Major city · United States
College ParkCollege Park, Maryland
Base here only if you're visiting UMD or flying out of BWI: 1 night, walk the campus and the aviation museum, then Metro into DC.
College Park is a Washington DC suburb built around the University of Maryland, about 30 minutes from downtown on the Metro Green Line. It is not a sightseeing destination in its own right: visitors come for campus events, Terrapins games, the aviation museum at the world's oldest continuously operating airport, and cheaper beds than DC. One night covers it; most people day-trip in from DC instead.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), late Dec–Jan (campus quiet, cold)
- Airports
- CGS · BWI · DCA · IAD
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for College Park911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about College Park, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyCollege Park has a low amount of crime.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCGS College Park Airport (Private planes only; no scheduled airline service.).
- Getting aroundRoute 1 (Baltimore Avenue) is the main north-south artery and most sights sit along it; Rhode Island Avenue runs parallel to the east.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–6
- Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, main courseTipping 18–22% is expected.$15–30
- BeerDraft beer at a Route 1 bar$6–9
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi or rideshare3.1 mi (5 km) taxi or rideshare$12–20
- Metro or bus rideMetro ride$2–6 (check)
- Museum or sight ticketCollege Park Aviation Museum entry$4 (check)
- Budget bedHostel or shared-room bed, a night, per personUS$45
- Mid-range bedChain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$160
- High-end bedChain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$260
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$130 · High US$250
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CGS College Park Airport (Private planes only; no scheduled airline service.) · BWI Baltimore-Washington International (About a 30-minute drive; also reachable by MARC and Amtrak via Union Station or New Carrollton.) · DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National (About a 30-minute drive; reachable on Metrorail.) · IAD Washington Dulles International (About a 45-minute drive; reachable on Metrorail via the Silver Line.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Feb
not flagged
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Mar
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Apr
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
May
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jun
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Oct
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Nov
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Dec
Avoid*
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Jan. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C) low), wettest May (11 rain days), driest Sep (8). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
College Park: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
10 rd
Feb
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
9 rd
Mar
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
10 rd
Apr
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
10 rd
May
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
11 rd
Jun
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
10 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
9 rd
Sep
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8 rd
Oct
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
8 rd
Nov
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
9 rd
Dec
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
10 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Route 1 (Baltimore Avenue) is the main north-south artery and most sights sit along it; Rhode Island Avenue runs parallel to the east. University Boulevard (Route 193) and Campus Drive/Paint Branch Parkway run east-west. Route 1 traffic is heavy at rush hour. There is no free parking in College Park, so check each meter's rules. Shuttle-UM buses cover campus but many routes need a University of Maryland ID. The Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail and Paint Branch Trail are the bike routes; residential streets are easy, major roads are not.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 40–50 min to downtown
Metro Green Line from College Park station, or MARC from the same station at peak hours
The reason most people stay here: museums and monuments are free.
Greenbelt
goDoor to door: About 15 min
Metro Green Line one stop north, or a short drive on Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt Park and the NASA Goddard visitor centre.
Hyattsville
goDoor to door: About 15–20 min
Metro Green Line south, or Route 1 south by car
Route 1 arts district with restaurants and bars.
Bowie
cautionDoor to door: About 30 min
Drive via US-50 east
Mostly a car trip; little public transport.
Laurel, Maryland
cautionDoor to door: About 30–40 min
Drive via I-95 north, or MARC from College Park at peak hours
Historic Main Street; MARC timing is limited.
Largo, Maryland
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
Metro Green Line to Largo Town Center
Mostly for events at the sports complex.
Beltsville
skipDoor to door: About 15 min
Drive north on Route 1
Little for visitors beyond the agricultural research centre.
National Harbor
cautionDoor to door: About 40–50 min
Drive via I-495 and I-295 south
Better as a DC-side trip than from College Park.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Baltimore Avenue (US-1) corridor
Chain hotels and fast-casual food along the main north-south artery; walkable to campus and the Metro station.
Near the College Park Metro station
Green Line and MARC Camden Line stop; about a mile from the university.
Route 1 north near the Beltway
Highway-side hotels with free parking; best if you have a car and are heading to BWI.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–100 excl. bed
- Mid
- $100–180 excl. bed
- High
- $180+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Chain-hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$160 | US$160 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$130 | US$260 |
| Metro Green Line, College Park to downtown DC, one way2 × US$6 · check | US$12 |
| Metro one-day unlimited pass2 × US$13 · check | US$26 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20 | US$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$50 |
| Trip total≈ US$274 per person per day, bed included | US$548 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax is added at checkout and flights are excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Fast-casual lunch near campus | $10–16 |
| Sit-down dinner, main courseTipping 18–22% is expected. | $15–30 |
| Draft beer at a Route 1 bar | $6–9 |
| Metro ride | $2–6 (check) |
| 5 km taxi or rideshare | $12–20 |
| College Park Aviation Museum entry | $4 (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Route 1 backs up badly at evening rush hour; avoid arriving or leaving then.
- No free parking anywhere in College Park: read each meter's restrictions.
- Petty theft from cars and of bicycles happens; lock your bike.
- Greenbelt Road and Baltimore Avenue are risky for cyclists and, less so, pedestrians, because of driveways with limited visibility.
- MARC Camden Line only stops at College Park at peak commuting hours Monday to Friday; the Penn Line runs seven days a week from New Carrollton.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
College ParkCollege Park, Maryland
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
Most embassies are in Washington, DC, about 30–40 minutes away on the Metro; check your country's listing before you travel.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Metro Green Line, College Park → downtown DC: about $6, 30–40 min (check)
- MARC Camden Line, College Park → Washington Union Station: peak hours only, Monday–Friday (check)
- Taxi or rideshare, College Park → BWI: about $50–70, 30 min (check)
Say or show
- Where is the Metro station? — Where is the Metro station?
- One ticket to Washington, please — One ticket to Washington, please
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?
- Thanks, keep the change — Thanks, keep the change
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% for taxis.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for College Park. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), late Dec–Jan (campus quiet, cold) · month by month →
- 4 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 8 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for BWI, DCA and IAD: last Metro and MARC departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: campus and McKeldin Mall, the Route 1 hotel strip, the Metro station area.
- Place pages with verified hours (Aviation Museum, The Art Gallery, Clarice Smith Center) and eat pages with last orders.
- Rush-hour and game-day fixtures so gates A–D can go green.