Top 15 Activities in College Park, MD You Can’t Miss

Located within the Capital Beltway, less than ten miles northeast of Washington, D.C., College Park is a suburban city that hosts the University of Maryland (UMD).

UMD consistently ranks high on lists of attractions, recognized for its Big Ten sports programs, vibrant culture, and impressive campus featuring the largest quad in the nation at McKeldin Mall.

Moreover, College Park boasts significant historical relevance with the operation of the world’s oldest continually functioning airport, where Wilbur Wright trained the first military pilots during the initial stages of powered flight.

A museum dedicated to this intriguing aspect of aviation history is located nearby, along with the Goddard Space Flight Center, renowned for the development of the James Webb Space Telescope.

1. The University of Maryland, College Park (UMD)

Founded nearby at Riversdale in 1856, College Park is the home of the main campus of the largest university in both the state of Maryland and the Washington metropolitan area. The university enrolls over 41,000 students and has an endowment of $1.1 billion.

A visit to the campus is an essential part of any itinerary in College Park, beginning at Turner Hall, which houses the visitor center. From here, one can embark on a student-led guided tour or collect a map to explore the campus’s notable landmarks.

Prominent sites include Rossborough Inn (1812), Memorial Chapel (1952), the Jim Henson Sculpture honoring the famous alumnus, and the expansive nine-acre McKeldin Mall.

In terms of athletics, the Maryland Terrapins have achieved an impressive 44 national championships throughout their history.

The men’s and women’s basketball teams have garnered notable success, while the football team competes at Maryland Stadium, which accommodates 54,000 spectators, producing 17 first-round NFL draft picks and claiming 9 ACC championships, ranking third overall.

2. College Park Aviation Museum

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, College Park Airport was established in 1909 by the United States Army Signal Corps as a training ground for Wilbur Wright (1871-1948) to instruct military officers in operating the government’s first airplane.

The associated museum commemorates this remarkable chapter in aviation history. The permanent exhibition highlights the significant achievements associated with this airport, featuring interactive displays alongside ten full-size aircraft.

Included in the collection are precise replicas of the 1910 Wright Model B purchased for this airfield, the 1911 Curtiss Model D, a product of the primary competitor to the Wright brothers, and the 1912 Blériot XI, the aircraft that achieved the first heavier-than-air crossing of the English Channel in 1909.

The exhibits also delve into the history of civilian aviation and the rigorous training experienced by the initial military pilots at this airfield prior to World War I.

3. Xfinity Center

Located on the UMD campus, the Xfinity Center is an arena that could easily rival those used in the NBA or WNBA.

This facility, which opened in 2002, has a seating capacity of 17,950, making it the largest in Maryland, and serves as the home court for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

Both teams are highly competitive; however, the women’s team, under the direction of coach Brenda Freese, has consistently performed at a high level.

Since Freese’s tenure began in 2002, the Terrapins have participated in 17 NCAA tournaments, winning the championship in 2006 and reaching the NCAA Sweet Sixteen on ten occasions.

The men’s team also experienced remarkable success under Gary Williams, who coached from 1989 to 2011 and led the team to win the tournament championship in 2002, while also reaching the Final Four the previous season.

The arena’s design is noteworthy, featuring a steeply pitched seating configuration on the west-side known as “The Wall,” located behind the visiting team’s basket for the second half.

4. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

Directly across from Capital One Field on the UMD campus lies the extensive Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, a complex of ten interconnected buildings.

Completed in 2001, this facility is the largest ever constructed by the State of Maryland, occupying 17 acres of land.

Key venues within the center include a 650-seat proscenium theater, a 300-seat recital hall, a 200-seat dance studio, numerous rehearsal spaces, a performing arts library, and a grand 1,200-seat concert hall.

The Clarice serves the local community as a premier multi-disciplinary performing arts venue, offering both free and ticketed performances across a variety of genres such as classical music, opera, jazz, dance, and theater.

5. NASA Goddard Visitor Center

Located just a few minutes east of College Park in Greenbelt, the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is a vital hub for space research.

This center became NASA’s first dedicated space flight facility upon its establishment in 1959, and its most recent achievement includes the James Webb Space Telescope, which was launched in 2021 to explore the universe’s history.

The Visitor Center invites exploration of GSFC’s pioneering work across various domains, including astrophysics, planetary science, communications, heliophysics, engineering, and technology.

Exhibitions on display include information about the Webb telescope’s predecessors, Hubble and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), historic rockets, and the challenges faced in communicating with NASA’s far-reaching spacecraft.

6. Riversdale House Museum

Adjacent to Riversdale, visitors can appreciate a magnificent Georgian/Federal mansion from the early 19th century, where the predecessor of the University of Maryland, College Park was founded in 1864.

This National Historic Landmark was once situated on a 740-acre plantation reliant on enslaved labor, established by Flemish expatriate Henri Joseph Stier, Baron de Stier, who fled from the French Revolution.

The mansion’s design was inspired by Stier’s Belgian residence, the Château du Mick; however, Stier returned to Belgium before completion, leaving control to his daughter Rosalie Stier Calvert (1778-1821) and her husband George Calvert.

Rosalie’s letters are essential resources for understanding the museum’s interpretation, which covers the couple’s lives, their workforce—both enslaved and free—and their influential descendants, including U.S. Representative and UMD founder Charles Benedict Calvert (1808-1864).

7. Downtown College Park/Route 1

The downtown area, located adjacent to the campus, offers a variety of dining and entertainment options, with many establishments having a long-standing presence in the community.

