SoCal Coast in 2 Days: UC San Diego, UC Irvine and Cal State Long Beach

1. Who this guide is for

This plan is for parents taking a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, on a first look at three Southern California coast campuses. All three charge visitors for parking.[S4][S8][S14]

Why this order

• CSULB and UCI are about 21 driving miles apart (about 30 minutes with no traffic). An Irvine hotel is about 8 minutes from UCI and about 27 minutes from CSULB.[S17]
• UCSD in La Jolla is the far end, about 74 miles from Irvine, or roughly 90 minutes with no traffic. It gets a day of its own.[S17]
• So Day 1 is CSULB in the morning and UCI in the afternoon, ending near the hotel, and Day 2 is UCSD.

2. The suggested 2-day route

• Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing. Real weekday times on the 405 and I-5 will usually be longer.[S17][S18][S19]
• Our recommendation, not a school rule: leave at least 90 minutes between the end of your CSULB tour and the start of your UCI visit for lunch, the drive and parking.
• CSULB asks you to arrive at least 20 minutes early, and UCSD asks weekday visitors to allow at least 45 minutes to park and reach check-in.[S12][S3]

3. Campus by campus

Campus

Cal State Long Beach

Official tour sign-up: CSULB Family/Individual Tours registration ↗

Where visits start

• Fall 2026 tours are open, and registration is required.[S10]
• Brotman Hall, Room 289 (2nd floor). Arrive at least 20 minutes early. Tours are cancelled if it's raining, and weekend tours aren't usually offered.[S12]
• Housing isn't part of the tour. For housing questions, call 562-985-4187.[S12]

Visitor parking

• Enter from Bellflower Blvd. onto Beach Dr., park in a General Lot and pay at the pay station.[S12][S13]
• Rates effective July 1, 2026: 30 minutes $4, 60 minutes $6, 90 minutes $10. A daily permit is $15, and an evening/weekend permit is $10 (after 5:30 pm Mon–Fri and all day Sat–Sun).[S14]
• Pay stations are cashless, and ParkMobile works. Daily permits are valid in G lots and all three structures and expire at 11:59 pm. Parking is enforced 24/7.[S14]

Nearest transit

• Long Beach Transit; the regular fare is $1.25. Check Long Beach Transit for routes to campus.[S21]

What to know

• Disability accommodations: BMAC, (562) 985-5401.[S10]

Contact

Visitor Information Center (562) 985-8442; Parking (562) 985-4146[S12]

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: CSULB: Family/Individual Tours · CSULB: Campus Tours FAQ

Campus

UC Irvine

Official tour sign-up: UCI Campus Tours registration ↗

Where visits start

• The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is at 260 Aldrich Hall. For your tour's meeting point, check your registration on UCI's official sign-up page.[S5][S6]

Visitor parking

• A permit is always required. Buy one at a kiosk or dispenser, or use PARKbyPLATE; credit cards are accepted.[S8]
• Hourly: $4 (general), $5 (pay-by-space). Daily: $16 (general), $20 (reserved). See UCI's visitor parking page for where to park.[S8]

What to know

• University Town Center (UTC) is across the street, and beaches are about 5 miles away.[S7]
• The Student Center is open 7 am–midnight daily; its Information Center is open Mon–Fri 7:30 am–8 pm and Sat–Sun 8 am–5 pm.[S24]
• Flying in? UCI calls John Wayne Airport (SNA) the most convenient, about 15 minutes from campus. LAX and Long Beach (LGB) also work.[S7]

Contact

949-824-6703[S5]

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: UCI: Campus Tour · UCI: Visit

Campus

UC San Diego

Official tour sign-up: UC San Diego Triton Tour registration ↗

Where visits start

• Tours are scheduled 2–3 months ahead. No pets. Accommodation requests typically need 21 business days.[S2]
• Registration is required; walk-ins and standby aren't guaranteed. Weekday tours check in at the Multipurpose Room. Check in no earlier than 15 minutes before your tour; late arrivals may not be accommodated.[S3]
• Admissions is in the Student Services Center, 9460 Russell Lane, Suite 159.[S1]

Visitor parking

• Mon–Fri: park in P704 or P705 and pay at a pay station or online. Take the "R" Regents Shuttle to the Light Rail Loop stop, then walk 6–7 minutes to the Multipurpose Room. Saturday: park in the Gilman Parking Structure, with the South Parking Structure as overflow.[S3]
• Visitor (V) spaces, ParkMobile zone 4752, cost $4.50/hour (max $36); after 5 pm on weekdays and on weekends, $2.25/hour (max $9). D lots are $5.25/day (zone 4762), and Super Saver lots $4/day (zone 4767).[S4]
• Payment is required 7 days a week, 7 am–9 pm on weekdays and 10:30 am–9 pm on weekends, with no fee on university holidays. Pay stations take Visa, Mastercard and American Express and give no change.[S4]

Nearest transit

• The UC San Diego Blue Line trolley stops at Central Campus Station, near the Epstein Family Amphitheater, about a 7-minute walk from the Multipurpose Room.[S31][S18][S19]

What to know

• A self-guided tour on the UC San Diego Guides app has 14 stops, with English audio and a Spanish map.[S1]
• A new Triton Alumni and Welcome Center opens in September 2026.[S3]

Contact

Campus Tours Office, (858) 534-4831[S3]

Last checked Oct 22, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.

Official pages: UCSD: Campus Tours · UCSD: Directions & Parking

4. Where to stay: one base for all three

Expedia hotel links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

UCI offers negotiated rates at several nearby hotels for anyone visiting campus, with details on UCI's hotel list. UCSD lists Bartell Hotels partner rates if you'd rather sleep in San Diego before Day 2.[S7][S9][S3]

5. Meals between tours

Hours change, so check before you go.

6. Things for siblings along the route

Viator tour links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

7. Practical tips

Parent checklist

• Book Day 1 on a weekday, since CSULB rarely tours on weekends.[S12]
• UCSD tours book 2–3 months out, and none run after the first week of December 2026.[S2]
• Have a card ready for every campus's parking.[S14][S4]
• After each school, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student before the next one blurs it.