Turtle Rock Neighborhood Guide

Researching Turtle Rock neighborhood in Irvine California? Here is a complete guide with the most up to date information about Turtle Rock neighborhood!

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Overview

ABOUT Turtle Rock

Turtle Rock is a quaint yet bustling neighborhood in southern Irvine, CA. It is one of the five original areas that were the foundation of modern-day Irvine, with the first construction starting in the late 1960s. The Turtle Rock neighborhood attracts families, university students and young professionals because of its fantastic location, exceptional local schools and beautiful surroundings.

As an added bonus, Los Angeles, San Diego and Newport Beach are all easily reached from the neighborhood via the nearby California Route 73 and San Diego Freeway. Turtle Rock is home to two prestigious golf clubs as well as Concordia University Irvine, all of which go towards creating a lively and active community.

The neighborhood is just down the road from University Town Center where residents can stock up on the essentials or just enjoy the top-rated restaurants, stores and cafes.

The vibrant neighborhood of Turtle Rock is a lively and diverse community made up of families, students and young professionals. The neighborhood is home to Concordia University Irvine with the University of California Irvine a short five-minute drive down the road.

Turtle Rock is both a bustling center for shops and activities as well as a tranquil place for rest and relaxation. Residents of Turtle Rock are nature lovers, and popular activities include sports, hiking and spending time outdoors. The interests of the residents are reflected in the numerous parks, gardens and outdoor recreation areas found throughout the neighborhood.

TOP Turtle Rock HIGHLIGHTS

Exceptional schools
Concordia University Irvine
Two premier golf clubs
Family-friendly recreation areas
Diverse and lively community
Lush parks and gardens
Affluent community amenities
Easy commute

Natural Disasters

There are no significant records of any serious and recurring natural hazards specific to Turtle Rock, Irvine, CA.

Wildfires, however, have occurred near and around the neighborhood and resulted in property losses. Overall, the city of Irvine is an area with a very high risk for earthquakes and a high risk for flooding.

Commute

Turtle Rock is the ideal neighborhood for daily commuters. The neighborhood runs along Culver Drive, which easily connects residents to California Route 73, the San Diego Freeway and the I-5. Los Angeles is less than an hour’s drive north from Turtle Rock with San Diego about an hour and a half to the south.

Residents who travel often for business can fly from the local John Wayne Airport. The airport is a convenient 15-minute drive from Turtle Rock and is much smaller and less stressful than the nearby Los Angeles International Airport.

Crime Rate

Turtle Rock is among the neighborhoods in Irvine, CA, with relatively low crime rates. Overall, the total crime rate in the area is about 831 per 100,000 residents. This rate is about 68% lower than the national average.

Violent crime rate in the area is about 46 per 100,000 residents. This rate is about 88% lower than the national average. Property crime, meanwhile, is more prevalent in the neighborhood at a rate of about 785 per 100,000 residents. This rate, however, is still 64% lower than the national average.

Turtle Rock is safer than about 94% of communities in California. One’s chances of becoming a victim of crime in the neighborhood is 1 in 121.

Education

SCHOOLS IN Turtle Rock

Turtle Rock falls under the Irvine Unified School District. Schools in and around Turtle Rock are known for their exceptional academic programs, professional teaching staff and fantastic student enrichment clubs. Turtle Rock is home to Turtle Rock Elementary, Bonita Canyon Elementary and the University High School. Turtle Rock schools are known for having rich and diverse student populations, with students hailing from all over the world.

A variety of public and private schools are also located just outside of the neighborhood, so parents can have their pick of top-rated schools with programs from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Students are actively encouraged to discover new talents and pursue their own individual interests. The schools in and around Turtle Rock pride themselves in creating well-rounded students who have a lifelong love for learning as well as a desire to better themselves and their communities.

Schools

ELEMENTARY
Turtle Rock Elementary: Turtle Rock Elementary is located in northern Turtle Rock, just two miles away from the University of California Irvine. Turtle Rock is a multicultural community of students and teachers with a focus on developing creative and critical thinking skills. The school also focuses on teaching students how to collaborate with others and emphasizes the importance of embracing diversity. Bonita Canyon Elementary: Bonita Canyon Elementary is located in Chaparral Park in southern Turtle Rock. The school serves students from kindergarten through sixth grade. Students of Bonita Canyon enjoy a well-rounded curriculum from experienced teaching professionals. Apart from excellent academic programs, the school also offers a variety of extracurricular activities where students can explore their interests.
MIDDLE
Rancho San Joaquin Middle School: Rancho San Joaquin Middle School is located just north of Turtle Rock along Michelson Drive in University Park. The school has programs for students in seventh and eighth grade, and aims to prepare students for high school and beyond. Students at Rancho San Joaquin are taught the importance of respect and social responsibility alongside their academic subjects. South Lake Middle Schoo: South Lake Middle School is next to South Lake in Woodbridge. The school inspires students to take care of themselves, their peers and their community. Apart from the standard academic program, South Lake offers electives in the visual and performing arts, world languages and career technical education.
HIGH
University High School: University High School is a public high school located just north of Turtle Rock along Culver Drive. It is one of five public high schools in the Irvine Unified School District and is a California Distinguished School. The school has about 2,600 students with a student to teacher ratio of 27 to 1. Woodbridge High School: Woodbridge High School is a public high school located in the central Irvine neighborhood of Woodbridge. Apart from offering excellent academic and college-prep programs, Woodbridge High also offers exceptional art, music and athletic programs. Students can choose to get involved with a variety of clubs to explore their interests and discover new talents.
PRIVATE
Tarbut V’Torah Community Day School: The Tarbut V’Torah Community Day School is a Jewish community day school. The school is split up into a lower school, a middle school and an upper school with programs for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The school’s mission is to prepare students for college and beyond using an academic program rooted in Jewish values. Pacific Academy: This top-ranking private school offers middle school and high school programs as well a kindergarten through sixth grade Chinese immersion program. Pacific Academy encourages students to excel academically, explore new interests and develop in cross-disciplinary studies. Graduates of Pacific Academy go on to study at the top universities in the United States and abroad.

