Maryland, George Washington, George Mason and Towson in 3 Days: A D.C.-Area Drive Trip
A parent-first plan for seeing the University of Maryland, George Washington University, George Mason University and Towson University from one hotel in College Park: official tour sign-ups, visitor parking at every campus, Metro to D.C., meals between tours, things for siblings and weather by season.
McKeldin Library and Mall, Maryland (Oct 2019). Photo: Blacktupelo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Every fact comes from the pages listed in Sources at the bottom. Some hotel and tour links are affiliate links (disclosure).
Check before you go. Tour times, sign-up rules, parking and seasonal closures change often, sometimes weekly. Every campus section below links to that school's official visit page and shows when we last checked it. Confirm there before you book or drive. College Visit Guides is not affiliated with or endorsed by any college or university. Names are used only to identify them.
The short version
Trip at a glance
Schools
University of Maryland, College Park · George Washington University, Washington, D.C. · George Mason University, Fairfax, Va. · Towson University, Towson, Md.
Days
3: Maryland and George Washington on the same day, then George Mason, then Towson before you fly home. Arrive the day before.
Fly into
Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), about 39 minutes and 24 miles from the hotel with no traffic. The hotel says Reagan National (DCA) is 17 miles away.
Best base
The Hotel at the University of Maryland, home of UMD's Visitor Center, where Maryland's information sessions are held.
Car or transit
Plan on a car for George Mason (about 34 miles) and Towson (about 41 miles). For George Washington you can take Metro: GW has its own stop, Foggy Bottom–GWU.
Registration
All four schools take visit registration online. George Mason and George Washington limit how many guests each student can bring.
1. Who this guide is for
This plan is for parents with a high schooler, and maybe younger siblings, who want to see four Division I universities around Washington, D.C., in one trip: the University of Maryland in College Park, George Washington University in D.C.'s Foggy Bottom, George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., and Towson University north of Baltimore.
Instead of changing hotels, you sleep at The Hotel at the University of Maryland every night. UMD's Visitor Center is in the hotel's main lobby, so your first visit starts downstairs.
Why this order
Day 1: Maryland's student-led Terrapin Tour runs 60–90 minutes, and the Maryland Information Session & Tour is about 2 hours. George Washington's Foggy Bottom tours last about an hour.
Day 2: George Mason's visit is a 30-minute information session, then an Ambassador-led tour or a self-guided tour with a map; plan on about 2 hours in all.
Day 3: Towson's campus tours start with a brief information session from an admission counselor, then a 90-minute walking tour.
Book Maryland in the morning and George Washington in the afternoon
Maryland's information sessions are held in the Visitor Center's auditorium, inside the hotel, so a morning visit means no driving at all.
George Washington is about 26 minutes and 10 miles from the hotel by car with no traffic, or you can walk about 20 minutes to the College Park–University of Maryland Metro station and ride to Foggy Bottom–GWU. Check both calendars for a morning slot at Maryland and an afternoon slot at GW before you book.
Tour availability varies by season.
Towson's Undergraduate Open House is Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, for high school seniors and transfer students, with a tour, an information session, faculty-led academic college overviews and a resource fair.
Maryland's next Discover Maryland day, for high school sophomores and juniors, is in February 2027; registration opens in spring 2027.
George Washington says D.C.'s cherry blossoms typically bloom in March or April.
George Mason takes sessions off its calendar two days before the visit date, so register early.
2. The suggested 3-day plan
Drive and walk times are no-traffic estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, using addresses geocoded with OpenStreetMap Nominatim. Rush hour around Washington and Baltimore can make them much longer.
Towson says BWI is about 45 minutes away outside rush hour, and the campus is eight miles north of downtown Baltimore.
The hotel says it is 17 miles from Reagan National, 27 miles from BWI and 36 miles from Dulles.
Arrival day: fly into BWI and check in at College Park
BWI → The Hotel at the University of Maryland (7777 Baltimore Ave., College Park)
Driving (no traffic)
~39 min, 24.2 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking
Drive (rental car)
Hotel → College Park Aviation Museum (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr.)
Driving (no traffic)
~4 min, 1.3 mi
Walking
~24 min walk, 1.1 mi
Check-in is at 4 pm, and the guest checking in must be 18 or older with photo ID.
When you arrive, pull up under the large glass awning on Hotel Drive; the front desk will give you your parking options.
Day 1: Maryland, then George Washington
Hotel → McKeldin Library, the center of McKeldin Mall
Driving (no traffic)
Walk
Walking
~13 min walk, 0.6 mi
McKeldin Library → Stamp Student Union (lunch)
Driving (no traffic)
Walk
Walking
~7 min walk, 0.3 mi
Hotel → College Park–University of Maryland Metro station (Green Line)
Driving (no traffic)
Walk
Walking
~20 min walk, 0.9 mi
Foggy Bottom–GWU Metro → University Student Center (800 21st St. NW)
Driving (no traffic)
Walk
Walking
~5 min walk, 0.2 mi
Or drive: hotel → George Washington's University Student Center
Driving (no traffic)
~26 min, 10.1 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking
Drive
Maryland's Visitor Center front desk is off the hotel's main lobby, near the elevators, and is staffed Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
George Washington's Admissions Welcome Center is on the first floor of the University Student Center, where Foggy Bottom tours begin.
