UCLA Off-Campus Apartments With Pools: Student Housing Guide

Searching for apartments with pools near UCLA is one of the smartest ways to narrow a crowded Westwood housing market. A pool does more than look good in listing photos—it can turn a long study week into an afternoon reset, create an easy place to host roommates, and make warmer Los Angeles months feel manageable without relying only on campus facilities.

This guide focuses on live, blog-eligible off-campus options that list a pool among their amenities. You will see how to choose the right building, compare six current pool-friendly apartments on UniShack, and decide whether a short walk in Westwood or a short drive toward Santa Monica or Castle Heights better fits your routine. For a broader neighborhood overview, pair this with the Westwood Apartment Guide For UCLA Students. If everyday comforts matter as much as outdoor space, also skim Comfortable Student Apartments Near UCLA With Everyday Amenities.

Why a Pool Changes the Off-Campus Equation Near UCLA

UCLA students already juggle labs, discussion sections, jobs, and club calendars. Housing that supports recovery between those commitments tends to hold up better across a full academic year. A shared pool is a low-friction amenity: you do not need a gym membership to use it, you can cool down after a bike commute, and you get a built-in social space that is not a noisy living room.

Pools also signal building investment. Properties that maintain outdoor water amenities often also keep laundry rooms, gated entry, and parking packages in workable condition—because those buildings are competing for the same Bruin renters. That does not mean every pool property is luxurious. Some are compact Westwood buildings with a courtyard pool; others are larger communities farther from Bruin Bear with fitness centers, hot tubs, or BBQ areas wrapped around the pool deck.

Use the pool as a filter, not as the only decision. Commute time, rent structure, roommate count, and lease length still matter more than tile color. The goal is a home that supports your schedule and still gives you an outdoor reset when Westwood feels intense.

How to Choose Pool Apartments Near UCLA

Before you tour, write down your non-negotiables. Students who rush listing photos often discover too late that the pool is seasonal, that parking is not included, or that the “short drive” becomes a stressful daily pattern during midterms.

Commute and campus rhythm

Start from Bruin Bear and work outward. A seven- to fourteen-minute bike or a short walk keeps mornings flexible for 8 a.m. sections. A ten- to sixteen-minute drive can still work if you have a car, park reliably, and do not stack back-to-back early classes. Bike-friendly corridors along Levering, Veteran, and nearby Westwood streets reward students who want exercise baked into the commute. Drive-oriented picks toward Federal Avenue, Sunset Boulevard, Castle Heights, or Santa Monica trade proximity for larger amenity packages or quieter residential pockets.

Budget with real totals

Listed rent ranges on UniShack are a starting point. Add utilities, parking, internet, and any amenity fees before you compare buildings. A lower base rent with mandatory parking can exceed a higher all-in quote. Pool communities sometimes price amenities into rent; sometimes they do not. Ask directly during tour or message threads.

Amenities that pair well with a pool

Laundry onsite, gated entry, garage parking, air conditioning, and furnished options frequently appear alongside pools. If you care about fitness, look for buildings that combine pool and gym so you are not paying for a separate membership. Pet-friendly policies, BBQ areas, and lounge spaces can matter if you share with friends who host often.

Lease style and roommate math

Some pool listings are classic one-bedroom or multi-bedroom apartments. Others lean furnished shared setups with per-person pricing. Confirm whether you are signing for a whole unit or a bed space, how utilities are split, and whether summer coverage is required. If you need a shorter commitment, browse University of California, Los Angeles sublets after you shortlist full apartments.

Featured UCLA Apartments With Pools

These six live listings all include a pool in their amenity data. Distances are relative to Bruin Bear and can vary by route and traffic. Always verify current availability and rent on each apartment page before you plan a tour.

Westwood Apartments

Address: 801 Levering Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Commute: about a 7-minute bike to Bruin Bear
Listed rent range: about $1,850–$2,200

Westwood Apartments sits on Levering Avenue, a classic student corridor between campus life and Westwood Village. The pool is paired with practical building features students actually use: laundry facilities, gated entry, and secure access. Smoke-free policies and routine maintenance help keep shared spaces cleaner during busy quarters.

This is a strong first stop if you want apartments with pools near UCLA without giving up a short bike ride. One-bedroom layouts work for pairs who want privacy, while the Levering location keeps cafes, transit, and campus paths close. Use the listing photos to confirm the current pool and courtyard setup, then message through UniShack to ask about parking availability and move-in timing.

Furnished Apartment within walking distance to UCLA

Address: 512 Veteran Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
Commute: about a 7-minute bike to Bruin Bear
Listed rent range: about $995–$1,790

Also known on UniShack as Veteran Plaza, this Veteran Avenue option combines a pool with furnished living, onsite laundry, package lockers, and utilities included on the listing. That combination is especially helpful for first-time renters who do not want to haul a full furniture load into Westwood or negotiate every utility account during finals week.

Per-person style pricing can look approachable on paper, so read the floor plan and roommate structure carefully. If you are comparing furnished versus unfurnished stock, this building is a clear data point: you trade some customization for speed and simplicity, and you still keep a pool for downtime between classes.

1223 Federal Ave

Address: 1223 Federal Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Commute: about a 10-minute drive to Bruin Bear
Listed rent range: about $2,298–$3,498

1223 Federal Ave stretches the search just west of the densest Westwood blocks while keeping UCLA within a short drive. The pool pairs with balcony living, a lounge, fireplace features, and a dog-park amenity that matters if your household includes a pet or you simply like outdoor community spaces beyond the water.