Real Estate

Turtle Rock Housing 2020

Although there are some homes available for around $700,000, the average list price for housing in Turtle Rock is $1,500,000 with an average of $576 per square foot. Rent in Turtle Rock typically ranges from $2,500 to $5,300 a month, with an average of $4,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. For those looking to sell a home in Turtle Rock, houses tend to stay on the market for 50 days before selling very close to the asking price.

Turtle Rock is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Irvine and is in high demand due to its beautiful surrounding, convenient location and exceptional amenities. Residents can easily access Los Angeles and San Diego from the neighborhood, and this adds to the value of Turtle Rock properties. Turtle Rock was first founded in 1968 and is a growing community of home buyers and developers.

Turtle Rock Homes for Sale

The neighborhood of Turtle Rock is mostly made up of large high-value family homes, but there are also apartments and condominiums available to rent or buy in the area. Turtle Rock is one of the more expensive areas of Irvine, with the average list price of homes at $1,000,000. The main village of Turtle Rock is circled by the two-lane Turtle Rock Drive and is made up of single family homes.

Turtle Rock homes are typically two stories with three to four bedrooms, but there are homes available with up to six bedrooms. Each home comes with a private garage and garden for the convenience and privacy of the residents. Condominiums and townhouses range between $700,000 and $900,000. These attached units come with private balconies, porches and rear-entry garages. Apartments are located to the north of Turtle Rock at Turtle Rock Vista and to the east at Turtle Rock Canyon.

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Things to do

Turtle Rock features numerous parks, trail heads and nature preserves that both adults and children alike can enjoy. Residents can have picnics, take hikes, lounge at the pool or head to the beach. Turtle Rock’s convenient location means plenty of fun activities to choose from. For sports lovers, the neighborhood is home to two premier golf clubs. With Strawberry Farms to the east and Shady Canyon to the south, golfers have their pick of beautiful scenery, exceptional amenities and challenging courses. For those who love the great outdoors, Mason Regional Park in northern Turtle Rock is a scenic place to walk or run, while Boomer Canyon Trail Head is located in the southern part of the neighborhood. When you need a break from the sun and fresh air, University Town Center is right around the corner with its bustling complex of high-end shops, cafes and restaurants.
Spend the day golfing
Turtle Rock is conveniently located next to two premier golf clubs. Strawberry Farms Golf Club in eastern Turtle Rock is a beautiful, rural course set amid 35-acres of scenic wildlife and vegetation. In southern Turtle Rock, residents can enjoy the artfully designed course and luxurious amenities of Shady Canyon Golf Club
Catch up with friends at University Town Center
The bustling University Town Center is the perfect place to meet friends for coffee or lunch. The shopping complex is popular with students and staff of the local University of California Irvine. It features a variety of delicious cafes and restaurants, so you have your pick of places to go.
Take a day trip to Crystal Cove State Park
The beautiful Crystal Cove State Park is a short twenty-minute drive from Turtle Park in Newport Beach. Residents can enjoy the coastal scenery, hike along El Moro Canyon Trail or just spend the day relaxing on the pristine sandy beaches.
Picnic at Turtle Rock Community Park
Turtle Rock Community Park is a quaint and tranquil family park located in southern Turtle Rock. Pack some delicious food or grill your own at one of the many barbecue areas. The neighborhood park has picnic tables and restrooms as well as tennis and volleyball courts, playgrounds and a little free library.
Take a stroll through Mason Regional Park
Residents can enjoy easy access to Mason Regional Park in northern Turtle Rock. The park offers plenty of wildlife and vegetation for the public to enjoy and there are numerous walking paths to choose from. Mason Regional Park is the perfect place to walk, jog or ride a bike.
Catch a show at the University of California Irvine
The University of California Irvine is just down the road from Turtle Rock. The university has excellent music and art programs and puts on some of the best shows in Orange County. Residents of Turtle Rock can head to the arts center to watch theater productions, listen to live music or catch a dance performance.
Visit Tanaka Farm
Tanaka Farm is a quaint farm that offers farm tours, special events and workshops for kids. Families can pick their own fruit throughout the year or find the perfect Halloween pumpkin in the pumpkin patch each fall. Tanaka Farm is a great place to reconnect with nature and to teach kids about how fruits and vegetables are grown.
Explore the Turtle Rock Nature Center
The Turtle Rock Nature Center is located in the middle of Turtle Rock Community Park. The center consists of a five-acre nature preserve and an outdoor classroom. At the Turtle Rock Nature Center, kids can have fun outside while learning about native wildlife and their natural habitats.
Hike along the Bommer Canyon Trail
The Bommer Canyon Trail head starts in southern Turtle Rock and goes into neighboring Turtle Ridge. Follow the trail to the left for an enjoyable loop, or take a right and hike the Turtle Ridge path all the way to Bommer Vista Point.
Swim at Sierra Ridge Pool
The Sierra Ridge Swimming Pool is a pristine family pool located in between Turtle Rock Community Park and Chaparral Park. Residents of southern Turtle Rock head to Sierra Ridge to swim some laps or to escape the summer heat in a peaceful place.

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