Day 2: George Mason in Fairfax
Hotel → Rappahannock Parking Deck, George Mason (University Dr., Fairfax)
Driving (no traffic)
~51 min, 33.7 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking
Drive
George Mason → Udvar-Hazy Center (14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy., Chantilly)
Driving (no traffic)
~25 min, 11.6 mi
Walking
Drive
Udvar-Hazy Center → hotel
Driving (no traffic)
~59 min, 39.0 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking
Drive
Arrive 20–30 minutes early; check-in opens 30 minutes before your visit. Your confirmation email has the parking and check-in details.
The first-floor visitor section of the Rappahannock Parking Deck is the closest visitor parking to the Mason Tour and Visitor Center, and Mason validates visitor parking.
Day 3: Towson, then BWI
Hotel → Towson University (8000 York Rd., Towson)
Driving (no traffic)
~1 hr 5 min, 40.5 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking
Drive
Towson → BWI
Driving (no traffic)
~39 min, 18.1 mi (no-traffic estimate)
Walking
Drive
Towson's admissions office sends parking and directions when you register.
Check out of the hotel before you leave; confirm the check-out time at the front desk.
3. Campus by campus
McKeldin Library and Mall, Maryland (Oct 2019). Photo: Blacktupelo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped
The Terrapin Tour is a student-led walking tour of 60–90 minutes. The Maryland Information Session & Tour adds an admissions presentation and runs about 2 hours. Registration is required.
The Visitor Center is in the main lobby of The Hotel at the University of Maryland, open Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–4 p.m. except university holidays and bad-weather closures. Information sessions are in its auditorium.
There's also a self-guided Terrapin Tour PDF and a virtual tour.
Visitor parking
Visitor Center guests get discounted parking in the hotel's attached garage. Set up a Metropolis parking account ahead of time and allow extra time for parking and validation.
Elsewhere on campus, visitor parking is $4 an hour with a $20 daily maximum, paid by ParkMobile or at pay stations; 15 minutes or less at a pay station is free.
Getting there
McKeldin Library is about a 13-minute walk from the hotel.
Maryland says Washington, D.C., is only four Metro stops away and Baltimore is 30 miles from campus.
What to know
Testudo stands in front of McKeldin Library on the 16.28-acre McKeldin Mall, one of the largest academic malls in the country. The campus farm and The "M" are on the visit highlights list too.
Contact
Admissions: ApplyMaryland@umd.edu
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
Campus tours are typically held Monday through Saturday. Each student can bring up to three guests, for at most four visitors per party.
Foggy Bottom tours last about an hour and are led by current students, from the University Student Center past Kogan Plaza, University Yard and more. Register ahead; walk-ins are taken only if there's space.
The Admissions Welcome Center is on the first floor of the University Student Center, 800 21st St. NW. The office is open Monday–Friday 9–5 plus select Saturdays.
Visitor parking
GW recommends public transit. Paid visitor parking is below the University Student Center (enter on H Street between 21st and 22nd) and Science and Engineering Hall; there's no free parking.
At the Student Center garage, 1 hour is $12, up to 2 hours $18 and the daily maximum $26 ($12 on weekends). Cards, Apple Pay and Google Wallet only, no cash; prices include D.C.'s 18% parking tax. Open 6 a.m.–midnight.
Getting there
GW is the only D.C. school with its own Metro stop, Foggy Bottom–GWU, on the Silver, Blue and Orange lines. The stop is about a 5-minute walk from the Student Center.
About 26 minutes and 10 miles from the hotel by car with no traffic.
What to know
GW says Metro from Foggy Bottom reaches Union Station in about 15 minutes and Reagan National Airport in about 20.
Contact
Admissions: 202-994-6040
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
Each visit starts with a 30-minute information session with an admissions staff member, followed by a Mason Ambassador-led tour or a self-guided tour with a map. Allow at least 90 minutes for the Ambassador tour.
Registration is required, and each registered visitor can bring up to two guests.
Mason is moving to a new visit calendar, so check the visit page for every available date.
Visitor parking
Mason validates parking at two visitor garages; your confirmation email says which to use. The Rappahannock Parking Deck's first-floor visitor section is closest to the Mason Tour and Visitor Center.
Visitor parking in the Mason Pond Parking Deck is unavailable during its renovation.
Getting there
About 51 minutes and 34 miles from the hotel by car with no traffic.
What to know
During the academic year, registered visitors get a free dining hall voucher. Outside food isn't allowed in the presentation space.
The Udvar-Hazy Center, the Smithsonian's air and space hangars in Chantilly, is about 25 minutes away.
Contact
Admissions: visit@gmu.edu, admissions@gmu.edu
Last checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour and admissions details change often, so confirm them on the school's official visit page before you go.
4. Where to stay: one base on the University of Maryland campus
Expedia hotel links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Hotel · Our pick
The Hotel at the University of Maryland
7777 Baltimore Ave., College Park, Md.
Why here
UMD's Visitor Center is in the main lobby, and Visitor Center guests get a special hotel rate.
