Text-only version
Travel information March 2000
TRAVEL TO COLLEGE PARK
The University is located in College Park, Maryland, four miles
northeast of Washington, D.C. The meeting will be held in the
Mathematics Building, mainly on the 3rd floor in the department lounge
(Room 3201) and colloquium room (Room 3206). Lodging will be about
1.2 miles to the north of the Mathematics Building, at:
Days Inn
9137 Baltimore Ave. (U.S. Route 1)
College Park, MD 20742
(301)345-5000
We describe below some of the many routes you can take to the
University and to the Days Inn. We try to keep this information
up-to-date, and welcome hearing about discrepancies that you may
encounter. Specific fares and times mentioned below may have changed
with the passage of time. More travel information can be found at the
following web sites:
http://inform.umd.edu/visitors/
http://www.inform.umd.edu/Student/Transportation/
BY CAR
FROM THE NORTH:
Take I-95 south to Exit 27 and follow the signs to U.S. Route 1 south,
College Park. The procedure is well marked but somewhat complicated.
As you approach the Capital Beltway (I-495), keep to the right of
center as the freeway splits at Exit 27. Soon after the split, you
will need to exit to the left, followed by a right exit. You will
rejoin I-95/I-495 south briefly; keep right. Then take Exit 25B,
U.S. Route 1 (Baltimore Ave.) south to College Park.
Proceed south on U.S. Route 1 for about 1 mile to the Days Inn on your
left, or about 2 miles to the University on your right.
FROM THE SOUTH:
Take I-95 north, joining the Capital Beltway (I-495) in Virginia.
Cross into Maryland on I-95/I-495 and continue to Exit 25, College
Park. Turn left at the stoplight onto U.S. Route 1 (Baltimore Ave.)
south and proceed as above.
FROM THE WEST:
Take I-66 east to I-495 north (it later curves to the east after you
enter Maryland), or I-270 south to I-495 east. Continue past Silver
Spring to Exit 25B, U.S. Route 1 (Baltimore Ave.), College Park, and
proceed as above.
FROM WASHINGTON, DC:
Take Rhode Island Ave. northeast out of the city. Rhode Island
Ave. turns into Baltimore Ave., U.S. Route 1. Continue north and the
University will be on your left. The Days Inn, at 9137 Baltimore
Ave., will be on your right about 1 mile past the University, shortly
after the interchange with University Blvd.
BY TRAIN
From all directions you can reach Union Station in Washington, DC.
Coming from the north, Amtrak also stops closer to the University at
New Carrollton in Maryland near the Capital Beltway.
FROM UNION STATION:
You can take Metrorail to the College Park station. Plan on around 30
minutes and a fare of around $2 for this leg of your journey; see the
Metrorail directions below.
Taxi fare from Union Station is perhaps around $30. You are better
off taking a taxi from New Carrollton if possible.
FROM NEW CARROLLTON:
You can take a taxi to campus or to the Days Inn (see directions above)
for around $15. Bus service is also available but may not be
convenient. Using Metrorail from New Carrollton to College Park is not
recommended because the route is circuitous; use Union Station instead
to connect to Metrorail.
VIA METRORAIL
Metrorail operates from 5:30am-midnight on weekdays and 8am-midnight
on weekends. The following directions have been changed to reflect
the completion in 1999 of a new section of the Green Line, which
serves College Park.
FROM UNION STATION:
Take the Red Line north toward Silver Spring and Glenmont. Exit the
train at the Fort Totten station and transfer to the Green Line toward
Greenbelt. Then exit at the College Park station, and see the
directions below.
FROM REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT:
Take the Yellow Line north to the Mt. Vernon Sq./UDC station, and
transfer there to the Green Line toward Greenbelt. Then exit at the
College Park station, and see the directions below.
FROM THE COLLEGE PARK METRORAIL STATION:
You can catch a taxi to either the University or the Days Inn at
the main taxi stand for the station; this is on the east (busy) side
of the station (do not cross under the MARC tracks). Taxi fare should
be around $3-5.
For people arriving on or before Friday March 17, there is also a free
shuttle bus (Shuttle-UM) to campus that leaves from the east side of
the station every 15 minutes from approximately 7am to 8pm and then
every 30 minutes until around midnight. (The shuttle will not run
March 18-21 because it's our spring break.) It takes 10-15 minutes to
reach campus. About 100-200 yards after crossing U.S. Route 1 and
entering the main gate of the University, you will see on your right a
four story building with a grey slate dome. That is the Mathematics
Building. There is a shuttle stop just ahead near the traffic circle.
For more information, see:
http://www.inform.umd.edu/shuttle/collegep.htm (Schedule)
http://www.inform.umd.edu/shuttle/cpmap.htm (Map)
BY AIR
There are three airports serving the Washington area, listed below
with instructions for ground connections.
--Dulles (IAD) is by far the least convenient.
--BWI is the best if you plan to rent a car or use a shuttle service.
--Reagan/National (DCA) has the great advantage that one can get to
College Park on Metrorail.
Much of the information here on ground connections was quoted in March
1998 and some information may be out-of-date. Please check with the
provider in advance to confirm the service they now offer.
Super Shuttle provides door-to-door service to College Park from each
of the 3 airports (and vice versa). Call 1-800-BLUEVAN for details.
From the airport you do not need a reservation, just proceed to the
ground transportation area when you arrive.
