Travel Information

Travel Information

Penn State University Park is located in State College, Pennsylvania - University Park is the campus and is adjacent to the town of State College.

Travel Options
Housing check-in locations

Global Programs info

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Travel Options

There are several ways to travel to University Park.

Car Travel

If you will be driving a personal vehicle, you will be provided ONE temporary unloading permit to use while you unload your belongings at your residence hall. After unloading, you can use the temporary long-term parking permit to relocate your vehicle. Due to limited parking capacity near the residence halls, additional vehicles and multiple trips are discouraged to allow other students space to move in.

If you are using a taxi or rideshare service, such as Uber or Lyft, please be aware that you may need to check-in at one location, and then travel to your residence hall to unload. Ride shares are permitted near the residence halls, but are not able to park.

Air Travel

State College Regional Airport (SCE) is located five miles from campus, a ten-minute drive via taxi or rideshare service. State College Regional Airport offers non-stop flights to/from major hubs, including Philadelphia (PHL), Chicago (ORD), and Newark (EWR).

Approximate drive times from other cities/airports:

Harrisburg 1.5 hours
Latrobe 2 hours
Pittsburgh 3 hours
Philadelphia 3.5 hours
Baltimore 3 hours
Washington DC 4 hours
Newark 4 hours
New York 5 hours

Bus Travel

Greyhound Bus has a terminal located across from the west side of the University Park campus at 152 North Atherton Street, State College PA 16801. The State College Greyhound bus station serves Philadelphia, Harrisburg, New York, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Newark, Altoona, Latrobe, and several other major cities.

Mega Bus stops near Walmart, in the southwest corner parking lot located at 1665 North Atherton Street, State College PA 16801. This location is approximately three miles from University Park and is an eight-minute drive via taxi or rideshare service. Mega Bus travels to Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and New York from State College.

CATAbus offers extensive bus service to the local community in State College. CATA connects students with neighborhoods and shopping centers throughout State College with twenty different routes. CATA offers free continuous shuttle service on campus with its LOOP and LINK routes.

Train Travel

Amtrak passenger service runs from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg to Philadelphia, stopping in Altoona or Lewistown. The Lewistown train station is approximately 30 miles from University Park, a 35-minute drive. The Altoona train station is a little farther, but offers more amenities. It is located about 45 minutes from University Park.

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Arrival Locations

You'll want to check in to housing first

Fall Semester: Arrival Locations for Housing

Depending on when you plan to arrive to campus, your destination will be either the Bryce Jordan Center OR Findlay Commons Building (regardless of your fall semester room assignment). Findlay Commons will be open during the overnight hours, until 8:00 a.m., to assist students who have late flights.

Bryce Jordan Center

Arrive at Gate B of the Bryce Jordan Center (BJC) at your Scheduled Move In time. Parking is available in the Bryce Jordan Center - Jordan East lot. You will not be required to pay for parking at this lot during the Arrival event.

You will enter the "Housing Check-In" queue. There may be a wait time, depending on the number of students in line. A staff member will greet you and provide information to welcome you to Penn State. If you uploaded your photo ID, your Penn State id+ card will be given to you at this time. If you have not completed this step, staff will assist with getting your photo taken and card printed. If your fall room assignment uses physical room keys, a key will be released to you. The staff will process the housing check-in through our system, which will active your credentials and Campus Meal Plan. Directions to your residence hall will be provided.

If you have a personal vehicle, specific directions from the Bryce Jordan Center to a temporary unloading zone near your residence hall will be provided. You will receive ONE temporary 20-minute parking pass that is valid for one trip only for unloading your belongings. Once you have finished unloading, please move your vehicle to the long-term parking at Beaver Stadium - Stadium West Lot.
If you are walking, plan about an 18-30 minute walk, depending on which housing location that you are assigned to. There is also the CATAbus service on campus with the Blue Loop, White Loop, and Red Link that you can use to travel across campus.
If you are using a car service, you may consider asking them to wait while you are at the BJC, and then drive you to your final destination after completing the check-in process.

Findlay Commons

Findlay Commons Building is located in East Halls, 459 Bigler Road, University Park PA 16802.

