LMU and Pepperdine in 2 Days: A Los Angeles and Malibu College Trip
A parent-first plan for seeing Loyola Marymount University and Pepperdine University in two days: how each school's visit works and where to sign up, LMU's main-entrance arrival and Pepperdine's guard-booth visitor pass, four hotels from budget to upscale near LMU and LAX, drive times up the coast to Malibu, a sibling stop at the Getty Villa, and Los Angeles weather by season, every fact sourced and checked Oct 30, 2026.
The fountain at Joslyn Plaza on Pepperdine University's Malibu campus, with Elkins Auditorium behind it (August 2019). Photo: Swper · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).
The short version
Trip at a glance
Schools
Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA) · Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA)
Days
2 days: LMU in Westchester on day 1 and Pepperdine in Malibu on day 2 (about 38 minutes apart by car with no traffic).
Fly into
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), a few minutes from LMU and about 41 minutes from Pepperdine with no traffic.
Best base
Hotel June West L.A., on LMU's Local Hotels list, about 6 minutes by car (or a 20-minute walk) from LMU and 38 minutes from Pepperdine.
Car or no car
Plan on a rental car. Pepperdine is a coastal drive from LAX, and it asks drivers to stop at the guard booth for a visitor parking pass.
Registration
Book each visit on the school's own page: LMU's Campus Tour Registration calendar and Pepperdine's Malibu Campus Walking Tour portal.
1. Who this guide is for
This plan is for parents bringing a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, to see two private West Coast Conference universities: Loyola Marymount, home of the Lions, and Pepperdine, home of the Waves.
LMU's main campus is in Westchester near LAX, and Pepperdine sits above the Pacific in Malibu, which it says is about 25 miles from LAX. Check both athletics calendars for home games on your dates. The photo in this guide shows the fountain at Joslyn Plaza on Pepperdine's Malibu campus.
Why this order
Day 1: fly into LAX, check in near LMU and take LMU's information session and walking tour.
Day 2: drive about 38 minutes up to Malibu for Pepperdine's student-led walking tour and application workshop, then fly home from LAX.
With extra time on the way back, the Getty Villa is about 19 minutes from Pepperdine by car, with free admission by timed-entry reservation.
Plan ahead: registration and timing
LMU's weekday visit is a 30-minute information session with an admission counselor followed by a 90-minute walking tour. Pick a green date on LMU's calendar; LMU emails a confirmation with arrival and parking details within 24 hours and a reminder three days before.
LMU also offers Saturday visits during the academic year that add a student panel, plus self-guided and virtual tours. Check the registration page for current options.
Pepperdine's Malibu Campus Walking Tour is a student-led tour and application workshop for prospective students and families of 1 to 9 guests. Groups of 10 or more book a group tour, and a self-guided walking and driving tour is also offered.
Pepperdine's Saturday options are limited: only one student-led tour runs on Saturdays, and on-campus shuttles start at noon on weekends, so plan your own transportation. Pepperdine's admission office is closed Nov. 26–27, 2026, for Thanksgiving.
Tour availability varies by season.
Los Angeles is mild year-round: January averages about 66°F highs and 49°F lows at LAX, with about 2.9 inches of rain.
Summer is warm and nearly dry: August averages about 77°F highs and 65°F lows with almost no rain.
Pepperdine notes that coastal weather can be temperamental, so bring layers for the morning and sunscreen for the afternoon.
Check the Lions and Waves athletics calendars for home games on your dates, since game days bring extra traffic and parking demand.
2. The suggested 2-day plan
Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, with addresses geocoded by OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Los Angeles traffic often adds a lot, so leave extra time. LMU times are to the campus at 1 LMU Drive, and Pepperdine times are to 24255 Pacific Coast Highway.
Arrival: fly into LAX and check in
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) → Hotel June West L.A.
Driving (no traffic)
~7 min, 3.3 mi
Driving
Rental car
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) → Embassy Suites LAX North
Driving (no traffic)
~9 min, 5.1 mi
Driving
Rental car or hotel shuttle
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) → Travelodge by Wyndham LAX
Driving (no traffic)
~7 min, 3.8 mi
Driving
Rental car or hotel shuttle
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) → The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey
Driving (no traffic)
~11 min, 5.4 mi
Driving
Rental car
Embassy Suites LAX North and the Travelodge both list a free airport shuttle on Expedia, but you'll still want a car for the Malibu day.
