Santa Cruz Communities
Santa Cruz neighborhoods
Westside
2.9 miles to campus
Vibe: Upper Westside near the base of campus is quiet and residential. Lower Westside/Circles has a mix of business and residential areas.
Highlights: Mission Street businesses, West Cliff Drive, Natural Bridges, Cowells and Steamer Lane.
Downtown
3.7 miles to campus
Vibe: Bustling business district and leafy lanes.
Highlights: Pacific Avenue shopping, restaurants, cafes, movie theaters, grocery stores, and the Santa Cruz Metro.
Seabright & Midtown
5 miles to campus
Vibe: Vibrant, friendly neighborhood with a mix of residential areas and shopping.
Highlights: Restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, small shops, and Seabright Beach.
Live Oak
6.1 miles to campus
Vibe: Bustling neighborhood with a mix of residential and business areas.
Highlights: Santa Cruz Harbor, Twin Lakes Beach, a weekly farmer’s market, and walking/biking trails in Arana Gulch.
Mid-county
Soquel
8.7 miles to campus
Vibe: Quiet residential areas and a small downtown.
Highlights: Antiques stores, restaurants and cafes. Anna Jean Cummings Park offers mixed-use trails and athletic fields.
Capitola
9 miles to campus
Vibe: Beach cottages and boutiques by the coast, higher density businesses and housing along 41st Avenue and Capitola Road.
Highlights: Capitola Village shopping and beachside restaurants, 41st Ave shopping and dining, Capitola Beach.
Aptos & Rio del Mar
11.5 miles to campus
Vibe: A mix of quiet residential neighborhoods and business areas stretching from the hills to the sea.
Highlights: Historic Aptos Village, hiking in Nisene Marks State Park, Seacliff State Beach.
North county & San Lorenzo Valley
Scotts Valley
9 miles to campus
Vibe: Quiet suburban community tucked into the redwoods.
Highlights: Shopping and dining, easy access to Highway 17, tennis courts and a skate park in Skypark, and walking and biking in Glenwood Preserve Open Space.
San Lorenzo Valley
10-16 miles to campus
Vibe: Small town life in the Santa Cruz Mountains – this area includes Felton, Ben Lomond, Brookdale, and Boulder Creek.
Highlights: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Roaring Camp Railroads, Felton Covered Bridge, Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Davenport & Bonny Doon
13 miles to campus
Vibe: Davenport is a small town just off Highway 1 on the north coast. Bonny Doon is a tiny community in the mountains.
Highlights: Lesser-known beaches and hiking trails, coastal u-pick farms, creative small shops and cafes in Davenport.
South county
Corralitos, Watsonville, Salinas
17-40 miles to campus
Vibe: From u-pick farms and winding country roads to expansive beaches and bustling business districts, South Santa Cruz County has a lot to offer.
Highlights: Manresa State Beach, shopping and dining in Watsonville, Byrne-Milliron Forest in Corralitos, and hiking, kayaking and birding in Elkhorn Slough.
Over Highway 17: San Jose and beyond
Los Gatos, Campbell, San Jose
29-38 miles to campus
Vibe: San Jose is a large city and major Silicon Valley tech hub. Driving over Highway 17 from Santa Cruz can feel like entering a different world!
Highlights: Indoor and outdoor shopping malls, Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, the Tech Museum of Innovation, Winchester Mystery House, and the largest skatepark in California at Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park.
How will you get to campus?
No matter where you choose to live, it’s important to explore your transportation options.
Santa Cruz Metro buses have routes within Santa Cruz County, and Highway 17 Express Commuter Service to downtown San Jose. Try out the route to an area you are considering in advance if possible.
UCSC Transportation & Parking Services (TAPS) also offers several options for commuting:
- BCycle e-bike share is a convenient, fun, and affordable way to get around Santa Cruz County.
- Vanpools serve home locations from San Jose to Monterey.
- Sharing driving duties with a housemate? Look into reduced price carpool parking permits.
- Biking to campus? Hop on a free bike shuttle from the westside to upper campus.
