USC Parent Travel Hub
USC Football Weekends 2026
USC ties its Trojan Family Weekend to a home game, but the 2026 date is not published yet, so this hub covers all the home Saturdays at the LA Memorial Coliseum. Los Angeles has huge hotel supply and the Metro E Line runs right to the stadium, so a car-free, campus-focused trip is easy. Here is everything you need to plan it.
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Start with the essentials
Lodging is the piece that fills up first, so it is worth locking in first.
The 2026 home game weekends
USC ties its Trojan Family Weekend to a home football Saturday, but the university has not published the 2026 date yet. In recent years it has landed anywhere from late September to early November, most likely a lower-key home game like Washington on October 3 or Maryland on November 21. Either way, you plan the trip around one of the seven home Saturdays at the LA Memorial Coliseum. Oregon on September 26 and Ohio State on October 31 are the marquee weekends.
Los Angeles has an enormous hotel supply, so you can almost always find a room, but the close-in, Metro-connected options near downtown fill first, and the marquee Oregon and Ohio State weekends push prices up well ahead. Book downtown or near-campus rooms early, or plan to ride the Metro E Line. Treat your chosen weekend as fixed and book lodging first, then sort out tickets.
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Tickets and Family Weekend
Trojan Family Weekend attaches to a home game whose 2026 date is still pending, so pick your weekend, then line up tickets and lodging in that order.
Pick your weekend
Choose from the seven home Saturdays below. Oregon (September 26) and Ohio State (October 31) are the marquee games, so if you want one of those, plan the furthest ahead. Trojan Family Weekend will attach to a home game, most likely Washington (October 3) or Maryland (November 21).
Get tickets
USC home games draw well, and Oregon and Ohio State are the toughest tickets of the home slate. Buy early through the USC ticket office, and plan the resale market as your backup. The Trojan Family Weekend tailgate, when the date is set, is a separate paid add-on.
Lock lodging before both
You do not need tickets in hand to book a refundable room. The close-in options fill first, so reserve early and adjust later.
When hotels sell out (and how to beat it)
Los Angeles has one of the deepest hotel supplies in the country, so you can almost always find a room, but the close-in options near downtown and campus fill first, and the Oregon and Ohio State weekends raise prices across the board.
Book now, cancel later
Reserve a refundable room today even if your plans are not final. On a busy weekend the price only climbs, and the closest rooms disappear first.
Widen the radius
Downtown LA is the practical base, connected to the Coliseum by the Metro E Line, but the westside near Santa Monica, Pasadena, Hollywood, and the airport area all hold rooms and sit on or near transit. Whole-home rentals across the city are a strong option for families.
Watch the minimum-night rules
Many hotels require two or three nights on a game or Family Weekend. A whole-home rental can be the more flexible option.
Where to stay: the parent lodging map
UniversityParent may earn a commission on bookings made through this map, at no extra cost to you.
This is the part generic travel sites cannot produce at scale. Every area around Los Angeles, what it is best for, roughly how far it is from campus, and how much lodging actually exists there. Drive times are approximate, and in LA the traffic matters more than the distance.
| Area | Drive to campus | Best for | Typical price | Hotel density |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown LA (DTLA) | 10 to 20 min | The practical base, most hotels, E Line to the Coliseum | $$ to $$$ | High |
| Near campus / USC Village | Walk to the Coliseum | Walking to campus and the stadium | $$ to $$$ | Low, books early |
| Santa Monica / westside | 30 to 60 min | The beach, with the E Line to campus | $$$ to $$$$ | High |
| Pasadena | 25 to 50 min | A quieter, charming base to the northeast | $$ to $$$ | Medium |
| Near LAX | 25 to 45 min | Cheapest chains and easy flights | $ to $$ | High |
| Home rentals | Varies | Whole-home rentals across the city | $$ to $$$ | Rentals |
Compare hotels and rentals near campus
The Where to Stay table above shows which areas fit your plan. Our interactive lodging map below shows live options near campus and downtown, so you can lock in a refundable room before it fills.
Our interactive lodging map below shows options near campus and downtown, set to the Oregon weekend (high demand). Change the dates on the map for your game. The close-in, transit-connected rooms fill first, so book early.
Booking through the map above supports UniversityParent at no extra cost to you.
2026 USC home football schedule
USC plays seven home games at the LA Memorial Coliseum in 2026, its third season in the Big Ten. Oregon on September 26 and Ohio State on Halloween are the marquee home weekends, so plan those the furthest ahead. Trojan Family Weekend will attach to one of these home Saturdays, with the 2026 date still pending.
| Date | Opponent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Aug 29 | San Jose State | Season opener |
| Sat, Sept 5 | Fresno State | Non-conference |
| Sat, Sept 12 | Louisiana | Non-conference |
| Sat, Sept 26 | Oregon | Marquee Big Ten, high demand |
| Sat, Oct 3 | Washington | Big Ten, likely Family Weekend |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Ohio State | Marquee Big Ten, Halloween |
| Sat, Nov 21 | Maryland | Big Ten, likely Family Weekend |
The Notre Dame rivalry is paused starting in 2026, so it is not on the schedule, and the UCLA crosstown rivalry is away at the Rose Bowl on November 28. Kickoff times are set by the Big Ten and TV networks about two weeks out.
