Travel and Lodging
Air Travel
The Washington, DC area is served by three different airports, Reagan National Aiport (DCA), Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore-Washington Airport (BWI). All are comparable distances to the University of Maryland (DCA is 15 miles, IAD is 35 miles, and BWI is 25 miles). Except for DCA, which is directly accessible to the DC Metrorail System (DC's subway system), all the airports are most easily accessible by rental car, taxi, or shared van (either the Super Shuttle or Airport Shuttle). Taxis can be found immediately outside the airport (follow signs for "Ground Transportation"). For shuttle buses, look for signs at the airport or follow instructions on the company's web page.
Traffic in and around Washington DC, can be very slow during rush hour (6:30-9:00am and 4:00-6:30pm). It is a good idea to allow for extra half-hour of travel time, if you are planning to drive to any of the airports during these times.
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, commonly known simply as National Airport, is located in Arlington County, Virginia and is the closest airport to downtown Washington, DC. Because of its proximity to downtown (and the fact that the University of Maryland is in the suburbs), National Airport can be difficult to drive to during rush hour.
- By Taxi:
- Roughly $45 to the University
- By Super Shuttle:
- Roughly $28 (plus $10 per additional person)
- By Airport Shuttle:
- Roughly $83 (plut $15 per additional person)
- By Public Transit:
- There is a Metro (subway) station in the airport. Take the Metro Yellow line to the L'Enfant plaza station and transfer to the Green line to the College Park Station followed by a free UM shuttle bus ride from the to the center of the University. The trip takes about 50 minutes and should cost under $10.
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Dulles International Airport is located approximately 26 miles from downtown Washington, DC and roughly 35 miles from the University. Unlike DCA, IAD is not directly accessible from the Metrorail System. It is most easily reached by car, taxi, or shuttle buses.
- By Taxi:
- Roughly $85 to the University
- By Super Shuttle:
- Roughly $39 (plus $10 per additional person)
- By Airport Shuttle:
- Roughly $83 (plut $15 per additional person)
- By Public Transit:
- Taking public transit from Dulles to College Park takes a long time (about 1 hour 30 min), but if you want to do this, take the 5A Metrobus from the airport to L'Enfant Plaza Metrorail station and take the Metro (subway) Green line from there to the College Park Station, followed by the free UM shuttle bus to campus. This should cost about $10. Be sure you have exact change for the Metrobus.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is located north of DC and south of Baltimore. The MARC and Amtrak train station is nearby offering train service to the DC Metrorail System.
- By Taxi:
- Roughly $65 to the University
- By Super Shuttle:
- Roughly $32 (plus $12 per additional person)
- By Airport Shuttle:
- Roughly $23
- By Public Transit:
- Taking public transit from BWI to College Park can be very fast (about 50 minues), but the bus only comes every 40 minutes, so it depends on your arrival time. Take the B30 Metrobus to the Greenbelt Metrorail Station, and take the Metro Green line one stop to the College Park Station. Then take the free UM shuttle bus to campus. This should cost under $10. Be sure you have exact change for the Metrobus.
By Train
Washington DC is easily reachable from most major cities on the east coast by the Amtrak Rail System. The closest Amtrak station to the University is the New Carrollton Station. This is also a stop on the DC Metrorail system. (BWI Airport also has an Amtrak stop. Shuttle and taxi rates from this stop are about the same as for the airport.)
Connection from the New Carrollton station to campus can be made by taxi (about 6 miles) or by Metrobus with the F6 Metrobus.
By DC Metro Subway
You can come from anywhere in the Washington DC area by the DC Metrorail system (System Map) and can get off at the College Park, University of Maryland Metro Station (on the Green Line) and take the free UM Shuttle shuttle bus to the campus.
By Car
Note that parking on campus (on surface lots) is free on the weekend, but beware that parking regulations are aggressively enforced during the week. There is a pay lot (the Paint Branch Drive Visitor Lot) close to the Workshop venue, but it costs $3 per hour to park there. Staying at a hotel within walking distance is a good way to avoid this expense. To minimize walking on busy Baltimore Avenue, and can walk on the scenic Paint Branch Trail.
A more complete description of campus parking facilities can be found on the web page of the University's Department of Transportation Services. You can also download a Campus Parking Map (pdf).
Hotels
There are a number of hotels in the area near the University. The following list is provided for your convenience in order for arranging your own accommodations. As a rule, hotels in College Park are closer and less expensive, but their quality is somewhat spotty. Many offer a courtesy shuttle service to the University. Check with the hotel when making your reservation.
| Hotels within walking distance | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarion Inn
(formerly the Best Western) 0.5 miles walk |
8601 Baltimore Avenue College Park, MD 20740 |
301-474-2800 | |
| Comfort Inn and Suites
0.8 miles walk |
9020 Baltimore Blvd College Park, MD 20740 |
301-441-8110 | |
| Howard Johnson Express
(co-located with the Ramada) 1.1 miles walk |
9113 Baltimore Ave College Park, MD 20740 |
301-513-0002 | |
| Ramada Limited
1.1 miles walk |
9113 Baltimore Blvd College Park, MD 20740 |
301-345-4900 | |
| Days Inn
1.2 miles walk |
9137 Baltimore Blvd College Park, MD 20740 |
301-345-5000 | |
| Quality Inn
1.2 miles walk |
7200 Baltimore Blvd College Park, MD 20740 |
301-276-1111 | |
| Super 8 Motel
1.2 miles walk |
9150 Baltimore Ave College Park, MD 20740 |
301-474-0894 | |
| University of Maryland Inn and Conference Center 1.3 miles walk |
3501 University Blvd E Hyattsville, Maryland 20783 |
301-985-7300 | |
| Hampton Inn
1.8 miles walk |
9670 Baltimore Blvd College Park, MD 20740 |
301-345-2200 | |
| Hotels in the general vicinity | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenbelt Marriott
4 miles drive |
6400 Ivy Lane Greenbelt, MD 20770 |
301-441-3700 | |
| Courtyard Greenbelt
4 miles drive |
6301 Golden Triangle Dr Greenbelt, MD 20770 |
301-441-3311 | |
| Holiday Inn Greenbelt
5 miles drive |
7200 Hanover Drive Greenbelt, MD 20770 |
301-982-7000 | |
| Sheraton Washington North Hotel
6 miles drive |
4095 Powder Mill Rd Beltsville, MD 20705 |
301-937-4422 | |
| Comfort Inn Capital Beltway
6 miles drive |
4050 Powder Mill Rd Beltsville, MD 20705 |
301-572-7100 | |
| Residence Inn Silver Spring
6 miles drive |
12000 Plum Orchard Dr Silver Spring, MD 20904 |
301-572-2322 | |
| Courtyard Silver Spring North
6.5 miles drive |
12521 Prosperity Drive Silver Spring, MD 20904 |
301-680-8500 | |
| Fairfield Inn by Marriott
8 miles drive |
13700 Baltimore Avenue Laurel, MD 20707 |
301-498-8900 | |