Where the *&%$# is Penn State?

Getting here is easy as long as you are equipped with good hiking shoes, crampons, a compass and, preferably, a good GPS unit.  I'm kidding!

The State College area is rather geographically complex, being located at the point where the Appalachians make a hard right turn to the northeast.  This has some odd effects, such as a town layout where the east/west streets are on more of a north/south axis than they should be, so it's not hard to get lost.  But once you arrive, you should find all of your needs accessible on foot, and navigation should not be a big challenge.

By Air:

State College has good air service for a small town.  The University Park Airport (SCE) is served by Northwest (from Detroit), United (from Washington/Dulles), Delta (from Cincinnati) and USAirways (from Philadelphia).  Delta provides all jet service, Northwest and USAir offer a mix of jet and turboprop service, and United all turboprop.

The airport is about six miles from downtown State College.  I wouldn't hesitate to check bags, as it usually takes only a few minutes for them to be delivered to you from the planes.  As of today, the baggage carousel is not available due to airport construction, so the bags are delivered to you curbside in front of the airport.  This doesn't seem to take but a minute or two longer.

You may find a better deal flying to a surrounding airport such as Harrisburg or Pittsburgh.  I have never found this to be economical in terms of time or money, but your experience might be different.

You can grab a shuttle or taxi from the airport to your hotel or to campus.  This will cost you somewhere around $10-15.  I suggest looking for fellow MSAers and sharing to save money.  If you don't find a cab or shuttle driver waiting to take you, call one:

Nittany Express Shuttle (814 867-4647)

Handy Delivery Taxi (814 353-6003)

There are a number of car rental options at the airport.  There are others in town.  Check the web for availability.

By Car:

State College is just entering the era of the Interstate Highway, with the nearly completed Interstate 99 slowly but surely connecting us with the outside world.  If you approach from the south and west on I-99/US 220, you will encounter construction, and on US 322 from the south and east, a ~10 mile stretch of two lane road.  Do be careful driving these dangerous stretches of highway.

Some of our local roads are aggressively patrolled by the State Police, so watch your speedometer.

We are surrounded by some beautiful country here, so you will probably enjoy the drive.  Just take your time and get here safely.

By Train:

Not a good option.  There is Amtrak service to Lewistown and Altoona, which are 30-40 miles away.  Getting here from the train station is not convenient.

By Bus:

Greyhound does provide service to State College.  The bus station is located on the west side of campus, a ~15 minute walk to the Eastview Terrace dorms.

State College?  University Park?  What's up with that?

University Park is essentially a shadow municipality that corresponds to the university's stand-alone zip code, 16802.  People refer to the town as State College, although the Borough of State College is actually only a small part of it.  Surrounding the Borough, which covers downtown and some of the neighborhoods close to it, are several townships: College, Ferguson, Patton.  Folks living in these surrounding townships might have a State College mailing address.

Still confused?  Good.  You should be.  Just refer to the place as State College.  NOT College Park.  Or College Station.

If you have any questions about this stuff, leave them in the comments section, and I will do my best to answer them.

Mycologically yours,

David Geiser