routes/timing college visits

Question

Hi! Several months have passed since I last posted on here. We've changed what schools we want to visit after researching the schools in much more detail regarding scholarship eligibility, program details, etc. I also got a lot of advice about staying in one hotel, switching hotels, etc. We will do some switching, but will also spend more than one night at some of the same places. I also built in "fun" day. Our airline tickets are now booked, so our dates are set. Our college tours are also booked. We didn't have choices for most of the tour times, as the colleges only offer 1-2 a day. We will have a car. Three of us are in our travel group.

This is what I have currently. My specific questions are marked **:

Oct. 11 (Saturday): Fly in to Burbank. Overnight Hilton Garden Inn Burbank.

Oct. 12: Sleep in a bit, tour WB studio. Play the rest of the day by ear. Probably hit a grocery store to get snacks. **Any recs on where to buy groceries, or just Google it? Overnight HGI Burbank.

Oct. 13: 2:00PM tour Cal State Northridge. This is the only tour time option they offer. Overnight Channel Road Inn, Santa Monica. **Good places to eat near the CRI? I don't like anything really spicy. Daughter isn't really into foodie food. Budget is flexible.

Oct. 14: Tour Cal State Long Beach 2:00. Overnight CRI

Oct. 15: Tour Loyola Marymount 10:00AM general campus tour **What time would you leave the hotel in order to make the 10:00 tour?, 3:00 film school tour, Overnight CRI

Oct. 16: Tour UCLA 10:45. We are aware that she pretty much has zero chance of getting in here, however, we don't have any other schools we wish to look at and figured we might as well as long as we're in the area. **What time would you leave the hotel to get here? We know that parking will require extra time. Overnight CRI.

Oct. 17: Tour Chapman film school at 10:00 **What time would you leave in order to get here?, tour campus at 2:00 Overnight back at the original HGI in Burbank

Oct. 18: fly home

In summary, I'm mostly concerned about what time of day to leave in order to make the tours that are in the morning, while allowing for traffic. **I also have a friend who grew up in San Diego who has told us to stay off the freeways and take side streets. Good or bad advice, or does it just depend on time of day?

Thank you for your help, and I apologize for any ridiculous questions.

Answer

It looks like you have a busy but well-planned college tour schedule in Los Angeles. Here’s some detailed guidance for your questions, including timing, traffic considerations, dining, and grocery shopping.

Oct. 12 – Grocery Shopping in Burbank

For grocery shopping near Hilton Garden Inn Burbank, you can either Google nearby stores or try these convenient options:

Trader Joe’s – 600 N San Fernando Blvd, Burbank
Ralphs – 701 N Victory Blvd, Burbank
Vons – 2601 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank

All are within 5–10 minutes drive from your hotel and have ample parking. Using Google Maps is fine if you prefer to find something very close or if you want specific items.

Oct. 13–16 – Santa Monica / Los Angeles Area Tours

For each morning tour, it’s crucial to factor in LA traffic. In general, leaving early is better, especially for morning tours. Here are suggestions:

Oct. 13 – Cal State Northridge 2:00PM: Not morning, so traffic less of an issue. You could leave around 12:15–12:30PM from Burbank to allow parking, campus navigation, and a small buffer. Distance is ~20 miles, ~30–40 min without heavy traffic.
Restaurants near Channel Road Inn, Santa Monica:
- The Misfit Restaurant + Bar – casual American, easy options, walking distance.
- True Food Kitchen – healthy options, moderately priced, outdoor seating.
- Blue Plate Taco – casual, good for seafood and tacos, near the beach.
Oct. 15 – Loyola Marymount University: Morning tour at 10:00AM. From CRI, allow ~45–60 minutes to be safe for traffic and parking. Leave around 8:30–8:45AM. Afternoon tour at 3:00PM on same campus – you can plan lunch on campus or nearby.
Oct. 16 – UCLA 10:45AM: Morning traffic is heavier on the westside. Allow ~60–75 minutes from CRI, plus 15–20 minutes for parking. Recommend leaving by 9:00AM at the latest. Check UCLA’s campus map in advance for visitor parking.
Oct. 17 – Chapman University, Orange: Morning 10:00AM tour – this is in Orange County. From Burbank, expect 1hr 15–1hr 30 drive without major incidents, but traffic can vary. Leave by 8:00AM. Afternoon tour 2:00PM – no travel needed if same campus; otherwise factor 45–60 minutes if moving around.

Traffic / Freeway Advice

Your friend’s advice to avoid freeways can be situational. Here’s a guideline:

Side streets can be faster for short distances or if the freeway is heavily congested during rush hours (typically 7–9AM and 4–7PM).
For longer distances (e.g., Burbank to Orange County), freeways are generally the better choice despite congestion. Leave early to avoid peak hours.
Use real-time navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze – they can route around sudden slowdowns and accidents.

Additional Tips

Build in 10–15 minutes extra for parking, especially at large campuses.
Have a backup plan for lunch or snacks if campus dining is closed or crowded.
Check each university’s visitor parking website; some have reserved spots for tours.
Keep flexibility in your schedule for LA traffic unpredictability.

With this approach, you should have sufficient time for each tour, safe travel between hotels and campuses, and enjoyable meals along the way.