Overview
South Los Angeles is a large region of Los Angeles made up of the neighborhoods south of Downtown L.A. This is a relatively impoverished area of the city, infamous for gang violence and for being the epicenter of major race riots in the 1960s and 1990s. However, despite its negative reputation, it would be a mistake to overlook South Los Angeles; the crime rate has improved considerably and the area offers some wonderful cultural attractions for visitors. This is where you will find the campus of the University of Southern California, the museums and stadiums of Exposition Park, the famous Watts Towers, and significant centers of African-American culture.
9 sights · 2 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about South
Watts Towers of Simon Rodia
A notable example of non-traditional vernacular architecture and naïve art, the Watts Towers are a series of 17 interconnected structures, two of which reach heights of over 99 feet (30 m). All of the structures were bui…
Leimert Park
A famous center for Los Angeles' African-American culture, this neighborhood (just south of Crenshaw/Martin Luther King- accessible by bus) is a must-see if in the area, with shops, restaurants, art galleries, and perfor…
USC Fisher Museum of Art
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
A crown jewel of Los Angeles' museums and a national leader in exhibitions, education and research, this museum dates back to 1913 and was L.A.'s first cultural institution to open its doors to the public. It's the large…
California Science Center
A huge science museum with lots of interactive science exhibits and a rather impressive air and spacecraft collection. The museum's large exhibit galleries cover technology and biology, with highlights including a high w…
California African American Museum
It focuses on enrichment and education on the cultural heritage and history of African Americans with a focus on California and the western United States.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jan–Dec. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 48°F. Wettest: Feb and Jan.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- HHR Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne — 5 mi away. Directions
- LAX Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles — 7 mi away (major hub). Directions
The closest airport to this region by far is Los Angeles International Airport; incoming flights to LAX fly over parts of this region en route.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $85–$85 a night (typical $90), from 2 listed prices.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$130, mid-range ~$160, comfortable ~$250.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning USC Fisher Museum of Art, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California Science Center
- Lunch Ono Hawaiian BBQ
- Afternoon Exposition Park Rose Garden, California African American Museum
- Evening La Barca
Day 2
- Morning Leimert Park
- Afternoon Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
Day 3
- Morning Watts Towers of Simon Rodia
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
There are several distinct neighborhoods within South Los Angeles
- Baldwin Hills, Crenshaw and Leimert Park are in the western part of South L.A., near the intersection of Crenshaw Blvd and MLK Jr Boulevard. These are three upscale African-American neighborhoods
- Exposition Park is the neighborhood near the park of the same name. It overlaps with University Park, the name used to refer to the area around USC and just north of it
- Historic South Central is in the northeastern part of South L.A., along Central Avenue between the 10 and Slauson. Decades ago, this was the epicenter of L.A.'s jazz scene
- Watts is in the southeastern part of South Los Angeles, near 103rd Street and Grandee Avenue
- West Adams stretches along Adams Boulevard between Figueroa and Fairfax. It contains many historic fancy homes.
Climate
Get in
The closest airport to this region by far is Los Angeles International Airport; incoming flights to LAX fly over parts of this region en route.
South L.A. is characterized by a grid system of streets spread across a vast area. The major streets are wide enough to prevent too much traffic congestion, although they can make walking a challenge. However, most of the major streets have bus service running at 15 minutes or better headway.
Three freeways serve South LA: the 10 Freeway runs east-west through the northern part of South LA, the 105 Freeway runs east-west through the southern part of South LA, and the 110 Freeway runs north-south through the center of South LA.
Major east-west streets include: Adams Blvd (Metro 37), Jefferson Blvd, Obama Blvd, Martin Luther King Jr Blvd (Metro 40), Vernon Avenue (Metro 105), Slauson Ave (Metro 108), Gage Ave (Metro 110), Florence Ave (Metro 111), Manchester Ave (Metro 115) and Century Blvd (Metro 117).
Major north-south streets include: La Cienega Blvd, La Brea Ave (Metro 212), Crenshaw Blvd (Metro 210), Western Ave (Metro 207), Normandie Ave (Metro 206), Vermont Ave (Metro 204/Rapid 754) Figueroa St (Metro 81), Broadway (Metro 45), Main Street, Avalon Blvd (Metro 51), Central Ave (Metro 53) and Alameda St.
