on Figueroa?
Campus, a park full of museums, and a rail line that runs downtown in one direction and to the ocean in the other. For a grad student on a stipend, skipping a car, insurance and a parking permit is a real saving.
University Gateway is at 3335 South Figueroa Street, across from the University of Southern California. Start next door.
Weekend one: Exposition Park
Just south of campus is Exposition Park. The Rose Garden sits at its center, with paths and fountains, and it’s a quiet place to read on a mild afternoon. Check its hours, since it closes for part of the winter.
Around it are the museums. The California Science Center has free general admission and a space shuttle. The California African American Museum is free. The Natural History Museum charges admission, with some free hours for local residents. Check each one before you go.
It’s a full day, and you walked there.
Weekend two: downtown by train
The Metro E Line stops along Exposition Boulevard at the edge of campus. Ride it northeast and you’re in downtown Los Angeles in a few stops.
Walk to Grand Central Market for lunch. It’s a century-old food hall with dozens of stalls. The Broad, a contemporary art museum nearby, has free general admission with a reservation. The Central Library is a beautiful building and a good place to work for a few hours.
USC students can get a transit pass through the university. Look up how it works. It pays for itself quickly.
Weekend three: where’s the beach?
At the other end of the same train. Ride the E Line west to the last stop and you’re a few blocks from the Santa Monica Pier.
October is a good beach month. The summer crowds are gone, the water is still mild and the marine layer burns off by noon. Walk the path south toward Venice or just sit on the sand with a book.
Bring a layer for the ride home. It cools off fast by the water.
I’d do this at least once a semester. It’s the cheapest good day in the city.
Weekend four: stay close
Some weekends, you have a paper due. Stay in the neighborhood. Work in one of the campus libraries in the morning. Take a walk through the Rose Garden at lunch. Get dinner at the restaurants on Figueroa.
A weekend that’s mostly work still goes better with one hour outside.
What about game days?
Check the football schedule. USC plays at the Coliseum in Exposition Park, and on home Saturdays the whole area is packed. The museums and the garden are harder to enjoy, and trains are crowded.
That’s a good day to head out early, west to the beach or downtown, and come back after the crowd clears. Or join in. It’s a short walk.
Is it safe to get around on foot and by train?
Use ordinary big-city habits. Travel in daylight when you can, and with a friend at night. Keep your phone in your pocket on platforms. Know your stop. Look up the university’s safe-ride options for evenings near campus.
What changes in November?
The light. Halloween is a Saturday this year, October 31. The clocks fall back the next morning, Sunday, November 1, and sunset moves to around five.
The weather stays mild. Fall and winter are the clear, comfortable months in Los Angeles. Just plan outings to end before dark, or bring a friend.
If you’re weighing where to live next year, the floor plans page shows what’s available at University Gateway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you live near USC without a car?
Many students do. Campus, Exposition Park and the Metro E Line are close to Figueroa Street.
Where does the Metro E Line go from USC?
It runs between downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica, with stops next to the USC campus.
Where is University Gateway?
University Gateway is at 3335 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007.
Key Takeaways
- When comparing graduate housing USC students use, check what’s reachable without a car.
- Exposition Park’s museums and Rose Garden are a walk away.
- The E Line reaches downtown and Santa Monica.
- Plan around home football Saturdays, when the area is crowded.