New Student Guide | Airport Pickup and Housing at UC Riverside

Prepared by HYP Global, this guide is designed for incoming students at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). It outlines the airport pickup options, on-campus residence halls, and popular off-campus apartments available at the time of the original article.

The University of California, Riverside is located in Riverside, approximately 60 to 70 miles east of Los Angeles, in Southern California’s Inland Empire. Arranging transportation and accommodation in advance is an important first step toward a smooth transition to university life.

Note: This article preserves the transportation, pricing, housing, and service information available during the original publication period. Details may have changed since then.

Airport Selection and Transportation

Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is located approximately 70 miles west of Riverside. The drive to UCR takes around 1.5 hours and may be considerably longer during peak traffic periods.

With its extensive international flight network and relatively competitive airfares, LAX is the most common arrival airport for international students traveling directly to the United States.

Ontario International Airport

Ontario International Airport (ONT) is approximately 20 miles from UCR, with a driving time of around 35 minutes. It is the closest and most convenient airport for reaching campus.

If a direct flight to ONT is unavailable, students may consider flying to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and taking a connecting flight to ONT.

Transportation to Campus

Option One: CSSA Airport Pickup

During the month before the beginning of each academic year, the UCR Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) typically works with the university to arrange group airport pickup services for incoming Chinese students.

The pickup location is generally at LAX. Incoming students should follow the official UCR CSSA WeChat account for the latest schedules, registration details, and pickup arrangements.

Option Two: Uber or Lyft

Students who arrive earlier or later than the scheduled pickup period—or who miss the pickup because of a flight delay—may use Uber or Lyft to travel to campus.

Because immigration processing and baggage collection times are difficult to predict, rideshare services may be more practical than scheduled shuttles. The estimated cost from LAX to UCR was approximately $80 to $100 per person at the time of the original article.

On-Campus Residence Halls

UCR does not require graduate students to live on campus. However, on-campus housing offers convenient access to dining facilities, classrooms, and other university resources.

Representative UCR residence halls include:

• Aberdeen-Inverness

• Dundee

• Lothian

• Pentland Hills

Students applying for a residence hall were required to select a meal plan. For most students, a plan providing approximately 120 meals per semester was considered sufficient for basic dining needs.

Housing rates and online applications were available through the official UCR Housing Services website.

Popular Off-Campus Apartments

For many students, off-campus apartments offer greater flexibility and better value for money. Common housing search platforms include Zillow, Trulia, Apartments.com, Facebook housing groups, and Google Maps.

The following four apartment communities were popular among UCR students at the time of the original article.

GrandMarc | Closest to Campus

GrandMarc is approximately a 20-minute walk from the center of campus and is located next to University Village, which includes Chinese restaurants, milk tea shops, and a Chinese supermarket.

Available floor plans included:

• One-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments

• Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments

• Four-bedroom, four-bathroom apartments

Units included private bathrooms and full furniture, allowing students to move in without purchasing essential furnishings.

The reference rent ranged from approximately $805 to $1,499 per person per month. Two students could share one bedroom for an additional charge of approximately $200. Water, electricity, and internet were included.

Among the apartments listed, GrandMarc offered the most extensive facilities and one of the closest locations to campus. The property had controlled access and security personnel. Apartments were often fully leased by around May, with a lengthy waitlist for later applicants.

Highlander | Comparable Facilities

Highlander is approximately a 30-minute walk from UCR and around a 14-minute walk from University Village.

Available floor plans included:

• Studio apartments

• Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments

• Three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartments

• Four-bedroom, four-bathroom apartments

Units included private bathrooms and full furniture.

The reference rent for single occupancy ranged from approximately $844 to $1,445 per person per month. Shared-room rates ranged from approximately $624 to $679 per person per month. Water, electricity, and internet were included.

The architectural style and facilities were similar to GrandMarc, and the property had a controlled-access system. One disadvantage was its greater distance from dining and everyday shopping areas.

Colonnade | A Higher-Quality Option for Students with Cars

Colonnade is approximately three miles from UCR and less than a 10-minute drive from campus, making it more suitable for students with cars.

Available floor plans included:

• One-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments

• Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments

Units were unfurnished, although furniture rental services were available.

The reference rent ranged from approximately $868 to $1,936 per person per month. Water, electricity, and internet were not included.

Located near a hillside trail, the community offered an attractive residential environment and gated access. It was suitable for students with larger housing budgets who valued space, privacy, and a higher-quality living environment.

Sycamore Canyons | Spacious and Cost-Effective

Sycamore Canyons is approximately 1.2 miles from UCR and less than a five-minute drive from campus. A shopping center is around a 10-minute walk away.

Available floor plans included:

• One-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments

• Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments

• Three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments

Units were spacious but unfurnished.

The reference rent ranged from approximately $700 to $1,550 per person per month. Water, electricity, and internet were included.

The community featured spacious rooms and a basketball court. Apartments did not include in-unit washing machines, so residents used a shared laundry room. The three-bedroom layout offered particularly strong value for students sharing an apartment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are first-year UCR graduate students required to live on campus?

No. Graduate students may choose between on-campus housing and off-campus apartments according to their budgets and living preferences.

How early should students apply for popular apartments such as GrandMarc or Highlander?

Students should apply as early as possible. GrandMarc apartments for the fall term were often fully leased by around May, after which applicants were placed on a waitlist. Students were advised to apply through the apartment’s official website soon after confirming admission.

Which airport is the most convenient for traveling to UCR?

Ontario International Airport is the most convenient option. It is approximately 20 miles from UCR and around a 35-minute drive from campus.

Los Angeles International Airport is approximately 70 miles away and takes around 1.5 hours by car. However, it offers more international flights and generally lower airfares, making it the most common airport for students flying directly to the United States.