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It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes a town a “college town,” but you know it when you see it. The campus is green and sprawling with striking architecture, there’s a handful of haunts where locals flock before and after football games and the weather on game day is just cool enough that you need to wrap yourself in a colorful throw blanket (in your team colors, of course).
If you are planning to cheer on the home team or follow your alma mater on the road this season, we found 10 of the best college towns to visit this fall.
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In This Post
Athens, Georgia — University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia. JAKE GEE/VISITATHENSGA.COM
Athens, Georgia, flaunts the same vibrant fall colors you can find in other parts of the U.S., but the mild southern temperatures mean you can actually enjoy them without getting too bundled up. After a day spent strolling around the beautiful campus or watching the UGA Bulldogs, head for Broad Street in downtown Athens for local shopping, dining and live music or to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia if you are looking for something a bit more peaceful. During your visit, see how many of the larger-than-life bulldog statues you can find throughout the city.
The University of Georgia campus. JAKE GEE/VISITATHENSGA.COM
Where to stay
The SpringHill Suites by Marriott Athens Downtown is located directly adjacent to the UGA campus in the heart of downtown Athens. Rooms at this all-suite property start at around $150 or 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Less than 2 miles from UGA’s Sanford Stadium, the Hyatt Place Athens has rooms with one king or two queen beds plus a sleeper sofa. Pricing starts at around $150 or 9,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Provo, Utah — Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah. SEAN PAVONE/GETTY IMAGES
We’ll just put it out there up front that BYU is a dry campus – alcohol, tobacco and controlled substances are not allowed on campus, at the tailgates or inside the stadium. That being said, the jovial camaraderie of cheering on your favorite team can be just as intoxicating and you won’t wake up with a hangover. While you are in town, hike the iconic 2.2-mile round-trip Y Mountain Trail (named for the large block “Y” in the side of the mountain) for panoramic views of the city.
Where to stay
Hyatt Place Provo is located just five minutes from BYU’s campus and, in addition to standard rooms, has spacious suites with separate living, dining and sleeping areas. Pricing starts at around $140 or 5,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Provo is located within walking distance to BYU and rooms start at under $130 or about 17,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. The hotel has an indoor swimming pool and you’ll receive complimentary breakfast during your stay.
State College, Pennsylvania — Penn State University
The Penn State campus. PENN STATE UNIVERSITY/FACEBOOK
State College, Pennsylvania — often referred to as “Happy Valley” — is home to Penn State’s Nittany Lions (one of the many, many monikers for a cougar or mountain lion). The craft beer scene here is top-notch. Pennsylvania-owned Voodoo Brewing Co. has a location in State College and you can walk next door to Happy Valley Brewing Company to sample even more local brews. For scenic views of the changing leaves and Penn State campus, hike the trails at nearby Mount Nittany.
Where to stay
The Courtyard by Marriott State College is only a six-minute drive from Penn State’s Beaver Stadium. The on-site bistro has coffee in the morning and cocktails in the evening, and rooms start at around $110 or 37,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Scholar State College, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton, is located in the heart of State College and appeals to the hearts of Penn State fans with a gray, white and blue color scheme. Rooms start at around $140 or 38,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Greenville, North Carolina — East Carolina University
The East Carolina University campus. EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY/FACEBOOK
Greenville, North Carolina, is home to the East Carolina University Pirates, as well as a bustling culinary and arts scene in the Uptown and Dickinson Avenue districts. If you show up to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium early to tailgate, be sure to make your way over to the stadium with plenty of time before kickoff to catch the Pirates’ “Purple Haze” entrance into the stadium, complete with purple smoke and a Jimi Hendrix soundtrack.
Where to stay
The Courtyard by Marriott Greenville is situated less than a 3-mile drive from Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and within walking distance of ECU’s campus. Room rates start at around $125 or 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
The Hilton Greenville is just under 3 miles away from ECU’s campus and has convenient on-site dining, room service and an outdoor pool. Room rates start at around $150 or 41,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Lawrence, Kansas — University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas. NICK TRE SMITH/ICON SPORTSWIRE/GETTY IMAGES
If you are traveling to the Midwest to see the Kansas Jayhawks, you’ll be happy to find there are lots of activities and attractions in the area to round out your weekend. At the Jayhawk Experience, you can take a walking tour through the history of KU sports or you can head outdoors to the Prairie Park Nature Center for hiking, bird watching and animal spotting.
Where to stay
Studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Lawrence Downtown have a full kitchen and separate sleeping/living area. The hotel is only 2 miles from the University of Kansas and room rates start at around $120 or 24,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Just five minutes from the University of Kansas campus and within 2 miles of downtown Lawrence, the DoubleTree by Hilton Lawrence is conveniently situated close to everything Lawrence has to offer. Room rates start at around $100 or 29,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Berkeley, California — University of California
The view over UC Berkeley’s Campanile toward the San Francisco skyline. VISIT BERKELEY
Located by the San Francisco Bay, Berkeley, California, bestows upon visitors the best of the California coast and a taste of the changing seasons (and foliage colors) of the Pacific Northwest. Before or after the California Golden Bears game, reserve some time to explore the UC Campus and Tilden Park — both are beautifully landscaped and offer a breadth of events and activities.