Day 1: Loyola Marymount University
Hotel June West L.A. → LMU campus (1 LMU Drive)
Driving (no traffic)
~6 min, 1.9 mi (about a 20-minute walk)
Driving
Drive or walk
Embassy Suites LAX North → LMU campus (1 LMU Drive)
Driving (no traffic)
~9 min, 3.6 mi
Driving
Drive
Travelodge by Wyndham LAX → LMU campus (1 LMU Drive)
Driving (no traffic)
~10 min, 4.5 mi
Driving
Drive
The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey → LMU campus (1 LMU Drive)
Driving (no traffic)
~9 min, 3.2 mi
Driving
Drive
All visitors enter LMU through the main entrance at Lincoln Blvd. and LMU Drive. Drivers without a University OneCard who try other gates are sent back to the main entrance.
The walking tour runs about 90 minutes, so wear comfortable shoes.
Day 2: Pepperdine University, then fly home
Hotel June West L.A. → Pepperdine campus (24255 Pacific Coast Hwy.)
The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey → Pepperdine campus (24255 Pacific Coast Hwy.)
Driving (no traffic)
~33 min, 16.8 mi
Driving
Drive
Pepperdine campus (24255 Pacific Coast Hwy.) → Getty Villa
Driving (no traffic)
~19 min, 9.1 mi
Driving
Drive
Getty Villa → Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Driving (no traffic)
~27 min, 13.8 mi
Driving
Drive
Pepperdine campus (24255 Pacific Coast Hwy.) → Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Driving (no traffic)
~41 min, 22.0 mi
Driving
Drive
Pepperdine suggests allowing an extra 15 minutes to park and find the Office of Admission. The campus has many stairs and hills, so wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a reusable water bottle.
Allow plenty of time to return a rental car and check in at LAX after the visit.
Register for a date on LMU's Campus Tour Registration calendar. Your confirmation email includes arrival and parking information, and LMU asks you to email admission@lmu.edu if your plans change.
A weekday visit is a 30-minute information session presented by an admission counselor, followed by a 90-minute walking tour of campus.
Visitor parking
Enter through the main entrance off Lincoln Blvd. at LMU Drive. LMU charges for parking Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and asks drivers to review its parking rules before parking on campus.
LMU's Campus Maps page links a Visitor Parking Map (PDF) and an interactive campus map.
Getting there
From LAX, LMU's directions say to follow signs north on Sepulveda Blvd., stay in the two left lanes, merge onto Lincoln Blvd. and turn right into the main entrance at LMU Drive.
What to know
Can't make it in person? LMU offers a virtual campus tour with a guide and a self-guided tour option.
LMU's Local Hotels list includes Hotel June West L.A. and Embassy Suites LAX North, both with LMU rates; the list says inclusion isn't a recommendation and rates depend on availability.
Contact
LMU Undergraduate Admission: admission@lmu.edu. Westchester Main Campus, 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045, 310.338.2700.
Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
The fountain at Joslyn Plaza on Pepperdine University's Malibu campus, with Elkins Auditorium behind it (August 2019). Photo: Swper · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Stop at the guard booth when you arrive for a visitor parking pass, a campus map and directions to the undergraduate Office of Admission. Tours and information sessions depart from the Office of Admission.
Check in at the Office of Admission on the second floor of the Thornton Administrative Center (TAC).
Visitor parking
With your visitor pass, park along Banowsky Blvd. or Seaver Drive, in the Firestone Fieldhouse lot, or in a visitor spot in the Theme Tower or Seaver Main lots. The Theme Tower and Seaver Main lots need a coin token from the Public Safety officer at the guard booth.
Getting there
Pepperdine is about 30 minutes by car from LAX, according to the school, and about 41 minutes by OpenStreetMap routing with no traffic. Pepperdine links LAX's ground transportation page for shuttles.
What to know
Pepperdine has an on-campus hotel, the Villa Graziadio Executive Center, with discounted rates for prospective students and families; see Pepperdine's Visiting Campus Resources page for details.
There are 10 dining options on campus, from the Waves Cafe to Starbucks in Payson Library, though some have limited or no weekend hours.
Contact
Pepperdine Undergraduate Admission: admission@pepperdine.edu, 310.506.4392, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific. 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90263.
Last checked Oct 30, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
4. Where to stay: Westchester and Marina del Rey near LMU and LAX
Price tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Upscale) follow each hotel's star class on Expedia. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Hotel · Our pickUpscale
Hotel June West L.A.
