Live Your Best Life in Riverside, California
The City of Riverside is a vibrant college town that welcomes and supports a diverse community. UC Riverside (UCR) shares the city with over 15 other higher education institutes. This makes Riverside home to a mighty collection of college students who are attracted to the city’s perfect balance of small-town friendliness and big-city fun.
We’re talking about year-round Main Street festivals that celebrate everything and everyone. Thousands gather each year for our mesmerizing Fourth of July fireworks lit from the peak of our beloved Mount Rubidoux and month-long wintertime "Festival of Lights," hosted by the historic Mission Inn.
For everyday excitement, Riverside is rich with eclectic eateries, music venues, craft breweries, indie shops, and quaint boba and coffee houses — some owned and operated by UCR alumni.
But what people love the most about Riverside is the location! It’s in the heart of Southern California — only an hour's drive to beaches, deserts, mountains, and metropolitan cities.
A City for Fun-Seekers
Riverside offers art, adventure, nature, music, comedy, sports, and just about anything else you can think of to feed your mind, body, and soul. Broadway plays fresh from New York? We’ve got that. Heart-pounding concerts with world-famous headliners? We've got those, too! Serene hikes that bring you magically close to candy-colored sunrises and sunsets? You better believe we've got that!
We have your kind of fun:
- Downtown music, art, and cultural or food festivals throughout the year, like the Riverside Dickens Festival, Riverside Tamale Festival, and Riverside Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) — just to name a few.
- Monthly Riverside Artswalk, The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture, and UCR Arts with the California Museum of Photography and the Barbara & Art Culver Center of the Arts under one roof in downtown Riverside.
- Tour beautiful murals that tell the stories of Riverside, including Mariposa Alley.
- Take a colorful night ride downtown with the Riverside Electric Light Parade on the last Saturday of each month.
- LOL (laugh-out-loud) comedians showcased at the Fox Performing Arts Center, including Ali Wong and Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias.
- Affordable bowling and skating all over town.
- Karaoke spots all over town.
- Carnival rides, arcade games, and mini-golf at Castle Park.
- Miles of multi-level trails for hikes, bikes, and off-roading adventure.
- Yoga studios, health food centers, and many places for mindfulness and meditation.
- Feed ducks or peddle a boat around the lake at Fairmount Park or visit any of our many parks.
- Watch a movie at one of two drive-ins: Van Buren or Rubidoux.
Learn About the City of Riverside
Hear from Kaylee about what she loves most about Riverside and all about the Traditions Keeper program that encourages students to complete campus traditions.
See more segments from The College Tour.
277 Sunny Days
79.5°F (26.3°C) annual high temperature
20+
music, dancing, comedy and art venues around campus
Come to Riverside to study but stay for the scene!
#UCRLovesRiverside
Want to learn more about Riverside’s deep roots in the citrus industry? Visit the California Citrus State Historic Park, just 10 miles (17 km) from UCR.
A City for Foodies
There is no denying that Riverside’s diverse population plays a major role in the variety of cuisines offered around town. You'll find flavors to satisfy every cultural craving within walking distance of campus or quickly delivered to your door. Hungry for specialty food truck treats? They’re scattered all around the city. Keep your eyes (and noses) open.
Eats For Everyone
Quick and Affordable Bites
Whether you're looking for familiar flavors that remind you of home or want to try something new, Riverside definitely has it. You'll find 10+ pho/ramen spots, 20+ pizza places, 30+ burger joints or 40+ taco shops — all within two miles (3 km) of UCR.
Group Meals with Friends
Share a meal at one of the many fun restaurants that serve enormous plates of nachos, jumbo bowls of pho and all-you-can-eat Sunday brunches. Can't get the group to agree on one type of cuisine? Try Riverside Food Lab, a trendy food hall with 10+ different eateries to choose from.
Date Night & Sophisticated Palates
Treat yourself (or a special friend) to a meal at one of the many fine-dining restaurants that serve dishes like flambéed brie, bourbon maple glazed pork belly, cauliflower risotto, lobster bisque and goat cheese-filled squash blossoms.
In-N-Out has the best affordable burgers, fries and shakes, and it’s only 6 miles (9.5 km) from campus. Check out their "not-so-secret" menu for items like "animal style fries."
Grocery Stores + Farmers Markets
Whether your recipe is American, international or health-conscious, you’ll find a wide variety of ingredients at the 20+ fresh produce markets within 2 miles (3 km) of UCR. And don’t forget about the handful of farmers markets scattered around town throughout the week. This is where you’ll find local honey, handmade hummus, homegrown herbs and fresh-cut flowers.
