One of the best things about State College is that you do not really need a car to enjoy it. Penn State's University Park campus and downtown sit right against each other, and much of what visitors want to see is packed into a compact, walkable area. Here is how to get around comfortably without the hassle of driving and parking.
Walking: the default
For most visitors, walking is the simplest option. Downtown's core along College and Beaver Avenues flows directly into campus, and you can reach the major landmarks on foot. The main limits are distance and time — University Park is large, and covering it all on foot is a full day, which is a lot for families with young kids, older visitors, or anyone short on time.
Why parking is the real problem
The trouble with driving in State College is not the roads — it is the parking. Campus and downtown parking is limited, decks fill up during events, and on game days road closures and crowds make driving genuinely difficult. Avoiding the parking search is often reason enough to leave the car behind.
Pedicabs: the local favorite
Pedicabs — chariot-style rides pedaled by a local driver — have become a signature way to get around State College. They shine for exactly the trips that are awkward otherwise: campus to downtown, hotel to a restaurant, parking deck to an event, or a relaxed loop of the campus landmarks. A chariot moves through tighter downtown and campus-area streets that larger vehicles cannot, and it turns a transfer into part of the experience.
They are especially useful on busy days. When everyone is trying to leave a game or an event at once and rideshare surges, a pre-arranged pedicab ride can be the easy way between the crowd and your destination. For football Saturdays specifically, see our guide to Penn State football weekends.
Matching the ride to the trip
For a scenic, story-filled loop of campus, a guided tour is the way to go. For practical point-to-point trips on game day, reserved game-day transportation makes more sense. Either way, you skip the parking and see more of Happy Valley at street level.
Plan ahead for events
On ordinary days you can be spontaneous. On big weekends — football, graduation, festivals — demand for every kind of transportation spikes, so it pays to arrange rides in advance. Get in touch and we will help you figure out what works best for your visit.