8639 Lincoln Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045
Why here
It's on LMU's Local Hotels list, about 6 minutes by car or a 20-minute walk from LMU, 7 minutes from LAX and 38 minutes from Pepperdine with no traffic.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 4.5-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
Good to know
Expedia lists a pool, a gym, two restaurants, breakfast for a fee, paid valet parking, pets for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 18. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
LMU's hotel list notes a discount for LMU visitors, so ask when you book.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 2-star property, so we place it in the Budget tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
It's about 7 minutes from LAX, 10 minutes from LMU and 42 minutes from Pepperdine by car with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists an outdoor pool, a free airport shuttle on request, limited paid self-parking and a minimum check-in age of 21. Pets aren't allowed (service animals are welcome). Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Los Angeles International Airport North
9801 Airport Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045
Why here
Expedia lists this hotel as a 3.5-star property, so we place it in the Mid-range tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
It's on LMU's Local Hotels list, about 9 minutes by car from both LAX and LMU and 41 minutes from Pepperdine with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists a free buffet breakfast, a 24-hour free airport shuttle, a pool, a gym, a restaurant, paid covered self-parking, pets for a fee and a minimum check-in age of 18. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Expedia lists this hotel as a 5-star property, so we place it in the Upscale tier. Rates vary by date, so check your dates on Expedia.
It's on LMU's Local Hotels list, about 9 minutes by car from LMU and the closest of these four to Pepperdine, about 33 minutes with no traffic.
Good to know
Expedia lists a renovation from August 10, 2026, to January 19, 2027 (completion date subject to change), with work only during business hours. It also lists a pool, a spa, a restaurant, breakfast for a fee, paid valet parking and a minimum check-in age of 18. Confirm details on the Expedia listing before you book.
Stay near LMU and LAX: Hotel June is on LMU's hotel list and close enough to walk to campus, and it keeps the airport a few minutes away. Ask about LMU visitor rates when you book.
5. Meals between tours
Hours change, so check before you go.
At the hotels and on campus
Embassy Suites LAX North includes breakfast, and Hotel June and the Ritz-Carlton offer breakfast for a fee. Pepperdine lists 10 campus dining options, from the Waves Cafe to Starbucks in Payson Library, with limited or no hours at some on weekends.
6. Things for siblings along the route
With siblings
Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Greek and Roman antiquities in a re-created Roman country home with gardens near the ocean, about 19 minutes by car from Pepperdine. Admission is free with a timed-entry reservation. It's closed Tuesdays and on Thanksgiving Day, so check the Getty's page before you go.
At LMU, use the main entrance off Lincoln Blvd. at LMU Drive; weekday parking is paid from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
At Pepperdine, stop at the guard booth for a visitor pass and allow an extra 15 minutes to park and find the Office of Admission.
Flying in and out
LAX is about 7 to 11 minutes from the hotels in this guide and about 41 minutes from Pepperdine with no traffic. Real Los Angeles traffic can double that, so leave early.
Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Los Angeles International Airport station)
Spring: April averages about 68°F highs and 54°F lows, with about 0.6 inches of rain.
Summer: July averages about 75°F/64°F and August about 77°F/65°F, with almost no rain.
Fall: October averages about 74°F/60°F with about half an inch of rain; November averages about 71°F/54°F.
Winter: January averages about 66°F/49°F, and February is the wettest month, with about 3 inches of rain.
Parent checklist
Book an LMU visit on the Campus Tour Registration calendar.
Book a Malibu Campus Walking Tour on Pepperdine's visit portal.
Book flights into LAX and a rental car for the Malibu day.
Book a hotel and ask about LMU visitor rates for hotels on LMU's list.
Pack layers and sunscreen for Malibu, plus comfortable shoes for Pepperdine's stairs and hills.
After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.
8. Student-athlete recruiting visits
For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.
Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.
Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.
2 Division I
Athletics
Loyola Marymount University
NCAA Division I West Coast Conference
RecruitingWe found no department-wide recruiting page. Look for a questionnaire on your sport's team page at the athletics site ↗, or email the coaches.
RecruitingWe found no department-wide recruiting page. Look for a questionnaire on your sport's team page at the athletics site ↗, or email the coaches.
Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
Division I (Loyola Marymount University and Pepperdine University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.
Planning around the season
Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.
Add your dates and how you're getting there, and we'll pull this guide into one plan: tour sign-up links, the hotel base, parking or airport notes, the route and meals.
Coming soon
Planning more college trips?
Visit-season reminders and new trip guides from College Visit Guides. Newsletter coming soon.
Sources
All checked Oct 30, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.
Expedia listing: Hotel June West L.A. (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Los-Angeles-Hotels-Hotel-June-West-LA.h1683637.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Embassy Suites by Hilton Los Angeles International Airport North (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Los-Angeles-Hotels-Embassy-Suites-By-Hilton-Los-Angeles-International-Airport-North.h13147.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: Travelodge by Wyndham LAX (star class and amenities, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Los-Angeles-Hotels-Travelodge-By-Wyndham-LAX-South.h19832.Hotel-Information)
Expedia listing: The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey (star class, amenities and renovation notice, checked 2026-10-30 via same-id Hotwire listing) (not linked: https://www.expedia.com/Los-Angeles-Hotels-The-Ritz-Carlton.h11767.Hotel-Information)
