Neighborhoods

If you are a UCI student looking for an off-campus apartment near campus, you are not going to get any closer than the University Town Center (UTC) apartments. Students living in these apartments are just minutes away from campus and can conveniently walk to and from campus within minutes. And, they are the perfect apartments to sublease in the Summer due to their proximity to campus.

Some UCI students value lower cost of living versus proximity to University of California - Irvine. For those students, Park West is a popular option for affordable apartments. It is just a 15-minute drive away from campus. Located on Culver Drive and Michelson Drive, Park West is not as saturated with UCI students as the UTC apartments are, and there are also many single-family households within the community.

Further down Michelson Drive, there is the Parkwood Apartment homes -- another option for off-campus apartments near UC Irvine.

For those wanting something a bit more luxurious, the gated apartment complexes, Villa Siena Toscana Apartments, are extremely popular. They are a 10-15-minute drive to UCI, and you can even bike along Campus Drive to get University of California – Irvine.

In the opposite direction of these apartments are the Turtle Rock Canyon Apartment Homes, which are just a 10-15 car ride away from UCI.

Irvine neighborhoods are not the only popular options for UCI students when it comes to off-campus apartments. Beach lovers find off-campus apartments in nearby Newport Beach, bringing them closer to the ocean and nightlife opportunities.

UCI students also choose to look for off-campus apartments in the bordering cities of Tustin and Costa Mesa as they are more likely to find a significant drop in rent without straying too far from campus. A side note is that you will need a car if living in Tustin or Costa Mesa.

Dining

The University Center, referred to as “the UTC” by UCI students, is full of UC Irvine students throughout the year. Located just across the street from campus, it is the most convenient off-campus dining option. There are fast food options: Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, Blaze Pizza, Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, and In-n-Out.

Students can also indulge their sweet tooth with ice cream and sweet treats at Snow Monster or boba at Sharetea and Cha for Tea.

Further down the street from UCI, there is the Campus Plaza. Here, students can get a quick bite to eat and choose from wings at The Buffalo Spot, burgers at The Habit, pizza at Gina's Pizza & Pastaria, or tacos at Taquiero Taco Patio.

Popular bars in the area among UCI students include Eureka!, Woody's Wharf, American Junkie, and Baja Sharkeez, all of which are within walking distance.

Transportation

Apartments near University of California - Irvine, such as Park West Apartments, offer two parking spots per lease.

There are also several other ways you can get to and from campus if you do not have a car.

UCI has its own fleet of buses for its students called the Anteater Express. These buses take students around campus and to on-campus housing and some lines also stop along off-campus apartments near UCI. The W-line has the route that hits multiple off-campus apartments near UCI, making it a lot easier for students to get to campus without a car. Its route includes stops near Park West Apartments, Villa Siena Apartments, Villa Coronado Apartments, Toscana Apartments, and Park Place Apartments. A bus pass costs $100 per quarter.

Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) is another way students can get around campus and the surrounding community. The OCTA University Pass is a discounted pass that offers year-round access to all OCTA's routes, taking students to and from campus, housing, shopping centers, and the beach. It costs $169 and services UCI students living in Park West, Villa Siena, Toscana, Newport North, Newport Bluffs, and neighboring communities.

Parking

Parking is available for UCI students with cars. Students can get “S” Zone Commuter passes if they live further than two miles from campus for $75 per month, or “P” Preferred Zone Commuter passes for $94 per month.

Safety

UC Irvine cares about the safety of all students and as such, has security in place for their protection. With a 50-member strong police department and blue light emergency phones throughout campus, UCI students have different options available to them.

Shopping

Students have many choices when it comes to grocery shopping near their off-campus apartments. There is Trader Joe's and Target located in the UTC. Also, on Campus Drive, students can shop at Albertsons.

For those living a bit further off-campus on Michelson Drive, there's Wholesome Choice, Rite Aid, and Zion Market to get their households properly stocked without straying too far.

Irvine and its surrounding area also have many options for UCI students to shop, dine, and relax when it comes to shopping centers. There are the Market Place and the District bordering Tustin and Irvine, or the Spectrum across Irvine. Students can take the Anteater Express on weekends for quick trips to the District and the Spectrum with friends.

For a more upscale, seaside shopping experience, there's also Fashion Island in Newport Beach which has a wide range of stores, from affordable to designer. South Coast Plaza is also another shopping destination students can spend hours in, as it is in the neighboring city of Costa Mesa.