GRTlogo

visinfo
 

(This webpage is under construction)

Contents

Arriving on campus

UM Physics Department

The Physics Department is located at the corner of North Campus Drive and Regents Drive and is adjacent to a traffic circle with a large "M" outlined in flowers, bushes or mulch. Upon entering the campus from the main (north) entrance at the intersection of Route 1 and Campus Drive be in the left lane to continue up to the "M" circle and to the Physics Department.

Click here for an interactive map of the University of Maryland campus.

The phone number for a local taxi company is 301-322-8877.

Parking

Upon entering the main entrance to campus from Route 1 stay in the right lane. This will force you to turn right onto Paint Branch Drive. Go straight. At the second stop sign make a left and an immediate right into the Paint Branch Visitor Parking Lot.

Take a ticket from the machine at the entrance and pay the attendant when you leave. You may bring your ticket in for us to validate. NOTE: Validation tickets can only be used when attendant is present between 10 am and 6:15 pm.

Traveling by air

There are three major airports in and around the Washington area. Reagan National Airport (DCA) is closest to campus at 14.8 mi and takes about 30-40 minutes driving depending on traffic in the city. Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) is located 28.5 mi from campus and takes about 32 minutes driving. Dulles International Airport (IAD) is furthest from campus at 36.7 mi and takes about 45-80 minutes driving depending on traffic conditions.

SuperShuttle service from all airports

SuperShuttle offers 24-hour door-to-door shuttle service to and from most hotels, homes, and offices in the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area. Online reservations can be made here or by calling 1-800-258-3826 (1-800-BLUEVAN).

If you have not made a reservation in advance then follow the signs at the airport to Ground Transportation to check in for the next available van. You may have to wait for all shuttle passengers to be received. If the desk is closed and/or the van(s) have already left the airport then you may use the courtesy phone to arrange transportation.

Reservations for your return to the airport are needed and should be made at least 4 hours in advance.

From Reagan National Airport (DCA)

Taxi fare from Reagan National Airport to College Park is typically around $55. You should verify this estimate with the driver.

There is a Metrorail line servicing College Park from Reagan National Airport to College Park. Take the "Yellow Line" to Mt. Vernon Square Convention Center then transfer to the "Green Line" to College Park. From here you can ride the UM shuttle to campus.

From Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)

The Greenbelt-BWI Airport Express Line is a Metro (WMATA) nonstop bus service from BWI to Greenbelt Metro Station that runs every 40 minutes. The fare is $3.00 using a SmarTrip card or $3.10 if paying by cash (exact change is required). From the Greenbelt Metro station take the Metro one stop to the College Park station where you can ride the UM shuttle to campus.

At the Ground Transportation level (lower level) you can also find:
    Limousine service -- 301-912-2000
    BWI Taxi service -- 410-859-1100 (fare is about $65 to College Park)

From Dulles International Airport (IAD)

TAXI fare to/from College Park is ~$80 (about 45-60 minutes' drive).

Dulles Ground Transportation

Washington Flyer Taxi

Washington Flyer Taxicabs serve Dulles International Airport exclusively with 24-hour service to and from the airport. Taxicab Dispatchers are on duty 24 hours a day at the East and West ramps on the lower level of the Main Terminal. Wheelchair mini buses only accommodate 1 chaired or disabled passenger and 3 additional non-chaired passengers. Smoking and non-smoking vehicles are available by request.

For information or to arrange transportation for your return trip, call 703-661-6655. Taxicabs accept American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Discover Card, and Visa, and provide transportation at metered rates to any destination in metropolitan Washington. Approximate one way fares to Washington, DC is $50. A chart listing approximate taxi rates from Dulles International Airport can also be viewed.

SUPER SHUTTLE SERVICE is ~$40 to College Park.

METRORAIL subway station is Not located at Dulles. However, their Ground Transportation [(703) 685-1400] includes shuttle bus service where you can purchase a ticket to the Metrorail. (If you'll be returning to Dulles via Metrorail, you may find it convenient to purchase a ticket that includes your return bus fare as well.) Taxi service is also available to the Metrorail. [Although considerably less expensive than taking a taxi to College Park, it may take you about about 1-1/2 hrs. to get from Dulles Airport to College Park using the Metrorail service.]