FROM REAGAN/NATIONAL AIRPORT:
The Metrorail station is directly across the street from the new
terminal. From the old terminal, you can walk or take a free shuttle
that runs very frequently. Plan on taking an hour and a fare of
around $3 to reach the College Park station; see the Metrorail
directions above.
Super Shuttle (1-800-BLUEVAN) fare is $21 for the 1st passenger, $8
for additional passengers, and travel time is 60-75 minutes.
You can also take a taxi from the airport for around $40. Driving
time is about 30 minutes during non-rush hours.
FROM BWI (Baltimore-Washington International Airport):
Here are several options. For more complete information you can call
Ground Transportation at 410-859-7545.
Super Shuttle (1-800-BLUEVAN) fare is $19 for the 1st passenger, $5
for additional passengers, and travel time is about 45 minutes.
Private Car Limousine Service costs around $45 to and from College
Park, for up to 4 people. The fee does not include driver's gratuity.
The driver will meet you at the airport gate and assist at baggage
claim. You have to call in advance to make a reservation,
410-519-0000.
Ground Transportation Professionals, Inc. provides taxi service to
College Park for around $40. For information, call 410-859-1100. Be
aware that they do not provide service from College Park back to the
airport; you will have to contact a taxi company in College Park for
that.
Driving time from BWI is around 30 minutes.
FROM DULLES AIRPORT:
You can take the Washington Flyer Express Bus to the West Falls Church
Metrorail station for $8 (cash only). Shuttles leave the airport
every 20-30 minutes, from 6am to 10:30pm weekdays, from 7:30am to
10:30pm Sundays and holidays. Then take Metrorail to College Park for
an additional $3 or so (take the Orange Line toward New Carrollton,
exit at L'Enfant Plaza, transfer to the Green Line toward Greenbelt
and follow the Metrorail directions above). Total time from the
airport to College Park may be 90 minutes or more.
Super Shuttle (1-800-BLUEVAN) fare is $25 for the 1st passenger, $10
for additional passengers, and travel time is 60-90 minutes.
Alternatively, taxi service to College Park will cost around $55 and
take around an hour (more during rush hour).
For more information, call Travelers Aid at 703-661-8638.
HOW TO GET TO THE MATHEMATICS BUILDING
The Days Inn is a 20-30 minute walk from the conference, which will be
held primarily on the third floor of the Mathematics Building on the
University of Maryland campus, in the department lounge (Room 3201)
and colloquium room (Room 3206). Walk south (left as you leave the
hotel) along U.S. Route 1. After a few blocks, cross the street at
one of the traffic lights and continue south until the road crosses
over a creek. At this point the University will be on your right;
turn right at the main gate and walk along Campus Drive toward a
traffic circle with a large "M" in the center. The Mathematics
Building will be on your right before you reach the traffic circle, a
four story building with a grey slate dome. Below the dome and above
the main entrance the building is labeled "Glenn L. Martin Institute
of Technology".
If you are arriving by car, follow the directions above to reach
College Park via U.S. Route 1. Enter campus by turning west onto
Campus Drive at the main (north) gate. This is a major intersection
with a stoplight. If you are driving south, this will be about
1 mile from the Days Inn or 2 miles from the Beltway (I-95/I-495), and
will be your first opportunity to turn right onto campus, as the road
widens just past a small bridge. Driving north on U.S. Route 1, look
for the campus on your left and, after a couple minor stoplights, turn
left at the big intersection with 2 left turn lanes.
If you continue straight on Campus Drive for about 0.2 miles, you will
be in front of the Mathematics Building, which has four stories and
supports a grey slate dome. However, follow the instructions below to
park.
PARKING FROM SATURDAY-TUESDAY, MARCH 18-21:
After turning onto Campus Drive, keep right and take the first right
turn onto Paint Branch Drive. There will be parking lots on your
right and then on your left. On Saturday and Sunday, be careful to
park in an area that explicitly says that visitors are welcome to park
outside of the posted hours; many but not all lots have this property.
On Monday and Tuesday, the campus is officially closed for spring
break and the usual parking permit rules will not be enforced at all;
you may park in any space that is legal for a campus permit holder.
PARKING ON FRIDAY MARCH 17:
Proceed on Campus Drive past the Mathematics Building to a traffic
circle, and turn right there onto Regents Drive. After a block, turn
left onto Field House Drive and then right into the parking garage.
Park at a meter, and pay the meter (quarters only). Or, you can by an
all-day permit for $4 in the campus parking offices located in the
garage. To do this, proceed on Regents Drive past the garage, find a
place to make a U-turn, and when passing the garage in the other
direction along Regents Drive you can parallel park at a meter that
will give you 15 free minutes. Walk into the office you just parked
in front of and buy a permit.
There is also a new (as of February 2000) visitor parking lot not far
from the Mathematics Building, it costs $2 per day payable at the lot
entrance. When entering the main gate on Campus Drive, get in the
right lane and make an immediate right onto Paint Branch Drive.
Proceed about 3 blocks to the pay lot on your left. For more
information on campus parking, see:
http://www.inform.umd.edu/CampusInfo/Departments/DCP/index.html
CAMPUS MAP:
For a map of the area surrounding the Mathematics Building, see:
http://www.inform.umd.edu/CampusInfo/About_UMCP/Maps/northeast.html