Penn State (State College, PA)

Distance from Beaver Stadium: 4.4 miles
Address: 2493 Fox Hill Rd., State College, PA 16803
Airlines: United Airlines and American Airlines

Distance from Beaver Stadium: 156 miles
Address: 1000 Airport Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15231
Airlines: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American Airlines, Breeze Airways,British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, Icelandair, JetBlue, Southwest, Southern Airways Express, Spirit, Sun Country and United Airlines

Distance from Beaver Stadium: 203 miles
Address: 8500 Essington Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19153
Airlines: Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Alaska, American Airlines, American Eagle, British Airways, Contour Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, JetBlue, Discover Airlines, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country and United Airlines

Distance from stadium: 1.7 miles
Scout Notes:

• Small, historic on-campus hotel, incredibly difficult to book during a football weekend
• Hotel is walking distance from Beaver Stadium

Overall Scout Rating: 7
Price: 5
Quality: 7
Proximity to Campus: 3

Overall Scout Rating: 6
Price: 8
Quality: 7
Proximity to Campus: 7

Scout Notes:

• The drive to the stadium was about 1.5 hours. Unless booking a room prior to the season, be prepared to stay somewhere farther away because hotels in State College on game weekends are difficult to find. The drive itself was relatively easy.
• While in Hershey, we enjoyed a trip to The Spa and had a meal at The Circular in The Hotel Hershey.

Overall Scout Rating: 8
Price: 7
Quality: 9
Proximity to Campus: 2

Scout Notes:

• During stay in Pittsburgh, visited the Strip District, rode the Duquesne Incline overlooking downtown, attended a Steelers game and visited Church Brew Works.
• Had dinner at J Corks in Greensburg, Pa.

• Travel can be a little difficult to work out last minute but worth the effort. Recommend flying into a major city, renting a car, and staying in a hotel somewhere like Harrisburg. About an hour and a half out is best you can do for reasonable hotel, but again – worth it. Tailgating before the great is awesome. Try to get there early somewhere near the stadium.
• Traffic entering town on game day can be difficult due to 100,000+ fans flooding the small town. We recommend getting to the campus very early to have time to explore. We arrived 90 mins before kickoff only because we built in an extra hour of drive time from Pittsburgh.
• Provide plenty of travel time from where you are staying to the stadium. There are many different numbered lots for parking around campus. Make sure to park in your assigned lot or if your pass has an assigned spot, that location. We did see they were quick to tow people parked in the wrong spot.
• The tailgate scene was very friendly, everyone we spoke to was welcoming and excited to see us. Fans were very knowledgeable, and this was easily the place where the most people have yelled out to me seeing someone representing FCS.
• They have a Beaver Stadium Block Party before most games that takes place on Curtin Road between University Drive and Porter Road (between the Bryce Jordan Center and Beaver Stadium).
  • Fans can expect food, football and fun each week with different activities along Curtin Road such as live music, inflatable games, fan photobooths, food trucks, caricature artists and more.
• We recommend seeing the football team arrive on Blue Buses to a roaring crowd roughly 2 hours before kickoff.  The team will exit the Blue Buses and walk along Curtin Road from Porter Road to the South Tunnel of the stadium.

Beaver Stadium is located at 1 Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA 16802.

Directions, road closures, parking maps and more can be found at the official venue website below.

Penn State Berkey Creamery

The university’s historic (circa-1889) creamery that whips up ice cream, sherbet, milkshakes and more. Expect long lines on game day and take a tub or two to go, you’ll thank us later!

The Tavern

The Tavern Restaurant has served downtown State College since 1948. An historic institution, The Tavern offers guests extraordinary experiences for any occasion. Join us for elevated American comfort food, timeless cocktails, and first-class service.

The Phyrst

An underground dive bar known for cheap happy hours, live music and the number one place for Penn State students to celebrate their 21st birthday at midnight.

Cafe 210 West

A popular student & alumni hangout serving classic bar fare and known for their 13 flavors of Cafe Teas. When the weather is nice, people flock to Cafe for a spot on their patios.

The Waffle Shop

“This cozy breakfast spot is alway hopping with students, especially on weekend mornings. A Belgian waffle piled high with whipped cream and fresh fruit is the obvious choice, but opt instead for the eggs Benedict with creamy hollandaise and a side of crispy, well-seasoned home fries; it’s truly the best way to kick off your weekend. Arrive early to secure a table at this cash-only establishment.” – Eater

The Corner Room

“Serving Penn Staters since 1926, the Corner Room stands as a tribute to Dear Old State, and it’s an essential bucket-list destination for students, alumni, and visitors. Diners can expect a heaping serving of Penn State memorabilia, as well as both classic and reimagined American comfort food, like a 40-year-old chili recipe and a peppery skillet of Eggs in Purgatory. End your meal with a serving of warm grilled stickies — a cross between a sticky bun and a cinnamon roll that originated at the legendary but now-closed Ye Olde College Diner. Go the extra step and top your grilled stickies with a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream.” – Eater

