The Front Row

1. Either Pittsburgh or Harrisburg are easy airports to navigate. The commute to SC depends on your arrival time. From Harrisburg, it is a beautiful drive on 322 but the traffic can be a challenge approaching town (freeway narrows to one lane 5 miles outside SC). From Pittsburgh, it's a dull drive, but you should encounter less potential traffic issues (all freeway I-76 to I-99).

2. State College is nice on gameday weekend, but you will definitely find hundreds (if not thousands) of more productive things to do in Philly or NYC if staying a few extra days.

3. The three nicest hotels in State College are the Nittany Lion Inn, The Penn Stater, and The Toftrees. However, they are pricey and difficult to get accomodations on a game weekend. The rest are national chains and nothing special. Many out-of-towners book hotels in the surrounding area (Altoona, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh) to save on cost. The gameday commute from the west isn't too bad...especially since the game will start early evening. If coming from the east, leave early. It's a spectacular drive at sunrise anyhow.

I hope that helps. Feel free to shoot a PM with any other specific questions.

MARINEBUCKEYE said...

How far is Harrisburg from the stadium?

About 2-1/2 to 3 hours on a normal day. Game day can be worst as mentioned before. SC doesn't handle a lot if traffic well.

Depends on how fast you drive. Typically 2-2.5 hrs, but as I mentioned before, the majority of it is a really beautiful drive on US-322. It's freeway until about 5 miles outside SC, where it is condensed to 2 lanes thru a mountain pass. That's where traffic can become problematic. Coming from south/southwest (Pittsburgh, Columbus, B-more/DC), northwest (Cleveland), or northeast (NYC) is all freeway w I-80, I-76, and I-99. Coming from southeast (Harrisburg, Philly, South NJ) on 322 typically has the worst traffic.

Ummm, well...I'm a mod on the PSU site. PA born, raised, currently reside, PSU alum, etc. But we're fellow brothers of the human race, right? FWIW, I sat in the Block O student section 2 yrs ago w a PSU friend of mine whose wife is an OSU employee. Even in the student section, we were treated quite well in spite of the occasional combative kid (which pollute ALL our nations campuses). The city, campus, and stadium were tremendous. We lucked out w extraordinary weather for early Nov as well. I can only hope for a similar experience from Buckeye visitors and I can advise on the lots to avoid when we get to a closer date.

Thanks to you all the same , I appreciate the info . I don't group people together like some folks, you clearly weren't one of them throwing urine . Every fan base has their nutjobs. A few years back I traveled to the psu-fsu orange bowl . I lived 30 mins away , couldn't pass up a chance to watch a big ten compAnion . Had a blast with a group of 20 Penn staters that I had never met. Even after the game was finally over and psu victorious at about one in the morning we hung out and bs about college football . There are great fans everywhere , sometimes we just don't always run into them. Perhaps I will see you at state college next year , and buy you a beer