4 nights in Feb

Question

Hello

Planning a last minute college and sightseeing trip the week of president’s day. Hope to visit Claremont McKenna, USC, and UCLA. I understand the fires are still raging so was curious if this will be an issue especially with UCLA? Or is it more we just won’t be able to see certain things or areas (like Santa Monica and Malibu and some of those coastal areas? And I see the Getty is closed)

Besides college visits would like to hit up Griffith Observatory (is night before?) and my younger daughter and I maybe Warner Bros studio. And then maybe Universal Studios on our free day.

So my question is what’s the best location to stay? I was thinking hollywood is close to UCLA and USC but a good hour from Claremont which doesn’t seem so bad.

And would you recommend combining two

College tours in a day or is that too dicey with LA traffic? I know we need a car for Claremont but would we need it for our whole stay?

And we would be flying from NYC to LAX. If we rent a car best to rent in LAX or later just for the Claremont trip? Thanks all!

Answer

For a 4-night trip to Los Angeles in February with a mix of college visits, sightseeing, and theme parks, careful planning is essential due to LA traffic and potential fire-affected areas. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help organize your trip.

1. Best Location to Stay

Given your itinerary—visiting USC, UCLA, Griffith Observatory, Warner Bros Studio, and possibly Universal Studios—Hollywood or West Hollywood would be a practical base. It puts you centrally for Hollywood-area attractions, UCLA, and USC is about a 20–30 minute drive depending on traffic. Claremont is further east (~50–60 minutes), so plan that as a dedicated day trip. Staying in Hollywood also gives easy access to Griffith Observatory and Warner Bros. Studios without long commutes.

Hollywood/West Hollywood: Central to UCLA, USC, Griffith Observatory, Warner Bros. Studios.
Santa Monica: Closer to UCLA but further from USC and Hollywood attractions.
Downtown LA: Close to USC, but Griffith and Universal are further.

2. College Visits

Combining two college tours in one day can work if you plan carefully, but LA traffic is notoriously unpredictable. Here’s a suggested approach:

Day 1: UCLA in the morning, USC in the afternoon. Traffic between the two campuses can vary; leave at least 1–1.5 hours buffer.
Day 2: Claremont College visit as a standalone day. Consider renting a car just for this day if you don’t plan to drive much otherwise.

3. Car Rental Strategy

If you plan mainly to stay in Hollywood and visit local attractions, a car is optional—you could rely on rideshare (Uber/Lyft) for UCLA, USC, Griffith, and Warner Bros.
For Claremont, a car is strongly recommended. You can either rent at LAX upon arrival or rent for just that day if a daily rental is available.
Consider parking fees and availability in Hollywood; some hotels offer parking but check rates.

4. Sightseeing Tips

Griffith Observatory: Visit either early evening or late afternoon for sunset views. Weekdays are less crowded.
Warner Bros Studio: Book tours in advance; mid-morning slots are convenient if visiting after UCLA or USC.
Universal Studios: Dedicate a full day. Arrive at opening to minimize waits. Using Genie+ can optimize ride experiences.
Santa Monica, Malibu, Getty Museum: Depending on fire impact, these may be closed or have restricted access. Check official sources closer to your trip.

5. Fire Considerations

In February, most wildfire risk is lower than peak summer/fall. However, closures or poor air quality could affect some areas. UCLA and Hollywood attractions are unlikely to be affected, but coastal areas like Malibu or certain scenic drives may be restricted. Always check current conditions before heading out.

Summary Recommendation:

Base yourself in Hollywood for central access.
Use rideshare locally; rent a car for Claremont day trip.
Plan UCLA and USC on the same day but leave buffer for traffic.
Griffith Observatory and Warner Bros can be visited on different half-days.
Universal Studios deserves a full day.

This strategy balances sightseeing, college visits, and minimizes stress from LA traffic while giving flexibility if fire-affected areas require adjustments.

4 nights in Feb

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