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College Park (Maryland)

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College Park[1] 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.

[edit] Get in

[edit] 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 [2], the world's oldest continuously operated airport, is open to private aviation.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Train

Amtrak - If you are coming from out of state via Amtrak, the New Carrollton [3] stop is the closest to College Park. However, you will need a car or bus ride to get you there from the station.

Metrorail [4] and Marc trains [5] 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.

[edit] Bus

College Park is covered extensively by Metro bus routes. See WMATA [6] for routes, timetables, and a trip planner.

[edit] Get around

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] By bike

The College Park Trolley Trail runs north/south to the east of Route 1 and consists of bike lines on Rhode Island Avenue north of Route 193. 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.

[edit][add listing] See

  • National Museum of Language, 7100 Baltimore Avenue (south of campus), ☎ 301-864-7071, [7]. Tu-Sa 10-4, 1st/3rd Su 1-4.  edit
  • College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, 301-864-6029 (AviationMuseum@pgparks.com, Fax: 301-927-6472), [8]. Open daily 10 am to 5 pm. Located at the College Park Airport, the world's oldest continually operating airport, this museum emphasizes early aviation. $4.
  • University of Maryland - College Park, Campus Drive & US-1, ☎ +1 301 405-1000, [9]. The flagship academic institution of the state of Maryland, founded in 1856, and centered around the McKeldin Mall quadrangle on Regents Drive.  edit
  • The Art Gallery, Art-Sociology Building (near Route 193 & Adelphi Rd.), ☎ 301-405-2763, [10]. M,Tu,Th-Sa 11AM-4PM, W 11AM-6PM. A rotating series of exhibitions. Closed summer and between exhibitions. Free.  edit
  • Adele H Stamp Student Union.  edit
  • Mckeldin Mall. The Mckeldin Library, Testudo, the Fountain, the sundial, the Administration building, weekly performances by student improv group.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Route 193 and Stadium Dr., ☎ 301-405-ARTS, [11]. Catch a play, music performance, or other event at the University.  edit
  • Lake Artemesia, Parking at Branchview/Ballew Avenue, Berwyn Heights (Route 193 to Branchville Avenue), [12]. On the border with neighboring Berwyn Heights, this man-made lake offers fishing and a pleasant walking/biking/rollerblading trail around the circumference. Free.  edit
  • Paint Branch Golf Complex, 4690 University Boulevard (near Route 1), ☎ 301-935-0330, [13]. 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..  edit
  • Terrapins Ticket Office, 2740 Comcast Center, ☎ 301-314-7070 (, fax: 301-314-4920), [14]. 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.  edit
  • Wells Ice Rink, 5211 Paint Branch Parkway, ☎ 301-277-3717, [15]. Open October to March.  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

  • Maryland Book Exchange, 4500 College Avenue, ☎ (301) 927-2510 (, fax: (301) 209-7118), [16]. M-Th 10AM-6:30PM, F-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su noon-5PM. Get your Terrapin gear and dress like a local. (Or at least like a tuition-paying parent.)  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • Bagel Place, 7423 Baltimore Ave, ☎ 301-779-3900 (fax: 301-779-5730). 6:30AM-7PM. Cross Route 1 from campus for your coffee or bagel fix. $3-$7.  edit
  • Jungle Grille, 8145-F Baltimore Ave (north of campus), ☎ 301-441-3321 (fax: 301-441-3349), [17]. M-Th 11AM-10PM, F-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-10PM. The place to go for sandwiches and frozen yogurt. $6-8.  edit
  • Plato's Diner, 7150 Baltimore Ave (south of campus), +1-301-779-7070. Sun-Thu 7 am-1 pm, 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.
  • Ratsie's, 7400 Baltimore Ave (south of campus), ☎ (301) 864-8220. Locally-owned pizza joint. Local favorite, especially after a night out. $3-$12.  edit
  • Chipotle Mexican Grill. Burritos made right in front of you - lots of calories, very delicious.  edit
  • California Tortilla, 7419 Baltimore Ave, ☎ (301) 927-8500. This regional chain offers burritos and other Mexican fast food with a quirky attitude. They will do vegetarian substitutions on request.  edit
  • Potbelly Sandwich Works, 7422 Baltimore Ave.  edit
  • Cold Stone Creamery. College Park location of international ice cream chain.  edit
  • Panda, 4439 Lehigh Road. Chinese food right near campus.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

  • Santa Fe, 4410 Knox Road, (301) 779-1345 [18]. Pub-type atmosphere, all booths and tables.
  • Cornerstone Grill & Loft, 7325 Baltimore Avenue, (301) 779-7044. Seating downstairs, dancing and pool upstairs.
  • R. J. Bentley's, 7323 Baltimore Avenue, (301) 277-8898.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

  • Clarion Inn, 8601 Baltimore Avenue, ☎ (301)474-2800 (, fax: (301) 474-0714), [19]. checkin: 3pm; checkout: 12pm. Located near the University of Maryland.  edit
  • Hampton Inn College Park, 9670 Baltimore Avenue, ☎ 301-345-2200 (fax: 301-345-7201), [20]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: noon. Just off the Beltway.  edit
  • Ramada Limited College Park, 9113 Baltimore Blvd, +1 301-345-4900, [21].
  • The Inn & Conference Center, University of Maryland University College, 3501 University Blvd E, Adelphi, MD 20783, ☎ 301-985-7300 (fax: 301-985-7517), [22]. Both luxurious and environmentally responsible. This Marriott was the country’s first green hotel and conference center.  edit
  • Quality Inn and Suites College Park, 7200 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD 20740 +1 301-276-1000, [23].

[edit] Stay safe

Avoid walking alone at night, especially around the College Park Metro station. You should be fine along Route 1, but reports of robberies on side streets are perennials in the student newspaper.

[edit] Get out

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

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