The University of California, Santa Cruz campus tour gives prospective students and families a way to see the main residential campus, either on a student-led walk or independently. UC Santa Cruz is about a 14-minute drive from Motel 6, a Santa Cruz hotel, and a little planning can help you arrive ready for the outdoor route.
- Campus address: 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064.
- Guided tour: Approximately 90 minutes and about 1.5 miles on foot.
- Route: Outdoors, with hills, stairs, uneven paths and forest trails.
- Parking: Visitor parking is available on campus; follow the instructions in your tour confirmation.
Choose the right campus visit
Choose a student-led General Walking Tour for a scheduled campus walk, or use the Self-Guided Tour if you cannot attend one.
UCSC offers student-led General Walking Tours with Student Life and University Guides (S.L.U.G.s). The walk takes approximately 90 minutes and covers about 1.5 miles outdoors. Expect hills, stairs, uneven paths and forest trails, so consider whether this route suits your group.
The tour does not go inside classrooms, residence halls or dining halls. For a visit that does not depend on a guided-tour time, the university also offers a mobile-accessible Self-Guided Tour.
UCSC offers in-person and virtual visits. Admissions events include in-person and virtual options in fall for prospective students and in spring for admitted students. If you are comparing visit formats, the University of California Santa Cruz visitor guide covers the broader campus visit.
How do you reserve a UC Santa Cruz tour?
Register for a General Walking Tour through the university’s campus-tour page, then use the online calendar to choose an available time.
Tour availability appears on the registration calendar. If your preferred date or time is full, you can join the online waitlist; the university will email you if a place opens. Make the reservation before planning your day around a specific tour time.
In-person group tours are offered to high schools, community colleges and other educational partners. Groups of 10 or more are asked to contact the Tours Office at visits@ucsc.edu or 831-459-4118.
Plan your arrival and parking
Arrive 30 minutes before your tour because it departs promptly within minutes of its listed start time.
Visitor parking is available on campus and requires payment through ParkMobile. Your tour confirmation email provides the parking instructions for your visit, so read it before setting out. The parking page names Lot 101 as the first option; if it is full, the next options are East Campus Athletics & Recreation Lot 103A and then Arts Lot 126.
Parking may be affected during peak periods, generally mid-March through April and October through November. Weekend tour visitors do not need to pay for parking, according to the university’s tour-parking information.
Drivers from Highway 1 follow Mission Street and then turn right onto Bay Street to reach the campus entrance. Highways 1 and 17 serve UC Santa Cruz. If you are arriving through Norman Y.
Mineta San Jose International Airport, plan that leg of the trip with this guide to getting from San Jose Airport to Santa Cruz. Shuttles and buses provide transportation across campus and between the colleges and academic centers.
What should you bring and expect?
Bring comfortable walking shoes, water, layers and clothing suited to the weather for the outdoor tour.
The route’s hills, stairs and uneven paths make footwear and clothing worth planning in advance. Keep the approximately 90-minute duration in mind when organizing the rest of your visit; the tour does not include indoor access to classrooms, residence halls or dining halls.
If you need mobility accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, contact the Tours Office at visits@ucsc.edu or 831-459-4118 at least five business days before the scheduled tour. The university’s parking guidance separately asks visitors with mobility issues to email visits@ucsc.edu at least seven days before their visit. Contact the office early so you can discuss your needs.
What if a guided tour is unavailable?
Use the mobile-accessible Self-Guided Tour if you cannot attend a student-led visit.
Check the registration calendar for openings or join the waitlist if your preferred tour time is full. If you register, note that tours may occasionally be canceled because of circumstances such as severe weather, natural disasters, strikes, protests or other health and safety concerns; registered guests will be notified if a tour is canceled.
Before you go, check the official site for current tour registration and parking instructions.
FAQs
How long is a UC Santa Cruz General Walking Tour?
It takes approximately 90 minutes and covers about 1.5 miles. The route is outdoors and includes hills, stairs, uneven paths and forest trails.
Can you visit UC Santa Cruz without a guided tour?
Yes. The university offers a mobile-accessible Self-Guided Tour for visitors who cannot attend a student-led tour.
Does the campus tour go inside residence halls?
No. General Walking Tours do not include classroom, residence hall or dining hall interiors.
Where is the UC Santa Cruz main residential campus?
The main residential campus is at 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064.