Metro operates public transit in L.A., and the bus system in South L.A. is well-developed, with frequent service on most major streets. Four rail lines and a BRT also serve South Los Angeles: The Line runs north-south between Downtown and Long Beach and offers easy metro access to the Watts Towers. The Line also connects the area to Downtown, serving Exposition Park and the USC campus before heading west along Exposition Blvd to Culver City and Santa Monica. The Line cuts east-west through the southernmost part of the area, running down the median of the 105 Freeway and connecting with the Blue Line at Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station before ending near the airport. The Line runs along Crenshaw Blvd and Florence Ave, connecting the C and E lines. Additionally, the Line express bus line operates on a busway along the 110 Freeway, running through the area between Downtown and San Pedro; note that the J Line requires an extra fare in addition to the standard Metro fare.
See
See Watts Towers of Simon Rodia
A notable example of non-traditional vernacular architecture and naïve art, the Watts Towers are a series of 17 interconnected structures, two of which reach heights of over 99 feet (30 m). All of the structures were built using salvaged materials and embedded with found objects, such as glass, ceramic tiles, and seashells, often arranged in elaborate displays. Next to the towers is a small museum and a cultural center. Guided tours are available for a fee and at limited hours, but you can always view the towers from the outside for free.
See Leimert Park
A famous center for Los Angeles' African-American culture, this neighborhood (just south of Crenshaw/Martin Luther King- accessible by bus) is a must-see if in the area, with shops, restaurants, art galleries, and performance venues catering to the city's African-American population. A quick sidetrip into nearby Baldwin Hills offers beautiful views of Downtown Los Angeles and a nice peek at lifestyles in the "Black Beverly Hills".
Exposition Park
Just south of the University of Southern California campus, in a square formed by Exposition Boulevard, Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, Vermont Avenue, and Figueroa Street, is this complex of stadiums, museums, and gardens (including a massive rose garden) that make up one of the primary attractions in the area.
See Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
A crown jewel of Los Angeles' museums and a national leader in exhibitions, education and research, this museum dates back to 1913 and was L.A.'s first cultural institution to open its doors to the public. It's the largest natural and historical museum in the Western United States, safeguarding more than 35 million spectacular, diverse specimens and artifacts. Exhibits on display include lots of dinosaur and ancient mammal skeletons, taxidermy figures, a gallery on the history of Los Angeles, a gem and mineral hall, interactive exhibits for children, and an outdoor nature garden.
See California Science Center
A huge science museum with lots of interactive science exhibits and a rather impressive air and spacecraft collection. The museum's large exhibit galleries cover technology and biology, with highlights including a high wire bicycle, a surgery simulator, an aquarium with a kelp forest and a touch tank, and fighter jets and other aircraft on display. The highlight of the museum's spacecraft collection is the Space Shuttle Endeavour, one of only three remaining craft from the retired American space shuttle fleet (free timed reservations are required). The museum also holds an IMAX theater and travelling exhibitions. Best times to visit are weekdays after 1:30PM or weekends, since weekdays before 1:30PM are often busy with school groups.
See Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
A historic stadium that opened in 1923 and is the home of the USC Trojans football team. It served as home to the NFL's Los Angeles Rams at two different times—first from their arrival in L.A. in 1946 until 1979, after which they moved to Anaheim, and then from their 2016 return from St. Louis until their current SoFi Stadium in Inglewood opened in 2020. Over the Coliseum's history, it has hosted the opening ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics, the Los Angeles Dodgers for their first four years in L.A., the UCLA Bruins football team before their move to the Rose Bowl, and many of L.A.'s other previous football franchises, as well as several other pro football teams and a number of soccer teams. It will also host the track and field events and opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Olympics alongside SoFi Stadium. The east side of the stadium holds the Olympic cauldron (which is still lit for special occasions) overlooking a "Court of Honor" outside the stadium with plaques commemorating memorial events in the history of the Coliseum.
See BMO Stadium
A stadium that opened in April 2018 as Banc of California Stadium and was renamed as BMO Stadium in 2023. It has hosted the Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC since that team began play in 2018, and became the home of Angel City FC in the National Women's Soccer League in 2022. It will also be one of several soccer venues for the 2028 Olympics.
