Guide to College Park Living

Located within 10 miles of the White House, College Park provides easy access to the cultural and entertainment opportunities offered by the nation’s capital, as well as other nearby cities such as BaltimoreAnnapolisBethesdaSilver Spring, and Alexandria.

Less than a mile from campus, the College Park Metro Station, on the green line of the Washington Metro, connects you to the heart of D.C. and to Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs. For other destinations along the East Coast, such as PhiladelphiaNew York and Boston, you can board trains at the Amtrak Station in New Carrollton, Maryland, or Union Station in downtown Washington. For national and international travel, the area offers the convenience of three major airports: Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Dulles (IAD), and Reagan National (DCA).

University of Maryland facilities provide an array of sporting, art and cultural events. The Xfinity Center hosts the men’s and women’s basketball teams, which have both previously won the NCAA basketball championship. The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is an elegant facility where Maryland students as well as internationally acclaimed artists come to perform.

While the University provides two all-graduate student housing options (Graduate Hills and Graduate Gardens), most graduate students live off campus. Coming from across the country or across oceans can make it difficult to find the right place to live. The University provides useful information on its Graduate Housing website. Additionally, graduate students in our department have offered feedback on several local housing complexes to make this process less stressful.

Maryland students enjoy a range of dining options at restaurants located within a short walk from the University, and the Stamp Student Union offers a quick bite while working on campus. Within a five-minute drive south along Route 1 (Baltimore Avenue), the newly redeveloped downtown Hyattsville provides additional restaurant selections and a 14-theater movie complex with the latest releases.

Nearby outdoor recreation trails and parks can be enjoyed all four seasons of the year. The Paint Branch Trail connects the campus to Lake Artemesia, an artificial lake with 1.3 miles of paved path that is popular with walkers, runners, and cyclists. Greenbelt Park is a 1,100-acre U.S. National Park with miles of trails, campsites, and covered pavilions located less than three miles from campus. Have a dog? The College Park Dog Park located just off the Maryland campus is a popular area to take your furry friends. Attractions in the surrounding area and further afield include hiking and rock climbing, white water rafting, skiing, the Chesapeake Bay, the Outer Banks, and the Atlantic Ocean.

College Park is not your typical college town. Its location in the nation’s dynamic capital region provides Maryland graduate students from around the world with countless possibilities for culture, dining, recreation and entertainment.