Living in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the world, offering an incredible range of entertainment options. You can bicycle on a sunny beach path in the morning, visit a world-class museum in the afternoon and sample the legendary club scene at night. Year-round great weather is ideal for outdoor activities and Los Angeles has an exciting mix of vibrant neighborhoods that are just waiting to be explored. Please click here for a virtual tour of Los Angeles!

 

Airports	Los Angeles Attractions
Banks	Maps
Climate	Transportation

Airports [back to top]
The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the main airport for the Los Angeles area offering both international and domestic flights. LAX is approximately 16 miles away from USC's campus and the downtown region of Los Angeles. Other area aiports include, Long Beach (LGB) - 23 miles, Burbank (BUR) - 16 miles, Orange County (SNA) - 23 miles, and Ontario (ONT) - 45 miles.

Banks [back to top]
The USC Credit Union provides checking accounts, loans and many other services to the USC community and the offices are located on the University campus.  They can be contacted at (213) 821-7100 or at www.usccreditunion.org. Bank of America has a branch located in walking distance to the University on the corner of Jefferson and McClintock.  Other branches in the Los Angeles area include Wells Fargo, Citibank, and Washington Mutual. ATM's can also be found in the Student Union Building located in the center of USC's campus. 

Climate [back to top]
Los Angeles is famous for its temperate and sunny climate. Winters range from around 60 to 75 degrees fahrenheit during the day with the end of winter to early spring being LA's rainy season. Summers range from the 80's up to the mid-90's, while the beaches tend to be about 2-7 degrees cooler than downtown. The weather can fluctuate and students should be prepared for a broad range of temperatures. For additional information on how to prepare for the LA climate, click here.

Los Angeles Attractions [back to top]
LA offers an extensive variety of activities that can fit any interest.  The following are links to LA's most popular attractions:

   Amusement and Theme Parks

• Disneyland 
• Knott's Berry Farm
• Universal Studios Hollywood
• Six Flags Magic Mountain

   Museums and Zoos

• The Getty Museum
• LA County Museum of Art
• Museum of Contemporary Art
• USC Fisher Gallery
• California Science Center
• Museum of Television and Radio
• Long Beach Aquarium of The Pacific
• LA Zoo

   Theaters

• Hollywood Bowl 
• The Music Center of Los Angeles (including The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, The Ahmanson Theater, and Walt Disney Concert Hall)

   Sport Stadiums

• Dodger Stadium (Home to the Los Angeles Dodgers)
• Staples Center (Home to the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Avengers and Sparks)
• Angel Stadium (Home to the Los Angeles Angels of Aneheim)

Maps and Directions [back to top]

University Park Campus Map and Directions

Directions and Maps for Los Angeles and beyond

Transportation [back to top]
From LAX- Commerical shuttle vans are a reliable form of transportation from LAX to your desired location in Los Angeles. Primetime Shuttle and SuperShuttle are two of the most popular and can be found at LAX. Taxis are available but can be costly depending on your final location. 

In Los Angeles- Some students living close to campus choose to walk and use bicycles while many Los Angeles residents depend on cars for transportation throughout the city. Public transportation is available and the Trojan Transportation Office can provide students with the information needed to successfully navigate the Los Angeles area.