Things to Do in State College, PA: The Complete Penn State Student Guide
State College is more than football weekends. Here's a full-year guide to things to do — hikes, museums, farm stands, ice cream, and gameday traditions.
TL;DR
Beyond Beaver Stadium, the best things to do in State College, PA include the Penn State Berkey Creamery, the Palmer Museum of Art, hiking Mount Nittany, exploring the Arboretum at Penn State, kayaking on Colyer Lake, and catching a show at the Bryce Jordan Center or State Theatre. Most on-campus attractions are a 5-minute walk from downtown apartments like Calder Commons and Meridian on College Avenue.
Key takeaways
- The Penn State Berkey Creamery is a required first-week stop — it's the country's largest university creamery.
- Mount Nittany is a 3.5-mile loop with the best view of Happy Valley — a rite of passage.
- The Arboretum at Penn State and the Palmer Museum are both free and walkable from campus.
- The State Theatre and Bryce Jordan Center anchor a real live-music scene.
- Fall foliage in Rothrock State Forest is a 20-minute drive.
On-campus attractions (walk from downtown)
- The Berkey Creamery — the largest university creamery in the US. Try Peachy Paterno or Death by Chocolate. Line moves fast.
- Palmer Museum of Art — free admission, rotating exhibitions plus a strong permanent collection. Just moved to a stunning new building at the Arboretum.
- The Arboretum at Penn State — free, 395 acres of gardens, meadows, and the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens.
- Old Main lawn — the picture-perfect quad in front of Penn State's oldest and most recognizable building.
- Pattee & Paterno Library — architecturally worth walking through even if you're not studying.
Outdoor & hiking
- Mount Nittany Hike — 3.5-mile Mike Lynch loop with a killer overlook of Beaver Stadium and Happy Valley. 15 minutes from downtown.
- Rothrock State Forest — 96,000 acres of trails, waterfalls, and fall foliage. Alan Seeger Natural Area is a favorite.
- Colyer Lake — kayaking, paddleboarding, and easy shoreline walks 15 minutes east.
- Millbrook Marsh Nature Center — boardwalk trails and free wetlands access, 10-minute drive.
- Whipple Dam State Park — swimming beach and picnic area 25 minutes south.
Arts, live music & culture
- State Theatre (130 W College Ave) — historic 1938 theater, live music, comedy, and indie film.
- Bryce Jordan Center — Penn State's main arena, hosts national tours from country to hip-hop.
- Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State — Broadway tours, ballet, orchestra.
- The Makery — hands-on craft workshops, a fun rainy-day option.
- Discovery Space — small children's science museum for parents-weekend visitors bringing younger siblings.
Football gameday things to do
If you're at Penn State, you'll do 6–7 home football Saturdays a year. The best gameday experience isn't just the stadium — it's the whole day.
- Breakfast at The Waffle Shop or the Corner Room (get there before 9 a.m.).
- Walk through Old Main lawn and the Nittany Lion Shrine for the required photo.
- Tailgate in the East Lot or the Blue Lot — bring your own or find a friend who has.
- Stadium entry gates open ~2 hours before kickoff; wear white for a White Out.
- Post-game slice at Canyon Pizza before heading back downtown.
Easy day trips from State College
- Penns Cave (30 min) — America's only all-water cavern, plus a wildlife park.
- Bellefonte (15 min) — Victorian-era town with historic downtown and Talleyrand Park.
- Boalsburg (10 min) — birthplace of Memorial Day, art galleries, and the Duffy's Tavern anchor.
- Lewisburg (45 min) — Bucknell's college town, worth a coffee-and-bookstore afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
What are the top things to do in State College, PA?
The top things to do in State College are visiting the Penn State Berkey Creamery, hiking Mount Nittany, walking the Arboretum at Penn State, catching a show at the State Theatre or Bryce Jordan Center, and attending a Penn State football game at Beaver Stadium.
What's free to do in State College, PA?
Free things to do include the Arboretum at Penn State, the Palmer Museum of Art, Old Main lawn, most Penn State campus tours, Millbrook Marsh boardwalks, and the Mount Nittany hike. The Berkey Creamery is nominally paid but a single cone is inexpensive.
Is Mount Nittany worth hiking?
Yes — Mount Nittany is a 3.5-mile Mike Lynch loop with an overlook of Beaver Stadium and Happy Valley. It's considered a rite of passage for Penn State students and takes about 2 hours round-trip from the trailhead 15 minutes east of downtown State College.
Sources & further reading
- Happy Valley Adventure Bureau — Happy Valley Adventure Bureau
- The Arboretum at Penn State — The Pennsylvania State University