There are multiple entrances into Findlay Commons. Once you enter the building, follow directional signs for "Housing Arrival Check-In."

The check-in process generally takes about 5-10 minutes, however, could be longer if there is a line of students waiting.

After checking in, you will be able to walk to your residence hall, which may be 10-20 minutes away. There will be laundry carts available to use to put personal items in.

Spring Semester: Arrival Locations for Housing

Your destination on campus will be the Commons Building in your assigned Housing Area.

East Housing Area: Findlay Commons
Includes: Bigler, Brumbaugh, Curtin, Earle, Geary, Hastings, Martin, McKean, Packer, Pennypacker, Pinchot, Snyder, Sproul, Stone, Stuart, Tener
Eastview Terrace: Redifer Commons
Includes: Brill, Curry, Harris, Miller, Nelson, Panofsky, Young
Nittany Apartments: Pollock Commons
Includes: Nittany Apartments and Nittany Hall

North Housing: Warnock Commons
Includes: Beam, Holmes, Leete, Robinson, Runkle
Pollock Housing: Pollock Commons
Includes: Beaver, Hartranft, Hiester, Mifflin, Porter, Ritner, Shulze, Shunk, Wolf
South Housing: Redifer Commons
Includes: Atherton, Chace, Cooper, Cross, Ewing, Haller, Hibbs, Hoyt, Lyons, McElwain, Simmons, Stephens

West Housing: Waring Commons
Includes: Hamilton, Irvin, Jordan, McKee, Thompson, Watts
White Course Apartments: Weston Community Center
Includes: Dunham, Garban, Grubb

Once you have finished unloading your vehicle, please move your vehicle to the long-term parking at Beaver Stadium - Stadium West lot.

Summer Session: Arrival Locations for Housing

Students arriving for Summer Session II will check-in at one of these locations:

Medlar Field at Lubrano Park

Arrive at Medlar Field at your Scheduled Move In time. You will not be required to pay for parking at this lot during the Arrival event.

Enter the Main Gate of Medlar Field at Lubrano Park at your Scheduled Move In time. Parking is available in the Bryce Jordan Center - Jordan East lot. You will not be required to pay for parking at this lot during the Arrival event.

You will enter the "Housing Check-In" queue. There may be a wait time, depending on the number of students in line. A staff member will greet you and provide information to welcome you to Penn State. If you uploaded your photo ID, your Penn State id+ card will be given to you at this time. If you have not completed this step, staff will assist with getting your photo taken and card printed. If your fall room assignment uses physical room keys, a key will be released to you. The staff will process the housing check-in through our system, which will active your credentials and Campus Meal Plan. Directions to your residence hall will be provided.

If you have a personal vehicle, specific directions from Medlar Field to a temporary unloading zone near your residence hall will be provided. You will receive ONE temporary 20-minute parking pass that is valid for one trip only for unloading your belongings. Once you have finished unloading, please move your vehicle to the long-term parking at Bryce Jordan Center - Jordan East lot.
If you are walking, plan about an 15 minute walk to East Halls
CATAbus service is available on campus with the Blue Loop, White Loop, and Red Link that you can use to travel across campus.
If you are using a car service, you may consider asking them to wait while you are at Medlar Field, and then drive you to your final destination after completing the check-in process.

Findlay Commons

Findlay Commons Building is located in East Halls, 459 Bigler Road, University Park PA 16802.

There are multiple entrances into Findlay Commons. Once you enter the building, follow directional signs for "Housing Arrival Check-In."

The check-in process generally takes about 5-10 minutes, however, could be longer if there is a line of students waiting.

After checking in, you will be able to walk to your residence hall that is located within the East Halls complex. There will be laundry carts available to use to put personal items in.

You will receive ONE temporary 20-minute parking pass that is valid for one trip only for unloading your belongings (multiple vehicles are not permitted in the unloading zone, and multiple permits will not be issued). Once you have finished unloading, please move your vehicle to the long-term parking at Bryce Jordan Center - Jordan East lot. The Molly Trolley or Blue Loop will provide transportation back to the residence area during a limited time frame.