Overview
Exposition Park is a roughly 160-acre public park and civic campus located in South Los Angeles, directly south of the University of Southern California (USC). It sits within the City of Los Angeles and is managed in part by the State of California and various independent institutions. The park functions as a rare convergence of natural history, science, sports history, and green space within one walkable footprint.
The park's anchor institutions—the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the California Science Center, and the California African American Museum—draw millions of visitors annually and serve both local communities and tourists. These museums are clustered together, making the park unusually efficient for a half- or full-day visit.
Exposition Park also contains the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, one of the most historically significant sports stadiums in the United States, having hosted two Summer Olympic Games (1932 and 1984) and scheduled to host events again for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The adjacent Banc of California Stadium (now known as BMO Stadium) is home to LA FC. The combination of cultural institutions and major sporting venues gives the park a layered identity few urban parks can match.
The surrounding neighborhood is a working-class, predominantly Latino and Black community. Visitors should approach it with the same awareness they'd bring to any dense urban environment—respectful, attentive, and curious.
Before You Go
Visas
Exposition Park is located in the United States. For visa requirements, visit TravelerPulse's Visas section and check the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website (uscis.gov) or the U.S. Department of State travel portal for the most current entry requirements for your nationality.
What to Know Before Arriving
- Admission varies by institution. The California Science Center's permanent galleries are free; special exhibitions and IMAX require tickets. The Natural History Museum and California African American Museum have their own admission structures—verify current prices and hours on each institution's official website before visiting.
- Parking is available in dedicated lots around the park, but fills quickly on event days. Fees apply; verify current rates on-site or via the LA County or California Science Center websites.
- Weekend and event-day crowds are significantly heavier, particularly when USC hosts football games or concerts are scheduled at the Coliseum.
- The Rose Garden (formally the Exposition Park Rose Garden) is a separate, gated area within the park. It is free to enter but has its own seasonal hours; it is at its most spectacular during peak bloom, typically April through June.
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended—navigating all major attractions involves meaningful walking across open plazas.
Getting There
By Metro Rail
The Los Angeles Metro Expo Line (E Line) stops at Expo Park/USC station, placing visitors within a short walk of the park's main institutions. This is the most reliable and traffic-free way to arrive from Downtown LA, Santa Monica, or Culver City. Verify current schedules and fares at metro.net.
By Bus
Multiple Metro and LADOT bus lines serve Figueroa Street and Exposition Boulevard, which border the park. Check metro.net or ladottransit.com for current route information.
By Car
Exposition Park is accessible via the I-110 (Harbor Freeway) and surface streets including Figueroa Street and Vermont Avenue. On-site and nearby paid parking lots exist, but expect congestion on event days. GPS navigation to 700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037 will orient most drivers correctly.
From LAX
Los Angeles International Airport is approximately 10–12 miles west of Exposition Park. Travel time varies widely depending on traffic. Options include rideshare services, the FlyAway bus to Union Station with a Metro connection, or rental car. Verify current FlyAway schedules at lawa.org.
Getting Around
Exposition Park is compact and walkable. All major museums, the Rose Garden, and the stadium entrance areas are reachable on foot once you are inside the park grounds. Wide pedestrian plazas connect the California Science Center, Natural History Museum, and California African American Museum.
Beyond the park itself, the surrounding neighborhood is navigable on foot for short distances. For broader Los Angeles exploration, the Metro E Line makes Culver City, Downtown LA, and Santa Monica straightforward destinations without a car. Rideshare services (Uber, Lyft) are widely available throughout the area.
Bicycle parking is available in the park. The park sits near several protected bike lanes on Figueroa Street, which connect to a broader network of LA bike infrastructure, though cycling conditions vary by route.
Things to See & Do
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
One of the largest natural history museums in the United States, this institution houses extensive collections covering dinosaur fossils, North American and African mammals, gems and minerals, pre-Columbian artifacts, and California history. The museum building itself, dating to 1913, is architecturally significant. Verify current admission fees and hours at nhm.org.
California Science Center
Home to Space Shuttle Endeavour, one of only four remaining Space Shuttle orbiters on public display in the country. The shuttle is displayed in the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center (verify current exhibit status as expansion phases are ongoing). Permanent science galleries are free; IMAX and special exhibitions require paid tickets. Visit californiasciencecenter.org for current details.