Closest airports
Los Angeles International is the default, and the Metro E Line now connects toward campus and the Coliseum. Burbank, Long Beach, and Orange County are worth a fare check, and traffic matters more than distance in LA.
| Airport | Distance | Drive time | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAX Los Angeles International | About 13 mi | About 30 to 45 min | Your default, the most flights, with rail toward campus. |
| BUR Hollywood Burbank | About 20 mi | About 30 to 55 min | Easy and low-hassle, good from the north. |
| LGB Long Beach | About 25 mi | About 30 to 55 min | Small and pleasant, good from the south. |
| SNA John Wayne (Orange County) | About 40 mi | About 45 to 80 min | Worth it mainly if staying in Orange County. |
Find flights
Search Los Angeles International (LAX) first, since it has the most flights and now connects by rail toward campus. Burbank, Long Beach, and Orange County are worth a fare check, and in LA the traffic, not the distance, is the real variable.
Kiwi.com searches hundreds of airlines at once, including the budget carriers many sites skip.
Rental cars
You may not need a car. The Metro E Line connects downtown and Santa Monica to stations right at the Coliseum, and rideshare covers the gaps, so a campus-focused trip works without one. A car helps if you plan to roam to the Getty, Griffith, or the beaches, but LA traffic is the real headache.
If you do want a car, GetRentACar compares the rental companies at LAX in one search. For a campus-focused weekend, the Metro E Line and rideshare cover it without one.
Things to do around Los Angeles
A home game weekend is really Friday afternoon to Sunday. Here is how families fill the non-game hours, plus a module for tours and tickets.
California Science Center
Home of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, with free general admission, a short walk from campus and the Coliseum.
Natural History Museum
Dinosaurs, gems, and LA history, right next to the Coliseum and steps from campus.
Griffith Observatory
Iconic hilltop views of the LA basin and the Hollywood Sign, free to enter.
Santa Monica Pier
The classic oceanfront boardwalk and Ferris wheel, at the western end of the Metro E Line.
For tours, attractions, and city passes across Los Angeles, from the Getty to the beaches, these cover the non-game hours.
Where to eat
A short, honest list of parent-friendly spots. Reservations are essential for a busy Saturday, so book the moment your dates are set.
USC Village dining
The casual walkable dining row right at campus, an easy pre-game bite by the Coliseum.
Grand Central Market
A historic downtown food hall with dozens of vendors, crowd-pleasing and central to the downtown hotels.
Musso & Frank Grill
An iconic old-Hollywood grill for a memorable parents’ dinner. Reserve ahead.
Game-day parking and getting around
Parking is the part that trips up first-time visiting families, because game-day rules differ from a normal campus visit.
Ride the Metro E Line
The smartest game-day move. Two stations, Expo Park/USC and Expo/Vermont, sit right at the Coliseum, with the line running from Santa Monica through downtown, so you can skip driving and parking entirely. Load round-trip fare before the game to beat the post-game lines.
Pre-pay parking if you drive
Game-day parking is in campus and Exposition Park lots, and day-of spots fill and spike. Reserve a lot in advance through the USC ticket office or the official vendor, and arrive early.
Use rideshare zones
Rideshare uses designated pickup and drop-off zones near Exposition Park, with surge pricing right after the game. Walking a few blocks out or taking the E Line is usually faster.
A sample weekend itinerary
A relaxed template you can adjust once your plans are set.
- Afternoon: Fly into LAX, ride the rail or drive to your hotel, check in.
- Late afternoon: Meet your student, walk campus and USC Village.
- Evening: Dinner downtown or near campus (reserve ahead).
- Morning: The California Science Center or the Natural History Museum by campus.
- Midday: Take the Metro E Line to the Coliseum.
- Kickoff: The game at the LA Memorial Coliseum (confirm time the week of).
- Evening: Late dinner downtown, or head to Hollywood.
- Morning: Slow breakfast, one last campus walk, restock your student’s essentials.
- Midday: Fly out of LAX, or add a Santa Monica or Griffith Observatory stop.
What parents should pack
Los Angeles falls are warm, sunny, and dry. September and early October can be genuinely hot, and the Coliseum is open-air, so plan for sun at a day game. Late October and November are milder, so you will not need winter gear.
- USC cardinal and gold
- Light, breathable clothing for a warm day game
- Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses
- A light layer for a cooler evening
- Comfortable walking shoes for campus and the museums
- Clear stadium-approved bag
- Refillable water bottle
- Portable phone charger
- A TAP card or contactless pay for the Metro E Line
- A little cash for parking or rideshare
Frequently asked questions
Does USC hold a fall Family Weekend?
Yes, Trojan Family Weekend is tied to a home football game, but USC has not published the 2026 date yet. It has recently landed between late September and early November, most likely a lower-key home game like Washington on October 3 or Maryland on November 21. Watch the USC families page for the announcement.
Which home game should I come to?
Oregon (September 26) and Ohio State (October 31) are the marquee home games and toughest tickets. Washington (October 3) and Maryland (November 21) are the likely Family Weekend candidates and easier on tickets and lodging.
What is the closest airport?
Los Angeles International (LAX), about thirteen miles away, and the Metro E Line now connects toward campus and the Coliseum. Burbank, Long Beach, and Orange County are worth a fare check.
Do I need a rental car?
Not for a campus-focused trip. The Metro E Line connects downtown and Santa Monica to stations at the Coliseum, and rideshare covers the gaps. A car helps for wider sightseeing, but LA traffic is the real headache.
Where should I stay?
Downtown LA is the practical base, close to campus and connected to the Coliseum by the Metro E Line. The westside near Santa Monica, Pasadena, Hollywood, and the airport all hold rooms and sit on or near transit. Near-campus rooms are limited and book early.
What is the weather like?
Warm, sunny, and dry. September and early October can be hot at a day game in the open-air Coliseum, so bring sun protection. November is milder, and you will not need winter gear.
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