Notable venues include Marathon Deli, Ledo Pizza, Cornerstone Grill & Loft, and RJ Bentley’s. By traveling north or south along Baltimore Ave (Route 1), visitors will discover additional vibrant commercial districts bolstered by local businesses.

Hyattsville, situated to the south, is especially worth visiting, renowned for its artistic community and progressive atmosphere, which features studios, street festivals, and numerous charming independent businesses within its historic downtown.

Further north along Route 1 leads to the Lower Midtown area, characterized by a blend of big-box retailers and longstanding local favorites such as Mamma Lucia’s (Italian) and Azteca Cantina (Mexican).

8. Greenbelt Park

College Park is bordered to the east by nearly 1,200 acres of forested parkland, managed by the National Park Service.

Greenbelt Park was established in 1950 and is divided into two sections by the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, with most facilities situated on the western side, closer to College Park.

The park offers visitors the opportunity to traverse or cycle through the pristine urban forest via a continuous 5.3-mile hiking and equestrian trail, which is a part of a 9-mile system that includes numerous shorter nature trails.

Moreover, Greenbelt Park is well-known for its budget-friendly camping options, featuring a 172-site campground that is open and staffed year-round.

9. University of Maryland Art Gallery

For additional cultural experiences, the UMD campus features the university’s primary art museum, which was established in 1965.

The Art Gallery possesses a collection of approximately 4,500 works, specializing in the art of Maryland artists, South American art, East Asian art, African art, and more.

This esteemed collection includes masterpieces by renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Rembrandt, John Baldessari, Honoré Daumier, Maurice de Vlaminck, Lee Krasner, and Paul Reed.

Typically, the gallery hosts around five exhibitions annually and showcases the developing talent of the university’s students through the annual MFA Thesis Exhibition in the spring.

10. Lake Artemesia

Lake Artemesia, a 38-acre artificial lake, was created in the 1970s following the excavation for the Washington Metro line.

This process resulted in the formation of a natural area surrounding the former quarry, which now serves as a peaceful site for both passive and active recreation, located a short distance from the UMD campus.

A 1.35-mile trail for hikers and cyclists encircles the lake, connecting to the broader Anacostia Tributary Trail System.

Additionally, a birding trail features regular guided excursions by the Audubon Society, while anglers frequently catch rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and bluegill in the lake.

11. Paint Branch Trail

The Paint Branch Trail offers an excellent opportunity to explore a substantial portion of College Park on foot or by bike, weaving through the wooded Paint Branch valley.

This trail begins at Lake Artemesia, running along the eastern boundary of the UMD campus, extending northward to Cherry Hill Neighborhood Park.

Overall, the trail stretches for nine miles, linking various public parks that feature lush woods, open spaces, and abundant wildlife.

This route forms part of the extensive Anacostia Tributary Trail System, and near Lake Artemesia, connections can also be made to the Trolley Trail, which follows the route of the former Streetcar 82.

12. Ellen Linson Splash Park

Just a short walk from College Park Station along Campus Drive lies a modest yet well-equipped public pool, open during the summer months.

The primary pool area comprises interconnected sections, including a lap pool, a children’s pool featuring a small slide and obstacles, as well as a zero-depth area designated for toddlers.

Adjacent to the main pool is a small splash park, along with a variety of other amenities, such as sun loungers, a picnic space, a basketball court, showers, vending options, and locker facilities.

Additionally, from May through November, a farmers’ market operates in the parking lot on Saturday mornings, offering fresh produce, plants, baked goods, and more.

13. Streetcar 82 Brewing Co.

In nearby Hyattsville, a vibrant craft beverage scene thrives, appealing to aficionados of artisanal beer, spirits, and mead.

The Streetcar 82 Brewing Co., named after the streetcar line that operated from Washington Union Station to College Park for nearly 70 years until 1958, is situated in a converted auto garage.

Founded by three individuals with deep connections to the area, all of whom graduated from Gallaudet University, the brewery aims to contribute positively to the local community.

The brewery typically offers 12 beers on tap, with varieties such as The Colonel (Pilsner), The Garage (Hazy IPA), Livin’ the Hy-Life (Coffee Stout), Sunny Dutchman (Farmhouse Ale), and the unique barrel-aged Imperial Irish Ale, Unified Red, which are frequently updated based on availability.

14. Herbert Wells Ice Rink

During the winter months, there is an NHL-sized rink located within the same complex as the Ellen Linson Splash Park, which operates from October through March.

The Herbert Wells Ice Rink offers a partially enclosed facility equipped with an indoor warming area and a separate space suitable for birthday celebrations.

Throughout the skating season, guests can participate in regularly scheduled public skating sessions, freestyle sessions, lessons (both private and group), as well as pick-up hockey for all ages.

This rink serves as the home for the Wells Warriors Youth Ice Hockey Teams and the Herbert Wells Ice Rink Figure Skating Teams. Moreover, the rink is available for hourly rentals, with skate rentals priced as low as $2 for both residents and non-residents.

15. Paint Branch Golf Complex

Just north of the UMD campus, situated along the Paint Branch River, the Paint Branch Golf Complex serves as an excellent resource for individuals looking to learn or refine their golf skills.

The complex features a well-maintained nine-hole, par 33 course that is ideal for novice or less experienced players, as well as for those focusing on improving their short game and iron play.

Complementing the course are a driving range and a short game practice area. For those seeking professional guidance, a year-round indoor Performance Center is available, equipped with four training rooms and PGA instructors who offer private and group lessons.