California African American Museum (CAAM)
A state-funded museum dedicated to the art, history, and culture of African Americans, with particular emphasis on California and the Western United States. Admission is free. Check caamuseum.org for current exhibition listings.
Exposition Park Rose Garden
A sunken formal garden containing thousands of rose varieties. It is one of the older public rose gardens in Southern California and is a quiet, photogenic retreat from the busier museum plazas. Seasonal hours apply; verify before visiting.
LA Memorial Coliseum and BMO Stadium
- The Coliseum hosts USC Trojans football, LA Rams NFL games (verify current tenants as schedules change), and major events. Stadium tours are occasionally available—check lacoliseum.com.
- BMO Stadium (formerly Banc of California Stadium) is the dedicated soccer-specific home of LAFC. Match schedules are at lafc.com.
Events and Festivals
The park hosts community events, cultural celebrations, and occasional outdoor concerts throughout the year. Check the City of Los Angeles and individual institution websites for current event calendars.
Food & Drink
Exposition Park itself has limited dedicated dining. Cafeteria-style or café options exist within the Natural History Museum and California Science Center; quality and hours vary—treat these as convenience options rather than culinary destinations.
For more substantial meals, the blocks immediately surrounding the park—particularly along Figueroa Street and Hooper Avenue—offer a range of casual, affordable restaurants reflecting the area's predominantly Latino community. Taquerías, Mexican bakeries (panaderías), and pupuserías are common in the adjacent streets and are generally excellent value.
Downtown Los Angeles, reachable in minutes by Metro or rideshare, offers a far wider range of dining options across all price points. If visiting USC's campus nearby, the area around University Avenue and Figueroa also has student-oriented cafes and fast-casual dining.
Practical Information
Emergency Services
In any emergency in the United States, dial 911 for police, fire, or ambulance.
Accessibility
All three major museums are committed to accessibility and provide wheelchair access, accessible restrooms, and other accommodations. Contact individual institutions in advance if you have specific needs. The Metro E Line stations serving the park are ADA-accessible.
Best Visiting Strategy
- Arrive early, especially on weekends or event days.
- The three museums can be combined in a single day, but each warrants at least 2–3 hours for a meaningful visit. Prioritize based on your interests.
- Bring water, particularly in summer when the open plazas can be warm.
- Cell service is generally reliable throughout the park.
Money and Payments
Credit and debit cards are accepted at all major institutions. Some street food vendors near the park may prefer cash.
Weather
Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are warm and dry (often 80–95°F / 27–35°C). Winters are mild with occasional rain (50–65°F / 10–18°C). The park has limited shade in open areas, so sun protection is advisable year-round.
Safety
Exposition Park itself, during daylight museum hours, is generally safe and well-staffed by security personnel at individual institutions. The park is a family-oriented destination.
The surrounding South LA neighborhood has historically had higher crime rates than some other parts of Los Angeles. Exercise standard urban awareness: be mindful of your surroundings, secure valuables, and avoid displaying expensive equipment unnecessarily. Arriving and departing via Metro reduces the need to navigate unfamiliar streets.
On event days (particularly Coliseum game days), large crowd concentrations around the park can make parking areas and perimeter streets congested and occasionally chaotic. Plan your arrival and departure accordingly. LAPD presence is typically elevated on major event days.
Local Culture & Etiquette
Exposition Park occupies land with a layered history. The area has been home to one of Los Angeles's largest African American and Latino communities for much of the 20th century, and the park's cultural institutions—especially CAAM—reflect and serve those communities directly.
The 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games left a visible legacy in the Coliseum and surrounding infrastructure, giving the park an unusually prominent place in American sports history. With the 2028 Olympics approaching, this legacy is actively being renewed.
Visitors should be aware that the park borders a neighborhood that has faced significant socioeconomic challenges. Engaging respectfully with local businesses and residents, rather than treating the area purely as a transit corridor between museums, is both appropriate and enriching. The area's street food culture, murals, and community character are genuine aspects of Los Angeles that are often missed by visitors who stay in more tourist-concentrated zones.
