Overview
College Park is in Prince George's County, Maryland. It is a suburb of Washington D.C.
5 sights · 21 things to do · 8 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about College Park
College Park Aviation Museum
At the College Park Airport, the world's oldest continually operating airport, this museum emphasizes early aviation.
University of Maryland, College Park
The flagship academic institution of the state of Maryland, founded in 1856, and centered around the McKeldin Mall quadrangle on Regents Drive.
Adele H. Stamp Student Union
UMCP's campus center, containing several floors that house a food court, fast food chains, a restaurant, shops, the SORC (Student Organizational Resource Center), TerpZone (an entertainment facility with several televisi…
McKeldin Mall
The McKeldin Library is home to Testudo, the Fountain, the sundial, the Administration building, and several academic buildings. In addition, McKeldin Mall is the largest academic mall in the United States.
Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
Catch a play, music performance, or other event at the University.
Lake Artemesia Natural Area
On the border with neighboring Berwyn Heights, this man-made lake offers fishing and a pleasant walking/biking/rollerblading trail around the circumference.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 30°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Washington, D.C.)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington — 10 mi away (major hub). Directions
- BWI Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Baltimore — 20 mi away (major hub). Directions
From I-495 (Capital Beltway), take exits 24 (University Boulevard / MD 193) or 25 (US Route 1).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Adele H. Stamp Student Union, Lake Artemesia Natural Area, College Park Aviation Museum
- Lunch Box'd Kitchen
- Afternoon Herbert Wells Ice Rink, Hollywood Playground
- Dinner Marathon Deli
- Evening Cornerstone Grill & Loft
Day 2
- Morning University of Maryland, College Park, McKeldin Mall, Paint Branch Golf Complex
- Lunch Sakura Seafood Buffet
- Afternoon Crystal Springs Playground, James Adams Park
- Dinner The Jerk Pit
- Evening R. J. Bentley's
Day 3
- Morning Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, The Art Gallery, Terrapins University of Maryland Sporting Events
- Lunch Azteca Restaurant & Cantina
- Afternoon Duvall Field Playground, Muskogee Playground
- Dinner Shen Yang Chinese Restaurant
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
College Park includes many fast-casual chain restaurants that cater to university students including Potbelly's Sandwich Works, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Applebee's, Jimmy John's, and Cold Stone Creamery.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Most visitors come to College Park for the University of Maryland, and all the associated sporting events, but aviation geeks should also take notice of the Aviation Museum at America's oldest airport.
Get in
By plane
By car
From I-495 (Capital Beltway), take exits 24 (University Boulevard / MD 193) or 25 (US Route 1).
By train
Go MARC Train
MARC is a commuter line from Washington to Baltimore. There is a MARC stop for the Camden Line co-located with the College Park Metrorail station, but trains only service to this station during peak commuting hours Monday through Friday. MARC also operates the Penn Line with service seven days a week to New Carrollton and Union Station.
Go WMATA Green Line
College Park is serviced by the Green Line of the Metrorail. The station is about a mile from the University of Maryland.
Go Amtrak
Amtrak operates service to the New Carrollton station and to Union Station in Washington, D.C.
Get around
By car
The main north-south artery of College Park is Route 1 (also known as Baltimore Ave). Many destinations of interest (including the university) are along this road. An alternative, slightly to the east, is Rhode Island Ave. 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 during evening rush hours. There is no free parking in College Park, so make sure to check each meter's restrictions and rules.
By bus
Shuttle-UM operates an extensive bus network, although University of Maryland identification is required to ride for many routes.
By bicycle
Rhode Island Ave Trolley Trail runs north/south to the east of Route 1 and, north of Route 193, consists of bike lines on Rhode Island Ave. 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.
See
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See Adele H. Stamp Student Union
UMCP's campus center, containing several floors that house a food court, fast food chains, a restaurant, shops, the SORC (Student Organizational Resource Center), TerpZone (an entertainment facility with several televisions, a small bowling alley, pool tables, etc.), and a movie theater.
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Do
Do Terrapins University of Maryland Sporting Events
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.
Parks
Do Crystal Springs Playground
Do Duvall Field Playground
Do Hollywood Playground
Do James Adams Park
Do Muskogee Playground
Do Old Town Playground
Do The Mews Playground
Do Calvert Road Community Park
Do Berwyn Neighborhood Park
Do Calvert Neighborhood Park
Do Cherry Hill Neighborhood Park
Do Lakeland Neighborhood Park
Do Hollywood Neighborhood Park
Do Sunnyside Skate Park
Do College Park Woods Neighborhood Park
Do Branchville Playground
Buy
Eat
College Park includes many fast-casual chain restaurants that cater to university students including Potbelly's Sandwich Works, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Applebee's, Jimmy John's, and Cold Stone Creamery.
Eat Azteca Restaurant & Cantina
Mexican food.
Eat Eddie's Cafe
Chinese food & subs.
Eat Terrapin Station
Chili, wings, and burgers.
Eat The Jerk Pit
Jamaican jerk chicken, pork, seafood & tofu.
Eat Marathon Deli
Greek deli.
Eat Sakura Seafood Buffet
All-you-can-eat buffet with a wide selection, including sushi, hibachi, Chinese and American food.
Eat Shen Yang Chinese Restaurant
All-you-can-eat buffet with a wide selection, including sushi, hibachi, Chinese and American food.
Drink
Drink Cornerstone Grill & Loft
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. 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.
Drink R. J. Bentley's
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 throughout the night.
Sleep
Stay safe
College Park has a low amount of crime. Petty theft is an occasional problem, especially from vehicles and of bicycles. You should lock your bicycle up. Greenbelt Road and Baltimore avenue can be dangerous places for cyclists, and, to a lesser extent, pedestrians, as there are many places where drivers can enter and exit the mentioned roads with limited visibility.
Go next
- Washington, D.C. is a few miles away.
- Baltimore is about a 45-minute trip.
- Bethesda is good for night-life and is about a 30-minute drive, or 45-minute Metro ride.
- Silver Spring is about 20 minutes away.
- Takoma Park has many ethnic eateries and crunchy shops.
- Hyattsville is a hip area on Route 1 towards D.C.
Nearby
Berwyn Heights
City / town · 29 listings · 2 mi away
Hyattsville
City / town · 22 listings · 2 mi away
Greenbelt
City / town · 48 listings · 3 mi away
Mount Rainier
City / town · 9 listings · 3 mi away
New Carrollton
City / town · 3 listings · 3 mi away
Takoma Park
City / town · 43 listings · 4 mi away
Beltsville
City / town · 9 listings · 4 mi away
Colesville-Burtonsville
City / town · 22 listings · 5 mi away
My experience
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