North College Park College Park, MD

The rapid growth of the University of Maryland combined with the need for increased housing for DC’s overflow residents led to the incorporation of the city of College Park in 1945.

Beginning in the early 2000s, substantial upgrades were made along the Route 1 corridor. The construction of apartment towers and newer, more upscale commercial buildings continue to help the area transition.

A perk of living in a college town is access to the school’s artistic programs, including performances at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and shows at the University of Maryland Art Gallery. North College Park also participates in the College Park Arts Exchange, a service dedicated to promoting the arts through activities and cultural events in the area.

In addition to the options on campus, visitors come to the area to see the College Park Aviation Museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

Restaurants abound in North College Park. Start your day with a hearty breakfast or soothe late night munchies at the College Park Diner. There you’ll find locals stopping in for their daily coffee mingling with college students visiting for a nostalgic reminder of how great a home-cooked meal tastes. Try the Diner’s unforgettable Belgian waffles topped with cinnamon and a side of homemade corned beef hash.

Lovers of Caribbean food flock to a hidden gem called Unforgettable Flavors. Tucked away in an apartment complex at the neighborhood’s edge, Unforgettable Flavors promises authentic Jamaican dishes prepared by Native Jamaican Executive Chef Neville Nugent. Go for the always satisfying jerk chicken or try something new and adventurous, like cow foot stew or a Jamaican breakfast of ackee and saltfish.

After trading in your old CDs at the CDepot, head next door to one of North College Park’s most popular restaurants, Sakura Seafood and Supreme Buffet. This pay-at-entry restaurant provides rows upon rows of options, from all-you-can-eat sushi to make-your-own hibachi to Asian classics, like General Tso’s chicken and beef with broccoli. Locals recommend the convenient and affordable carry-out option.

For live music, residents of North College Park have several nearby options. On campus, the University’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center hosts music, dance and theater performances and the New Deal Café in nearby Greenbelt presents live music six nights a week. Again, for more options, you can take advantage of all Washington, D.C., has to offer in mere minutes.

Like any college town, just travel down the road a bit closer to campus and you’ll find no end to the night time festivities. College Park institutions, RJ Bentley’s and the Cornerstone, anchor the downtown area. For those looking for a more sophisticated, urban atmosphere, hop on the College Park metro and you’ll be in the nation’s capital in a matter of minutes.

In North College Park, the capital beltway links with Interstate 95, which winds north all the way up to Maine and south to Florida. Route 1 is College Park’s main road, running through town and continuing south into DC and north to Baltimore.

College Park has its own metro station on the Washington metro’s green line, but for the neighborhood of North College Park, the Greenbelt metro station may be more convenient. From either station, you can be in downtown D.C. in less than half an hour. Both stations also house MARC commuter train stations that run during the week from Baltimore to DC’s Union Station.

North College Park has a great number of bus services available. In addition to MetroBus, the Route 1 Ride bus circulates Monday through Friday for a minimal fee. The University of Maryland shuttle carries students, faculty and city residents throughout the area at no charge. Cabs do make their way through College Park, but calling in advance for their services tends to be a better bet. You can access car services, such as Uber, from North College Park and the University has several, convenient Zipcar locations.

In the more southern areas of College Park, most public parking requires a small fee. In North College Park, however, the more suburban, residential environment leads to free parking in public lots.

The residential areas within North College Park are walkable, but Route 1, which bisects the neighborhood, can be quite dangerous for pedestrians. Bikers rejoice over the amenities provided in North College Park. The area provides numerous options for both commuters as well as recreational bikers.

Numerous free, city-run parks and playgrounds dot the North College Park neighborhood. Locals frequently congregate at Duval Field to play on the sports fields or head to nearby Lake Artemesia to bike or stroll along its scenic pathways. Dog-owners flock to the College Park Dog Park at Acredale Park. The neighborhood has endless entertainment options from bowling and ice skating to swimming. Sports lovers can catch a Terps game at Byrd Stadium.

As a neighborhood within the city, North College Park residents actively participate in numerous campus activities, including an annual Maryland Day celebration, Fourth of July festivities and family movie nights.

Living in North College Park costs more than the Maryland average, but somewhat less than the Washington, D.C., average. The average cost of gas in North College Park hovers around 4 percent higher than the national average.

The short metro ride into downtown DC costs $4 during peak hours and $3.15 off-peak, plus a $5 parking fee. Grab a beer at Hard Times Café for between $2 and $3.50 during happy hour or for $3 at Tex-Mex favorite Azteca Restaurant and Cantina.

Many new high-rise apartment complexes have emerged in North College Park in recent years, so you can expect to pay around $1,158 per month for a one-bedroom apartment.

North College Park has a diverse selection of shopping options, from big name chains to small specialty shops. Home Depot, Best Buy and Shopper’s Food Warehouse anchor the shopping center on Route 1 and Cherry Hill Road. On the northern edge of the neighborhood, Swedish home goods super-store Ikea employs hundreds of College Park residents.

North College Park also houses numerous specialty shops. Peg Leg Vintage on Route 1 provides a unique alternative to Ikea with its collection of antique furnishings and home decor. On the other side of the street, Proteus Bicycles sells new bikes, accessories and clothing, as well as providing high-quality bike repairs.

For groceries, residents of North College Park have their choice of Shopper’s Food Warehouse, a nearby Giant Food or MOM’s Organic Market. In addition to the fresh, local produce available at MOM’s, several farmers markets cover the College Park area between April and November. On Wednesdays, visit Testudo’s Market on campus. The Hollywood Farmers Market sells local wares on Saturdays, and the Downtown College Park Farmers Market opens on Sundays.