Download GPX file for this article
38.98056-76.93694Full screen dynamic map

From Wikivoyage
Jump to navigation Jump to search

College Park is a suburb of Washington, D.C. in Prince George's County. Most visitors come here for the University of Maryland, no doubt, and all the associated sporting events, but aviation geeks should also take notice of its Aviation Museum.

Downtown College Park

Get in

Plane

If you fly in, you'll probably find yourself headed to one of the DC area's three airports (Reagan National, Washington Dulles or BWI).

The College Park airport [1], the world's oldest continuously operated airport, is open to private aviation.

Car

Exits 24 (University Boulevard / MD 193) and 25 (US Route 1) from the Washington Beltway. When coming toward the exit, the back of Shoppers Grocery Store and Home Depot will be on your right.

Train

Amtrak - If you are coming from out of state via Amtrak, the New Carrollton stop is the closest to College Park. However, you will need a car or bus ride to get you there from the station.

Metrorail and Marc trains [2] make getting to and from DC and Baltimore a breeze. If you take the Metro to the College Park station, you will be about a mile outside of downtown College Park. Actually, if you take the right exit from the station—located on the west side you are a mere 1/2 mile or three-minute walk from downtown College Park.

Bus

College Park is covered extensively by Metro bus routes. See WMATA for routes, timetables, and a trip planner.

Get around

By car

The main north-south artery of College Park is Route 1 (also known as Baltimore Avenue). Many destinations of interest (including the university) are along this road. An alternative, slightly to the east, is Rhode Island Avenue. Major east-west roads include University Boulevard (Route 193) and Campus Drive/Paint Branch Parkway. Route 1 traffic can be horrendous at times. Avoid arriving or leaving College Park between 5 and 6 Monday through Thursday and between 4 and 5 on Friday. It can take up to one hour to make it a few miles during these rush hour times. There is no free parking in College Park, so be warned. Make sure to check each meter's restrictions and rules.

By bus

Metro Line buses run around the area frequently. However, if you can pass for a student, the University bus system has many stops on and off campus. The new buses are all equipped with flashing signs that give its destinations.

By bike

The College Park Trolley Trail runs north/south to the east of Route 1 and, north of Route 193, consists of bike lines on Rhode Island Avenue. The Paint Branch Trail intersects it near Lake Artemesia and runs through campus, up to Cherry Hill Road near the Beltway. College Park has many residential streets that make for easy biking, but some of the major thoroughfares can be dicey in parts.

See

Memorial Chapel at UMCP
  • The Art Gallery, Art-Sociology Building (near Route 193 & Adelphi Rd.), ☏ +1 301 405-2763. M,Tu,Th-Sa 11AM-4PM, W 11AM-6PM. A rotating series of exhibitions. Closed summer and between exhibitions. Free. 
  • Adele H Stamp Student Union. 
  • Mckeldin Mall. The Mckeldin Library, Testudo, the Fountain, the sundial, the Administration building, weekly performances by student improv group. 

Do

  • Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Route 193 and Stadium Dr., ☏ +1 301 405-ARTS (2787). Catch a play, music performance, or other event at the University. 
  • Lake Artemesia, Parking at Branchview/Ballew Avenue, Berwyn Heights (Route 193 to Branchville Avenue). On the border with neighboring Berwyn Heights, this man-made lake offers fishing and a pleasant walking/biking/rollerblading trail around the circumference. Free. 
Lake Artemesia pier
  • Paint Branch Golf Complex, 4690 University Boulevard (near Route 1), ☏ +1 301 935-0330. Open daily, seasonal hours.. Nine hole "executive" golf course, driving range and putting green. $7 for a bucket of 65 golf balls, $10+ for 9 holes of golf, $3/day for putting green.. 
  • Terrapins Ticket Office, 2740 Comcast Center, ☏ +1 301 314-7070, fax: +1 301 314-4920, . M-F 8:30AM-4:30PM. With 27 different sports, the University of Maryland offers you a choice of everything from wrestling to lacrosse to softball. While the football team has had renewed success lately, basketball rules the roost -- the Lady Terps were national champions in 2006; the men in 2002. 
  • Wells Ice Rink, 5211 Paint Branch Parkway, ☏ +1 301 277-3717. Open October to March. 