Convenient Delivery Services
Riverside also participates in popular third-party delivery services like Instacart, Doordash, UberEats, GrubHub and Postmates — which can deliver foods and other necessities from just about any restaurant and store in the area within one hour. Perfect for students who don’t have a car or just want to enjoy the ease of these online delivery services.
Some pizza places deliver as late as midnight, while other restaurants around town are open 24/7 — which is perfect for late-night study sessions.
A Best City
Riverside is No. 7 on the Top 100 California-based city.
(America's Best Cities, 2023)
Diverse
Riverside ranks No. 9 in the BIPOC population category.
(America's Best Cities, 2023)
Inclusive
Riverside is No. 14 in the Foreign-Born Residents category.
(America's Best Cities, 2023)
High Quality
Riverside is the No. 6 California-based city in the Place* category.
*For the perceived quality of its natural and built environments, including weather, safety, neighborhoods and landmarks, and outdoors.
(America's Best Cities, 2022)
Learn more about how Riverside is an award-winning city!
A City Full of Help & Resources
UCR is surrounded by many resources and businesses that college students need when starting a new stage in life. You’ll find all your banking, grooming, cell phone and vehicle needs met within a few miles of campus. Local businesses value students and they’re ready to help.
Need to buy some new sheets for your bed or new clothes for yourself? No problem. Riverside has many malls, outlets, flea markets, vintage/antique shops and outdoor promenades that are only a short distance from campus.
We have two Target stores and one Walmart Supercenter within 5 miles (8 km) of UCR. These popular retailers carry everything from clothing, accessories, household necessities, kitchen appliances, furniture, food, personal care/beauty products, pet care, sports/outdoor equipment, video games, movies, music, books, electronics, school supplies and so much more.
A City to Call Home
We suggest that first-year students reserve their spot at one of UCR’s many residence halls or off-campus apartments to get the full college experience. But if you’d like to venture out on your own, these are near-to-campus neighborhoods that are most populated by UCR students. Learn about all of Riverside’s different neighborhoods on RiversideCA.gov
University District “College Living”
- Population – Majority of college students
- Housing – Many standard apartment complexes and multi-resident (roommate-style) homes
- Amenities – Student-serving businesses and many diverse restaurants
Canyon Crest “Suburban Living”
- Population – Mix of college students, young professionals, and families
- Housing – Mix of luxury condos, deluxe apartments, and single-family homes
- Amenities – “Everything-you-need” shopping center and parklike surroundings
Downtown “City Living”
- Population – Artists, musicians, young professionals, college students, and families
- Housing – Victorian homes renovated into apartments, luxury lofts, and Craftsman-style homes
- Amenities – Music venues, art galleries, nightlife, and many restaurants
The cost of living in Riverside is much lower than metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. This makes renting or sharing an off-campus apartment or house a lot more affordable.
A City to Work In
If you are looking for an internship, seasonal, part-time, or full-time job, you can start with Handshake, an online job search tool where you will find a list of job openings from local companies who are looking for students like you. Search from the comfort of your room 24/7 or, create a few search agents that will notify you via email when a match is made.
Inc. magazine ranked Riverside as the 16th best city in the country for job creation and wage growth (2020).
A City That’s Easy to Get Around In
Riverside supports many modes of transportation that are safe, affordable, and convenient. Many community members walk, skateboard, bike, or use motorized scooters*.
Transportation Do's:
- Get free Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) busses (by registering for a free mobile pass).
- Ride the Metrolink (with two stations within 3 miles of campus and with bus connections).
- Order Zipcar rental services.
- Schedule taxis, Uber, or Lyft.
- Ask friends with cars for a ride.
- Stay active by walking, biking, skateboarding, or using a manual scooter.
Transportation Dont's:
- *Motorized scooters are NOT permitted on campus. You can ride them through the city and to the edge of campus but not onto (or through) the campus.
- Due to limited parking availability on campus, first-year students who are living in UCR’s Residence Halls are prohibited from bringing a vehicle on campus.
Explore Surrounding Cities & Activities
Go solo. Invite friends. Or, find out how UCR’s Outdoor Excursions can help you visit some of these places.
Popular Points of Interest
We've collected some of the most frequented locations near (and not-so-near) campus that may be useful to students.
Click on the icon in the upper left-hand corner of this interactive Google map to view the full menu and select the layers/categories you want to see.