Using Metrorail Subway service, take the "Orange Line"; transfer to the "Green Line" at L'Enfant Plaza to College Park. Then take a taxi to campus or your hotel. The UM Shuttle bus runs between campus and the College Park Metro stop (see METRORAIL paragraph below).

NOTE: Taxi Fares fluctuate between the Washington, DC - Maryland - Virginia districts. Thus the above fares mentioned are indeed estimates.

If you Rent a Car at the airport, directions from the airports to College Park are at the end of this note. You should note that our ``Rush-Hour'' traffic is typically VERY crowded from 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM, and 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM.

Metrorail

The METRORAIL system includes Metrorail maps at all stations and on each car of their trains which easily indicate every stop for each (color-coded) rail line. You'll find phones to call a taxi [the numbers to a local taxi (Capitol Cab) is (301) 322-8877], although often there are cabs already waiting for passengers at the stations. As you approach College Park from Washington, to your left is the West side of the Metro Station (Calvert Road) (~20-40 minute walk to Campus). However, taxis and shuttle bus pickup lanes are located on the East (right) side.

UM shuttle bus

The University of Maryland operates a shuttle service (red & white UM Shuttle buses) which runs Mon.-Fri. to the College Park Metrorail station at 15-minute intervals beginning at 6:40 AM from the East Side of the metrorail station. (The last return from campus will be at 7:50 PM; during academic year the last run is at 3:00 AM. Stop and Pick-up points on campus are at the UM Circle in front of the Physics Bldg. and at Lot HH by the Stamp (Student) Union, which is two blocks up from the Physics Bldg. (see Campus Map.)

If you want to visit Washington, DC, you may find it easier to take the Metrorail instead of driving to the downtown areas. The College Park Metrorail Station does have all day parking on the East side of the station. From Route 1, take Paint Branch Parkway (at the traffic light, across from Campus Drive) to the Station, and follow the signs for the appropriate parking lots.

Traveling by train

There are AMTRAK Train Stations in Washington, DC (Union Station) and at New Carrollton, MD. From either station, you would take a taxi to College Park; the fare would be around $20 from New Carrollton. If there are no taxis already at the station, our local Maryland taxi network can be reached at (301) 864-7700.

Traveling by car

Directions to the University of Maryland and to College Park, MD can be obtained from Google Maps or MapQuest.

Lodging near campus

Click here to view a comprehensive list of local area hotels. Below are some popular choices:

Clarion College Park Inn

The Clarion College Park Inn is located about a half-mile or so north of the University's campus at 8601 Baltimore Ave. [US Route 1], College Park, Maryland (301)474-2800. The Hotel has a shuttle bus that comes to the campus and also goes to the College Park Metro subway station. You should check at the desk about using their service. They will also pick you up from the Metro staton to bring you to the hotel. When you come to campus, the Physics Building is near the the bus stop near the Big "M" circle on Campus Drive.

Comfort Inn and Suites

The Comfort Inn and Suites is located about a mile north of the University's campus at 9020 Baltimore Ave. [US Route 1], College Park, Maryland (301) 441-8110.

Quality Inn and Suites

The Quality Inn and Suites is located about 3 blocks south of the University's campus at 7200 Baltimore Ave. [US Route 1], College Park, Maryland (301) 276-1000. They're also about 3 blocks from the Metrorail station as you come up Calvert Road to Route 1. The phone number to a local taxi network is 301-322-8877, however often taxis are already at the hotel.

Follin Guest House

The Follin Guest House is located about 4 blocks south of the University's campus at 6801 Baltimore Ave. (US Rt. 1), College Park, MD 20740 (301) 277-9633. Well-kept brick cape cod home with a few bedrooms; the front faces Route 1; the back faces a wooded yard. Guests share bathroom facilities.

University of Maryland Inn and Conference Center

To get to the University of Maryland Inn and Conference Center from U.S. Route 1, turn West on Campus Drive (if you're traveling South on Route 1 that will be on your right), go half-way around the "Big M" cirle and continue straight. Campus Drive will curve towards the left. Then take the first right after the curve continuing on Campus Drive. Just before the signal lights at Campus Drive, Adelphi, and Rt. 193, turn right onto the drive to the Inn and Conference Center.

Home     People     Ph.D. Program     Available Positions     Related Links
Back to the UM Physics Department Home Page
PhysicsHome
Back to the University of Maryland Home Page
UMDHome
Last updated: 29 September 2008
Send comments to: crgalley@umd.edu