Buy

Eat

  • Bagel Place, 7423 Baltimore Ave, ☏ +1 301 779-3900, fax: +1 301 779-5730. 6:30AM-7PM. Cross Route 1 from campus for your coffee or bagel fix. $3-$7. 
  • Kiyoko, 7313-H Baltimore Ave (south of campus), ☏ +1 240 764-8312. Mon-Wed, 11AM - 11PM Thu-Sat 11AM - 2AM Sun 11AM - 9PM. Hibachi grill and sushi. $4 for 8 pcs. Specialty rolls. Terrayaki Chicken, Shrimp, Steak for less than $10. Combination specials! Delivery minimum $10. 
  • Panda, 4439 Lehigh Road. Chinese food right near campus. 
  • Plato's Diner, 7150 Baltimore Ave (south of campus), ☏ +1 301 779-7070. Su-Th 7AM-1PM, weekends 24hr. This Greek diner is popular with students for the after-bar or hangover crowd. Try breakfast any time or one of their Greek specialties. $5-$12. 
  • Potbelly Sandwich Works, 7422 Baltimore Ave. 
  • Ratsie's, 7400 Baltimore Ave (south of campus), ☏ +1 301 864-8220. Locally-owned pizza joint. Local favorite, especially after a night out. $3-$12. 
  • Sakura Seafood Buffet, 9031 Baltimore Avenue, ☏ +1 301 982-3331. All-you-can-eat buffet with a wide selection, including sushi, hibachi, Chinese and American standards. Dinner buffet $12.95 for adults.. 
  • Sir Walter Raleigh Inn, 6323 Greenbelt Rd., Berwyn Heights, ☏ +1 301 474-6501. 11:30AM-9PM Monday-Friday. 4PM-9-PM Saturday. 3PM-8PM Sunday. A steak and seafood restaurant with an expansive salad bar. Travelers should note that the restaurant closes early and is only open for dinner service on the weekends. 

Drink

College Park is a drinking town. No question. The many places to drink listed from south to north along Route 1:

  • Applebee's, 7242 Baltimore Avenue, ☏ +1 301 864-6118. More family friendly during the day and early evenings. Yet it is still frequented by older students and alumni most nights and weekends giving it a college vibe like all bars in College Park. 
  • Big Play Sports Grill, 7313-A Baltimore Ave, ☏ +1 301 277-8898. New small sports bar and grill. Cozy and relaxed atmosphere. But like everywhere else in College Park, you never no what you are going to get. Even this tiny space can get packed with crazy party-goers. 
  • R. J. Bentley's, 7323 Baltimore Avenue, ☏ +1 301 277-8898. Outdoor seating, several bars inside with more seating in an adjacent room. Part of a very lively bar scene at night with Cornerstone next door. Students frequently go back and forth between the two bars through out the night. 
  • Cornerstone Grill & Loft, 7325 Baltimore Avenue, ☏ +1 301 779-7044. Tables and bars, downstairs and upstairs. This bar gets packed most Thursday through Saturday, enough that they have to clear the seating upstairs to accommodate a dance floor. There is sort-of dance floor serviced by a DJ booth overlooking it. But this is no club as you would find in DC. It is just a nice local bar that suddenly turns into a crazy college party scene at night. Sunday Big-Ass Draft is a popular special during football and basketball seasons. 
  • The Barking Dog, 7416 Baltimore Ave, ☏ +1 301 277-3647. The second location of a bar that is popular in Bethesda. It is less frequented by the college student masses. However, it does have a significant jump on Tuesdays, perhaps due to its popularity as a rental space for the many Fraternities and Sororities that are part of the University of Maryland. 

That was just two blocks in downtown College Park. Further on north we have...

  • Looney's Pub, 8150 Baltimore Ave, ☏ +1 240 542-4510. New huge sports bar and grill. This bar has everything you would want in a modern college sports bar. A huge wrap-around bar, outdoor seating, indoor seating and tables in front of a small stage. The tables are cleared at night to reveal a good-sized dance floor. Local cover bands from up and down the Mid-Atlantic region take full advantage of this space. 
  • Town Hall Liquors, 8135 Baltimore Ave, ☏ +1 301 474-3322. This is perhaps the oldest bar in College Park. It is the quintessential dive bar. It's a bar AND a liquor store. Nothing more needs to be said. 
  • Seven Seas Restaurant, 8503 Baltimore Ave, ☏ +1 240 345-5808. This is an often overlooked spot to get a drink. The savvy few swear by this Asian restaurant as their favourite place for after-dinner drinks that turn into full-blown adventures. Sake bombs anyone? 

Sleep

Stay safe

Avoid walking alone at night, especially around the College Park Metro station. You should be fine along Route 1, but reports of muggings (sometimes violent) on the otherwise upscale-looking side streets are perennials in the student newspaper. Petty theft can also be a problem, especially from vehicles and of bicycles.

Go next

Routes through College Park
Baltimore ← Beltsville ←  N  S  → Greenbelt → Washington, D.C. via
Bethesda ← Beltsville ←  W  E  → Greenbelt → Alexandria
Baltimore ← Beltsville ←  N  S  → Hyattsville → Washington, D.C.
END ← Greenbelt ←  N  S  → Hyattsville → East End, Washington
END ← Washington, D.C. ←  SW  NE  → Greenbelt → Baltimore


This city travel guide to College Park is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.


Retrieved from "https://en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?title=College_Park_(Maryland)&oldid=2924993"