Champs Downtown

“Catch any Penn State match or game at Champs Downtown. One of the largest and most iconic sports bars in the area, Champs has solidified itself as a staple of State College’s unparalleled nightlife scene. This weekend hot spot offers an extensive drink selection, with a wide array of beers and a variety of fun mixed drinks, including “booze bags” served in drink pouches and Champs’ signature Dirty Sprite in grape or berry flavors. There are generous portions of classic bar fare, such as wings, loaded nachos, sandwiches, and pizza, to soak it all up. The enormous venue offers multiple options for entertainment, with a lively main bar area at street level and a basement that features a second, smaller bar, pool tables, arcade games, pinball, and more. While under-21 patrons are usually welcome to enjoy the food and atmosphere, on weekend nights or during special events, the bar often operates as a 21-plus establishment.” – Eater

Local Whiskey

“Anyone looking to get away from State College’s wild weekend nightlife scene will find a home at Local Whiskey. Both seasoned and aspiring spirits connoisseurs will be thrilled to hear about the extensive menu of more than 300 whiskeys. For the whiskey-disinclined, the chic haunt also boasts countless varieties of other liquors and seasonal craft cocktails. Whether you like your drinks strong or zero-proof, Local Whiskey’s upscale pub fare can’t be beat. The fries are the best in town.” – Eater

Juana’s

“Nestled in an alleyway, this Venezuelan establishment remains a hidden gem of State College that’s great for a quick lunch or dinner. Owner Ady Martinez pays homage to her grandmother Juana with Venezuelan dishes made with secret recipes and fresh, locally sourced ingredients. While the menu offers options like tacuchos (Venezuelan-style wraps) and cheese-filled cachapas, it would be a crime to leave without trying an arepa and a tall glass of Venezuelan chicha, often described as a liquid version of arroz con leche (rice pudding).” – Eater

Tadashi Japanese Restaurant

“In central Pennsylvania, finding high-quality seafood can sometimes be a challenge. Tadashi delivers it in abundance. Relaxed yet sophisticated, this Japanese restaurant on South Atherton is an ideal choice for all kinds of occasions, from first dates to end-of-semester celebratory meals. Order at least a couple of Tadashi’s signature sushi rolls to start, and enjoy a classy yet comforting bowl of chicken or unagi donburi for your main course. Tadashi has a second location — a smaller, more intimate setting just a stone’s throw away on College Avenue — that focuses primarily on ramen, featuring tender pork in a rich, flavorful broth.” – Eater

Otto’s Pub and Brewery

“Otto’s Pub and Brewery is a major draw for beer enthusiasts looking for a variety of craft beers on tap. These beers range from light and refreshing to rich and full-bodied, with something to suit every taste. In addition to our impressive beer selection, our menu features beef from our own A.V. Farms and other locally sourced ingredients. We offer a variety of vegetarian and gluten-free options, ensuring that everyone can find something to enjoy. Otto’s is a fantastic, family-friendly destination for beer lovers and foodies alike. With our welcoming, casual atmosphere, tasty menu, and craft brewery, we hope it’s easy to see why we are a favorite among locals and visitors alike!” – Tripadvisor

The Arboretum at Penn State strives to be a place of beauty and renewal, a venue for the arts, and a pathway to discovery and enrichment.

Penn State first set aside land for an arboretum in 1914. In 2007, Charles H. “Skip” Smith’s pioneering $10 million lead gift enabled the University to take the arboretum from plan to reality, and the initial phase of the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens opened to the public in 2009. Since that time, gifts from thousands of other donors have sponsored the development of new areas of the botanic gardens, including Childhood’s Gate Children’s Garden (2014) and the Pollinator and Bird Garden (2021).

The H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens cover 10 acres of The Arboretum at Penn State. An additional 20 acres of cultivated gardens are planned.

Beyond the Smith Botanic Gardens lie 340 acres of additional Arboretum lands, including fields and woodlands that are being restored, used for research, or developed as educational and recreational project sites.

The university’s historic (circa-1889) creamery that whips up ice cream, sherbet, milkshakes and more. Expect long lines on game day and take a tub or two to go, you’ll thank us later!

More than just a campus landmark, the Nittany Lion Shrine is an emotional touchpoint for Penn Staters everywhere. University Park’s Nittany Lion Shrine, one of the most photographed locations in the entire state, is a popular spot for student and alumni pictures, especially graduation pictures and proposals.

The Palmer Museum of Art is constructing a new museum within the Arboretum at Penn State to replace the current building on Curtin Road. The innovative new Palmer will be a larger facility that features education spaces, including a teaching gallery, flexible event spaces, and nearly twice the exhibition space of the current museum, allowing for expanded student, faculty, and public access to Penn State’s growing collection of 10,500 works of art.

At the Penn State All-Sports Museum, visitors encounter, firsthand, the athletic history and heritage of one of the greatest universities in the nation. The museum is located at the southwest corner of Beaver Stadium opposite the Bryce Jordan Center. A long canopy leading from Curtin road marks the museum entrance.

Museum Hours:
Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m.- 4 p.m.