Where to stay
The Residence Inn by Marriott Berkeley is an all-suite option located adjacent to the UC Berkeley campus. It also has easy access to the Bay Area Rapid Transit system if your explorations take you farther from campus. Rooms start at around $230 or 40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Only 1 mile from the UC Berkeley campus, the Aiden by Best Western Berkeley provides a selection of unique amenities, including a rooftop terrace with complimentary TRX bands and yoga mats for fitness enthusiasts. Room rates start at around $170 or 32,000 Best Western Rewards points per night.
Madison, Wisconsin — University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin. FOCAL FLAME PHOTOGRAPHY/DESTINATION MADISON
Watching a UW Madison Badgers football game is a full-day event. Start your day on campus at Union South for a pre-game celebration with the marching band and spirit squad. At game time, head for Camp Randall Stadium or one of the bars on Regent Street or University Avenue. If you watch the game at the stadium, stick around after the game for the “Fifth Quarter,” a sing-and-dance-along performance by the marching band that keeps the energy from the game going long after the final play.
FOCAL FLAME PHOTOGRAPHY/DESTINATION MADISON
Where to stay
The Hilton Garden Inn Madison Downtown is within walking distance of the State Capitol, UW Madison and the Regent Street bars. Room rates start at around $125 or 37,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Rooms at the DoubleTree by Hilton Madison Downtown are spacious and comfortable and the property is only a half mile from the UW Madison campus. Room rates start at around $120 or 36,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Stillwater, Oklahoma — Oklahoma State University
The Oklahoma State University campus. OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY/FACEBOOK
If you time your visit around OSU’s annual homecoming game, you’ll catch one of the best homecoming celebrations in the country. The revelry kicks off the Friday before homecoming with a “walkaround” to view the huge displays created by campus Greek houses and residential dorms. On the morning of the game, don your best orange and black fan gear for the Sea of Orange Parade before heading to the tailgate area or walking to nearby bars like Eskimo Joes or Iron Monk Brewing Company, the official craft beer of Oklahoma State University.
Where to stay
Home2 Suites by Hilton Stillwater is located on Hall of Fame Avenue, less than a mile from Boone Pickens Stadium. Rooms start at around $100 or 29,000 Hilton Honors points per night, and complimentary breakfast and parking are included.
The Hampton Inn & Suites Stillwater is situated between OSU’s campus and Stillwater’s city center where you’ll find the OSU Museum of Art and Stillwater History Museum. Room rates start at around $100 or 29,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Bloomington, Indiana — Indiana University Bloomington
The Indiana University Bloomington campus. YING LUO/500PX/GETTY IMAGES
There’s something about fiery orange and yellow leaves and a cool, crisp breeze that pair perfectly with fall football, and there is no better place to experience all of these than Bloomington, Indiana. On game day, go for a stroll around campus to take in the colors in the morning and then peruse the bars and eateries on Kirkwood Avenue after you cheer on the Cream and Crimson at Memorial Stadium.
Where to stay
From the Hilton Garden Inn Bloomington, you can easily walk to area bars, restaurants, shops and Indiana University. Room rates start at around $120 or 28,000 Hilton Honors points per night.
Located on Kirkwood Avenue and just a 10-minute walk away from IU, the Hyatt Place Bloomington is in the center of it all. Room rates start at around $125 or 12,000 World of Hyatt Points per night.
Ann Arbor, Michigan — University of Michigan
University of Michigan Law Quad. JWEISE/GETTY IMAGES
Ann Arbor, Michigan, is well known for its beautiful University of Michigan campus. Michigan Stadium, also known as “The Big House” is the largest football stadium in the U.S. You can even take a guided tour of the facility to see off-limits areas like the press box and locker room. During your visit, you can spend time at a different kind of field called The Wave Field. This art installation doubles as a green space and is something of an optical illusion. The shapes seem to shift as the shadows change throughout the day.
Where to stay
Hyatt Place Ann Arbor offers free parking, free breakfast and easy access to Michigan Stadium. Room rates start at around $150 or 9,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
The Residence Inn by Marriott Ann Arbor Downtown is only a few blocks from the University of Michigan and offers all the comforts of home like a full kitchen, work desk, and separate living and sleeping areas (even in studio suites). Room rates start at around $200 or 37,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Bottom line
Whether you are in town to catch the big game or simply to enjoy the crisp autumn air and shifting seasons, these college towns earn an A+ in our book for fall fun.
Featured photo by Patrick Civello/Visit Berkeley.