Do
Do Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
A state park atop the Baldwin Hills, with marvelous views overlooking much of the Los Angeles Basin and some challenging hiking trails. Other amenities include sports fields, a fishing lake, picnic areas, a Japanese garden, and a visitor center. A shuttle connects the park with the La Cienga/Jefferson Metro Expo Line station on weekends and holidays.
- University of Southern California hosts many musical and theatrical performances throughout the year that are free or cheap. USC football games are one option. Tickets can be purchased on campus at the Ticket Office next to Tommy Trojan, but can sometimes be hard to come by.
- Go to a Baptist (or AME) African-American Church for a peek into local spiritual culture.
- Go to a Leimert Park coffee shop at night for some spoken word or freestyle rap.
Buy
Eat
Eat Ono Hawaiian BBQ
Hawaiian bbq with your favorites like musubi and chicken katsu and macaroni salad.
Drink
Lots of cheap bars abound. For a peek into Greek university student life head to the 2-9 a few blocks west of Figueroa (just north of USC) or the 9-0 right on Figueroa (USC students' favorite dive).
Drink La Barca
Another favorite hangout of USC students, locals, and law enforcement officers alike. Although it is actually a restaurant, La Barca is famous for its "two dollar Tuesdays", when you can get strong and delicious margaritas and piña coladas for under three dollars. Expect a long line for seating on Tuesdays.
Sleep
Sleeping accommodations in South Los Angeles are fairly limited, except in the USC/Expo Park area. Additional hotels are located in Downtown LA, the Westside and near LAX Airport.
Stay safe
South L.A. has long had a reputation for violence. It was the scene of the 1992 L.A. riots and is known for producing the Bloods, Crips, and other notorious gangs. Although its reputation has preceded itself over the past couple of decades, it's no longer quite as dangerous or violent as some might suggest — though it's still not really a destination for the average tourist. While muggings still occur, most happen at night on smaller streets. Stay in groups of at least three if you must be on foot.
Go next
The cities and neighborhoods that border South Los Angeles include the following:
- Downtown LA - Located northeast of South Los Angeles, downtown Los Angeles has been revitalized, and is now home to the impressive architecture of Disney Concert Hall, sporting and concert events at the Crypto.com Arena, and a variety of dining and lodging options.
- Wilshire District - Located to the north of South Los Angeles, the Wilshire district is home to Koreatown, as well as attractions that include the LA County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Peterson Auto Museum, and the world-famous La Brae Tar Pits.
- Culver City - South Los Angeles' western neighbor is a city that features an ever-increasing array of impressive dining options and is home to Sony Pictures Studios.
- Inglewood - Located southwest of South Los Angeles, Inglewood is a tough neighborhood but attracts some visitors to sites such as the landmark Randy's Donuts.
- Hawthorne - Bordering South Los Angeles to the southwest, Hawthorne is home to several aerospace companies including SpaceX, and is an option for those needing lodging near Los Angeles International Airport.
- Gardena - Gardena is a residential community that borders South Los Angeles to the southwest.
- Carson - South Los Angeles' southern neighbor is the home to the LA Galaxy soccer team, which plays at Dignity Health Sports Park. The NFL's Los Angeles Chargers are also playing at that stadium until they move into the Rams' new Inglewood stadium in 2020.
- Compton - A rough neighborhood located to the south of South Los Angeles, Compton has been the home of numerous hip-hop and rap musicians, as well as tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.
- Lynwood - The city of Lynwood is South Los Angeles' southeastern neighbor.
- Gateway Cities - The Gateway Cities of South Gate and Huntington Park border South Los Angeles to the east.
Nearby
Inglewood
City / town · 22 listings · 4 mi away
Huntington Park
City / town · 2 listings · 4 mi away
Culver City
City / town · 58 listings · 6 mi away
Hawthorne
City / town · 9 listings · 6 mi away
Westchester
City / town · 17 listings · 6 mi away
Gardena
City / town · 9 listings · 7 mi away
Lynwood
City / town · 1 listings · 7 mi away
West Hollywood
City / town · 40 listings · 8 mi away
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