College Park



Downtown College Park

College Park is in Prince George's County, Maryland. It is a suburb of Washington D.C.

Understand[edit]

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.

Get in[edit]

By plane[edit]

By car[edit]

From I-495 (Capital Beltway), take exits 24 (University Boulevard / MD 193) or 25 (US Route 1).

By train[edit]

  • 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. MARC (Q6714458) on Wikidata MARC Train on Wikipedia
  • 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. Green Line (Q4715207) on Wikidata Green Line (Washington Metro) on Wikipedia
  • Amtrak. Amtrak operates service to the New Carrollton station and to Union Station in Washington, D.C.

By bus[edit]

Metrobus J4[dead link] operates service between College Park and Bethesda via Takoma Park.

Get around[edit]

Map
Map of College Park (Maryland)

By car[edit]

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[edit]

Metrobus J4[dead link] operates service between the University of Maryland and the Metrorail Station.

Shuttle-UM[dead link] operates an extensive bus network, although University of Maryland identification is required to ride for many routes.

By bicycle[edit]

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[dead link] 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[edit]

Memorial Chapel at University of Maryland College Park
  • The Art Gallery, 2202 Parren J. Mitchell Art Sociology Bldg. (3834 Campus Dr.) (near Route 193 & Adelphi Rd.), +1 301 405-2763. M-F 11AM-4PM. A rotating series of exhibitions. Closed summer and between exhibitions. Free.
  • 3 Adele H. Stamp Student Union, 3972 Campus Drive, +1-301-314-3375. 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. Adele H. Stamp Student Union (Q4681886) on Wikidata Adele H. Stamp Student Union on Wikipedia
  • 4 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. McKeldin Mall (Q6801765) on Wikidata McKeldin Mall on Wikipedia

Do[edit]

Lake Artemesia pier
  • 1 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. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (Q5126942) on Wikidata Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Wikipedia
  • 2 [dead link] Lake Artemesia Natural Area, Parking at Branchview/Ballew Ave, Berwyn Heights (Route 193 to Branchville Ave). 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 (Q6474838) on Wikidata Lake Artemesia on Wikipedia
  • Paint Branch Golf Complex, 4690 University Blvd (near Route 1), +1 301 935-0330. Open daily, seasonal hours.. Nine hole "executive" golf course, driving range and putting green. $10 for a bucket of 102 golf balls on the driving range, $18-12 for 9 holes of golf, $12-18 for 18 holes of golf, $3/day for putting green.
  • Terrapins University of Maryland Sporting Events, 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.
  • Herbert Wells Ice Rink, 5211 Paint Branch Parkway, +1 301 277-3717. October-April.

Parks[edit]

  • Crystal Springs Playground, 37th Avenue.
  • Duvall Field Playground, 9119 Rhode Island Avenue.
  • Hollywood Playground, 4812 Hollywood Road.
  • James Adams Park, Berwyn House Road & Rhode Island Avenue.
  • Muskogee Playground, 9723 Narragansett Parkway.
  • Old Town Playground, 7504 Columbia Avenue.
  • The Mews Playground, Catawba Street & 48th Place.
  • Calvert Road Community Park, Old Calvert Road and Campus Drive.
  • Berwyn Neighborhood Park, 8301 49th Avenue.
  • Calvert Neighborhood Park, 4811 Drexel Road.
  • Cherry Hill Neighborhood Park, 4605 Kiernan Road.
  • Lakeland Neighborhood Park, 4901 Lakeland Road.
  • Hollywood Neighborhood Park, 9699 53rd Avenue.
  • Sunnyside Skate Park, 10110 Rhode Island Avenue.
  • College Park Woods Neighborhood Park, 9119 St. Andrews Place.
  • Branchville Playground, 4800 Branchville Road.

Buy[edit]

Eat[edit]

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.

Drink[edit]

  • Cornerstone Grill & Loft, 7325 Baltimore Ave, +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. 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.
  • Kangnam BBQ Sports Bar & Grill, 8503 Baltimore Ave, +1 240 345-5808. This is an often overlooked spot to get a drink. The savvy few swear by this Korean restaurant as their favorite place for after-dinner drinks that turn into full-blown adventures. Sake bombs anyone?
  • R. J. Bentley's, 7323 Baltimore Ave, +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.
  • College Park Grill, 8321 Baltimore Avenue, +1 301-474-4745. Su–Th 7AM – 10PM, F Sa 7AM – 11PM. Nice upscale bar and restaurant with a pleasant and casual environment with live jazz music daily from 5:30 to 9PM. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with beer on tap and a selection of wine. Happy hour M-Sa from 4PM to 7PM at the bar. A good alternative for those seeking a meal or drink in College Park in a more mature environment than the college student oriented bars in College Park. Located inside the Cambria Hotel with no cover.

Sleep[edit]

Stay safe[edit]

Avoid walking alone at night, especially around the College Park Metrorail 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[edit]

Routes through College Park
BaltimoreBeltsville  N  S  GreenbeltWashington, D.C. via
BethesdaBeltsville  W  E  GreenbeltAlexandria
BaltimoreBeltsville  N  S  HyattsvilleWashington, D.C.
ENDGreenbelt  N  S  HyattsvilleEast End, Washington
ENDWashington, D.C.  SW  NE  GreenbeltBaltimore


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