Where We Are

Map

The map below shows MEI’s location relative to other cities on the east coast.

UMD relative to East Coast Cities

The map below shows MEI’s location within the University of Maryland’s campus.

Where we are

Places of Interest Near the University

MEI is in College Park, Maryland on the east coast of the USA. The school is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Washington, DC. Many places of interest are close:

Washington, DC Museums

  • the Smithsonian (the largest museum in the world)
  • National Air and Space Museum
  • National Zoo
  • Newseum – where the news comes to life
  • International Spy Museum
  • Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
  • Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum
  • National Museum of American History
  • National Gallery of Art
  • and many more…

Famous Places

  • The White House
  • The U.S. Capitol Building
  • The Lincoln Memorial
  • The Washington Monument
  • The Library of Congress
  • Ford’s National Historic Theatre
  • and many more…

Theaters

  • The Kennedy Center
  • Shakespeare Theater
  • Warner Theater
  • Studio Theater
  • and more…

Other Entertainment

  • Dozens and dozens of movie theaters
  • Music clubs – jazz, rock, modern, classical
  • Comedy clubs, dance clubs, nightlife
  • 1,929 eating places, just in Washington DC!
  • and more…

Other Attractions

  • Many specialty shopping stores
  • Discount shopping malls
  • Government agencies
  • Two Major League Baseball teams
  • Two National Football League teams
  • National Basketball Association team
  • International Food Stores
  • and more…

Local Transportation

The UM Shuttle — free university shuttle bus to

  • apartments and student housing
  • shopping centers and grocery stores
  • libraries and post offices
  • the local Metro subway system
  • the local commuter (MARC) train
  • the local bus systems

Metrobus and Metrorail

  • Metropolitan area bus and subway system
  • connects UMD to Washington, DC
  • connects to communities around campus

Commuter Trains

  • the MARC train – service to downtown Baltimore
  • the Light Rail system – access to the Maryland suburbs
  • the Virginia Railway Express – access to the Virginia suburbs

Local Bus Systems

  • The Bus – bus service between local communities and nearby Metrorail stations
  • Montgomery County Ride-On – bus service throughout Montgomery County
  • Connect-A-Ride – bus service between the Laurel Mall and College Park

Local Travel

MEI’s location makes travel easy:

  • Downtown Washington, DC: 15 minutes
  • Downtown Baltimore, MD: 45 minutes
  • Philadelphia: 2.0 hours

Three major airports serve the area:

Airport Airport Code Distance from MEI
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

BWI

30-35 minutes

Dulles International Airport

IAD

40-45 minutes

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

DCA

30-35 minutes

There are several possibilities for transportation from the airports.

About Maryland

Maryland is one of the 50 U.S. states. It was one of the original 13 U.S. states. Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington DC border Maryland to the south and west. Pennsylvania borders Maryland to the north and Delaware borders it to the east.

Maryland has so many different natural features that it is nicknamed “America in Miniature.” There are parks, beaches, mountains, forests, and countryside. The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, is also in Maryland.

Weather in Maryland is usually comfortable, and Maryland has four seasons. The average temperature in summer is around 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius), while the average temperature in winter is around 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius). Spring and fall are very beautiful, with mild temperatures and bright sunlight.