It's less than a mile from the College Park Metro station on the Green Line, and the MARC Camden Line station is about a 12-minute walk.
Good to know
Check-in is at 4 pm; the guest checking in must be 18 or older. Self-parking in the attached garage is $16 a day for hotel guests, with in-and-out privileges.
The 850-space garage takes credit cards only and has EV charging stations; tell the front desk at check-in if you'll be charging.
There's an indoor pool, fitness center and spa on the 4th floor. Front desk: 301-277-7777.
One hotel for every night means no repacking. Maryland is downstairs, GW is a Metro ride away, and Fairfax and Towson are day trips; Towson sits on the way to BWI for your last day.
5. Meals between tours
Hours change, so check before you go.
At the hotel
Eat
Iron Rooster
The Hotel at the University of Maryland, 7777 Baltimore Ave.
Southern comfort food with breakfast all day, open daily 7 a.m.–9 p.m.
On the grounds of College Park Airport, the world's oldest continuously operating airport, about 4 minutes from the hotel by car. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Mondays.
Two large hangars with more than 3,000 objects, including over 200 aircraft and spacecraft, about 25 minutes from George Mason. Admission is free with no passes needed; parking is $15. Open 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. every day but Dec. 25.
On Baltimore's Inner Harbor, about 22 minutes from Towson and 20 minutes from BWI by car. Partner garages charge aquarium guests a flat $18. Last entry is an hour before closing, and hours change by month.
At Maryland, use the hotel garage: $16 a day for hotel guests, and Visitor Center guests get a discount.
At George Washington, take Metro if you can. The Student Center garage is $18 for up to 2 hours, cards only.
At George Mason, park where your confirmation email says; Mason validates visitor parking.
At Towson, buy a ParkMobile virtual permit during weekday enforcement hours.
Tour day comfort
The walking tours run about an hour to 90 minutes, so wear comfortable shoes.
At George Mason, arrive 20–30 minutes early to park and check in.
Weather by season (1991–2020 NOAA normals: Reagan National and BWI airports)
Spring: April averages about 67–68°F highs and 44–48°F lows.
Summer: July averages about 89–90°F highs and 68–72°F lows.
Fall: October averages about 68–69°F highs and 47–52°F lows; November highs drop to about 57–58°F.
Winter: January averages about 43–45°F highs and 25–30°F lows, and about 5–6 inches of snow in January.
Parent checklist
Register for all four visits online: Maryland, George Washington, George Mason and Towson. Watch the guest limits at George Washington and George Mason.
Book Maryland in the morning and George Washington in the afternoon of the same day.
Book The Hotel at the University of Maryland for every night, and set up a Metropolis parking account for the Visitor Center discount.
Reserve a rental car for George Mason and Towson.
After each visit, take five minutes to jot down what stood out to your student.
8. Student-athlete recruiting visits
For families whose student hopes to play a college sport. Rules below are the NCAA's; each school's links were checked Oct 26, 2026.
Coaches arrange the recruiting part of a visit, not the admissions office. The tour sign-ups in this guide are for the regular family visit. An official (school-paid) visit is offered by the school, and contact with coaches follows NCAA rules that vary by division, sport and grade level.
Start with your sport's questionnaire, then email the coaches. The NCAA suggests emailing coaches with your achievements, highlight videos and interest in their program, including your name, position, NCAA ID and graduation year.
Unofficial visit: any campus visit you or your family pay for. You can take as many as you like; in Divisions I and II each one has to come after the first permissible date for your sport.
Official visit: a visit paid for by the school. Each school can offer your student only one. Before a Division I official visit, your student must be registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center, be on the school's institutional request list, and the school must have their high school transcripts.
Division I (University of Maryland, College Park, George Washington University, George Mason University and Towson University): on an official visit the school can pay for travel for the student and up to two family members, lodging, up to three meals a day for the student and up to four family members, and up to $60 a person in entertainment, including five home-game tickets. On an unofficial visit there are no free meals, but the school can give up to three home-game tickets. Division I uses recruiting calendars with contact, evaluation, quiet and dead periods; in a dead period, no in-person contact and no visits.
Rules change. Confirm with the coach, or check the NCAA's recruiting page and recruiting calendars, before you plan dates.
Planning around the season
Check each school's athletics schedule (linked above) before you pick dates, so a coach meeting doesn't land on a road trip or game day for your sport.
Our recommendation, not a school rule: ask the coach whether they can line up an admissions session or tour around your meeting. If not, book the regular family tour yourself through the official sign-up links in this guide, and leave time between the two.
Add your dates and how you're getting there, and we'll pull this guide into one plan: tour sign-up links, the hotel base, parking or airport notes, the route and meals.
Coming soon
Planning more college trips?
Visit-season reminders and new trip guides from College Visit Guides. Newsletter coming soon.
Sources
All checked Oct 27, 2026. Tour schedules change constantly, so always confirm on each school's official sign-up page. Photo credits are under each photo and on our About page.
