There are plenty of hotels in the State College area unless it is a football weekend, move in day, graduation, or the Arts Festival. For all of these events hotel rooms are still in short supply. This is despite that fact that there have been over 10 new hotels added in the last fifteen years. The bottom line is that if you are looking to book a hotel room at Penn State for one of these weekends you need to make reservations a year in advance.
Hotels in Downtown State College
The Hyatt Place has the best location if you are going to Penn State for a football weekend, parents' weekend or graduation. It is right in downtown State College on Beaver Ave and a very short walk to campus, restaurants and shops. It is in the Fraser Center and shares the building with a small Target and the Federal Tap House. The Target is very convenient if you forgot to pack something. And the Federal Tap House with over 100 beers on tap is extremely popular on football weekends. Because it is the only new hotel downtown, the room rates are very high. Of course for football weekends, graduations and parents weekend it doesn't really matter because chances are you won't be able to get a room at there anyway. Football weekends are booked solid over a year in advance as are graduation, arts fest and parents' weekend. Scholar State College is another hotel with a great location on Beaver Ave. It is a short walk to restaurants, bars, shopping and campus. The Nittany Lion Inn is located on right on campus and is scheduled to reopen for 2024 football season. This historic inn should be in great shape after renovations are complete. However, it is in the northwest corner of campus and therefore not a good location if you want to walk to the downtown shops and restaurants. The Nittany Lion Inn is very upscale, and their rates are very high. They do have a great restaurant and many amenities and if you don't mind walking, then the location is really pretty good. The Graduate is a smaller full-service hotel located just off of campus at the intersection of Calder Way and Atherton Street. Its location is just on the western edge of downtown and near the southwest corner of campus. However, since it is on Atherton, traffic can be very heavy especially on football weekends.
Hotels South of Penn State Campus
There are several hotels south of campus near the intersection of Atherton and University Drive. the location is not bad, but you are definitely driving to downtown and campus. There are shopping centers nearby and plenty of restaurants as long as your not looking for fine dining. The Ramada is about a five minute drive from campus and is one of oldest hotels at Penn State. They do have an indoor pool which is nice if you have kids and need something to do without leaving the hotel. However if you have an interior room be prepared to smell chlorine all weekend. The Marriott Courtyard is just a bit down the road from the Ramada on Atherton Street (Business Route 322) and is exactly what you would expect from a Marriott Courtyard. Around the corner is the Residence Inn on University Drive. Both are more upscale and great options if you want to stay at a nicer hotel. About a half mile further out on Atherton is the Super 8. The Super 8 is exactly what you would expect for a discount hotel. No amenities, a little bit loud on football weekends, but the least expensive nightly rates in State College. There is an IHOP right in front of the Super 8 so if you want a convenient breakfast just walk across the parking lot.
Hotels East of Penn State's campus
Over the last 10 years several hotels have opened east of Penn State's campus on College Ave. The location is close to Beaver Stadium and downtown, so it is a very short drive to the tailgate fields. Best of all, if you need to pick up cold beer on your way to the tailgate, W R Hickey Beer distributors is only a few hundred yards from all the hotels on east College Ave. Just pull in, load up, and head to the tailgate. The Hampton Inn is the closest to Penn State and provides a complimentary breakfast. It is also located just behind a sports bar where you can get a beer and watch the games . The Hilton Garden Inn is about a quarter mile further out than the Hampton Inn. The Hilton Garden is one of the newest and nicest hotels in state college so expect higher rates. The Country Inn & Suites is also relatively new and is just a bit past The Hilton Garden Inn. It sits back off the road a bit so you have to look for it. The rooms are nice and they offer one of the best complimentary breakfast in State College.
Hotels North of Penn State's Campus
There are quite a few hotels north of campus. It is not the best location if you want to walk around downtown State College. But if you only want to tailgate and watch the game then north of campus has plenty accommodations and dining options. The Rodeway Inn is the closest motel on the north side of campus and is your basic discount motel. The Sleep Inn and Comfort Suites are side by side and share a common driveway. They are the next closest hotels on the north side of campus are right behind Marzoni's Brick Oven & Brewing. So, if you are looking for a place to stay with a bar/restaurant in walking distance both are a good option. The Sleep Inn is one of the better discount hotels and the Comfort Suites are a step up in quality and price. The Days Inn used to be the Quality Inn and is just a block further down on the other side of Atherton Street and is basic hotel with no special amenities. The Stevens Motel is next and is a basic place to sleep and nothing more. Fairfield Inn & Suites is about a mile past the Stevens Motel and provides complimentary breakfast. You will be driving to campus but you there are plenty of nearby options for dining and you are close to the Walmart if you need any last-minute tailgate supplies. The Springhill Suites, Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn & Suites Williamsburg Square are all located about a block from each other off of Waddle Road. The location is well off of campus and you will be driving everywhere. However, there are plenty of places to eat and shop.