Federal Avenue also puts you closer to Errands and weekend destinations students mention often—markets, recreation spots, and Santa Monica–adjacent plans—without abandoning a UCLA-centered week. If your schedule includes afternoon labs and evening clubs, map a realistic parking-plus-drive routine before you commit.

11670 W Sunset Blvd

Address: 11670 Sunset Blvd APT 104, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Commute: about a 14-minute bike to Bruin Bear
Listed rent range: about $3,300

This furnished Sunset Boulevard condo-style listing in the Brentwood Village orbit is a different pool experience: more private, more lock-and-leave, and less like a giant student high-rise. Parking and furnished finishes are called out alongside the pool, which can appeal to graduate students, transfers, or anyone who wants quieter evenings while staying bikeable to campus on a good day.

At this rent level, tour carefully and confirm what is included versus condo association rules. Treat it as a premium, lifestyle-forward alternative when Westwood courtyard buildings feel too dense.

Waterstone Metro

Address: 3324 Castle Heights Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034
Commute: about a 16-minute drive to Bruin Bear
Listed rent range: about $2,310–$3,424

Waterstone Metro is the amenity-stack pick: pool, fitness center, hot tub, bike storage, gated access, garage parking, patio and balcony options, and stainless finishes. Students who want a resort-style reset after campus days often prefer this kind of community even when the commute is drive-based.

Plan around traffic windows. A sixteen-minute off-peak drive can stretch during popular class-change times. If you keep a predictable schedule—or share a car among roommates—the pool-plus-gym package can outweigh a few extra commute minutes, especially in summer sessions.

2643 Centinela

Address: 2643 S Centinela Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Commute: about a 12-minute drive to Bruin Bear
Listed rent range: about $2,299–$2,650

2643 Centinela sits in Santa Monica’s Sunset Park area with controlled access, laundry, garage parking, and a pool. Beach-adjacent living is the lifestyle hook: cafes, markets, parks, and ocean time sit closer than they do from central Westwood, while UCLA remains a manageable drive when traffic cooperates.

This is a good fit for students with cars, internships toward the west side, or a preference for slightly quieter evenings. If most of your life is on campus five days a week, compare total weekly commute hours against a Levering or Veteran address before signing.

Neighborhood and Commute Notes for Pool Seekers

Westwood remains the default for Bruins who want walkable food, late study sessions, and spontaneous campus returns. Pool apartments on Levering and Veteran keep that rhythm intact. When you expand to Federal Avenue, Sunset Boulevard, Castle Heights, or Santa Monica, you usually gain building scale or lifestyle tradeoffs—more parking packages, more resort amenities, or beach proximity—while accepting a drive or longer bike.

Think in weekly patterns, not single Google-map screenshots. Count how many early mornings you have, whether you work evenings, and how often you stay on campus past 9 p.m. Students with lab-heavy schedules often value proximity more than a larger pool deck. Students with flexible mornings and a car may happily trade for Waterstone Metro or Centinela.

Also decide how you will use the pool. Quiet morning laps, roommate hangouts, and weekend hosting create different priorities for furniture layout, storage, and noise tolerance. Buildings with lounges or BBQ areas near the pool make hosting easier; compact courtyard pools favor quick cool-downs.

To browse the full live inventory beyond this themed shortlist, start at the University of California, Los Angeles apartments hub and filter by what you need next—budget, bedrooms, or distance.

FAQ

Do apartments with pools near UCLA cost more?

Not always. Some Westwood pool buildings post approachable ranges, while furnished Sunset or luxury-leaning communities sit higher. Compare total monthly cost—including parking and utilities—rather than base rent alone.

Is a pool worth choosing over a shorter walk?

It depends on your calendar. If you have frequent early classes and no car, a shorter walk or bike usually wins. If your days are flexible and you value outdoor downtime, a slightly longer commute to a stronger amenity package can still be rational.

Are these pool listings furnished?

Some are. The Veteran Avenue furnished option and the Sunset Boulevard condo-style listing both call out furnished living. Westwood Apartments, Federal Ave, Waterstone Metro, and Centinela lean more traditional apartment setups—confirm furnishings on each page.

Can I find pool apartments that are still close to campus?

Yes. Westwood Apartments on Levering and the Veteran Avenue furnished building both show roughly seven-minute bike times to Bruin Bear while listing pools. Start there if proximity is non-negotiable.

What should I ask on a tour of a pool building?

Ask about pool hours, guest policies, seasonal closures, laundry wait times, parking waitlists, and whether rent includes any amenity fees. Also ask how maintenance requests are handled during finals weeks.

Should I consider sublets if I only need summer access to a pool building?

If you need a shorter stay, check campus sublets after you understand full-lease norms. A summer sublet can be a lower-risk way to test a neighborhood before committing to a year-long lease.

Next Steps

Shortlist two close-in options and one farther amenity-heavy option, then tour with the same checklist so comparisons stay fair. Message each property through UniShack for current availability, confirm commute timing at your actual class hours, and only then decide whether the pool is a daily habit or a weekend bonus. When you are ready to widen the search, return to the UCLA apartments hub and keep filtering until the building matches both your budget and your week.

Happy apartment hunting—and may your next lease include both a workable commute and a place to cool down after it.