7 Best College Towns to Visit and Where to Stay

Gainesville, Florida

Gainesville has a distinctly laid-back, creative atmosphere that perfectly complements its status as a college town. Home to the University of Florida—go Gators—this culture-filled destination has something for everyone, from the artist to the person who’s happiest in the great outdoors. Kick off your trip with a walk around campus, stopping in the Harn Museum of Art and admiring the Spanish moss-draped trees along the way. Or, get your steps in on the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail, a greenway spanning 16 total miles. Need a pick-me-up before continuing your adventure? Swing by Maude's for a coffee. When it’s time for happy hour, grab one of the signature beers at Cypress and Grove Brewing Co.

Where to stay

If your days of crashing in a friend’s dorm room are long gone, book a room (or upgrade yourself to a suite) at Hotel ELEO. Located right near the UF campus, the 173-key property is light, bright, and the ideal place to rest your head after a day exploring. Plus, its on-site restaurant, Covey Kitchen + Cocktails, is a convenient, delicious spot to meet up with your old college pals or convene before another day seeing the sights in Gainesville.

College Station, Texas

College Station, otherwise known as the “heart of Aggieland,” is where you’ll find Texas A&M University and the thousands who proudly wear their maroon and white and greet one another with a heartfelt “howdy.” While seeing campus or attending a sporting event is likely your priority when in town, make time to visit (or re-visit) some of the highlights, including the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, the Century Tree, and Kyle Field. If you time your visit right, you might also be able to snag one of the tickets for the gameday tours of the famed football stadium.

Where to Stay

You couldn’t ask for a better location than the Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center, which sits directly on the college campus, right across from Kyle Field. The second you enter the hotel, Aggie pride is evident. The guest accommodations are decked out in school colors (albeit tastefully) and feature historic black-and-white photos from college days past. Even if you aren’t an Aggie at heart, there’s no question you’ll appreciate the hotel’s other features and amenities—like the third-floor terrace and outdoor pool, where comfortable sun loungers await.

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans isn’t your classic college town by any means, but that’s part of its charm. Students from Tulane, Xavier, and Loyola University, among a number of other schools, immerse themselves in the one-of-a-kind culture the Southern city is known for, experiencing the music, art, and festivals that are so deeply ingrained in the Big Easy alongside their academics. Given the sheer number of things to do in New Orleans, it’s difficult to pare it down to just a couple of “must-dos,” but if it’s your first time in the city (or you haven’t visited in a very long time), be sure to embark on all of the classics—hop on the St. Charles Streetcar, indulge in a beignet from Café du Monde, and meander down Bourbon Street.

Where to Stay

The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is just three blocks from the French Quarter, putting you in the heart of all things New Orleans. Even though you’ll probably be out and about most of the day, you can think of the hotel as your home base—popping into the grab-and-go eatery Tout La for a pastry, asking the concierge to help you out with a complimentary bicycle rental, or returning to Compère Lapin for dinner.

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is filled with acclaimed colleges and universities—Boston University, Emerson College, and Northeastern University among them. Higher education also goes hand in hand with the city’s historical backdrop, creating an environment that feels inherently academic. It’s also incredibly walkable and easy to navigate via public transportation, allowing students, locals, and visitors to explore the city’s unique neighborhoods and their various bookstores (Trident Booksellers & Café), museums (the Institute of Contemporary Art), restaurants (Grace by Nia), live music venues (the Boston Symphony Orchestra), and sports complexes (Fenway Park, of course) until they get their fill.

Where to Stay

If you want to experience the best of the best of Boston, you’ll want to head to the waterfront—specifically, to the Boston Harbor Hotel. Here, guests are treated to elegant, sumptuous room furnishings and unbeatable views of the Boston Harbor (although you can also request a room overlooking the city if that’s preferable). Celebrating a special occasion? Reserve a table for afternoon tea at the hotel’s restaurant, The Rowes Wharf Sea Grille.

Cambridge, Massachusetts

The intellectual nature of Boston only intensifies in Cambridge, a student-centric city that sits just across the Charles River from Beantown. Thanks to two iconic institutions, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the cozy New England college vibes are tangible—and the ultimate weekend in Cambridge embraces it all. Enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee at Broadsheet Coffee Roasters, browse the shelves at the Harvard Bookstore, and expand your mind at the Harvard Art Museums (Fogg Art Museum, the Busch-Reisinger Museum, and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum) and the MIT Museum.

Where to Stay

History and charm radiate through The Kendall Hotel, a 77-room boutique property housed in the former Engine 7 Firehouse; the 19th-century building is even on the National Register of Historic Places. Everything about the hotel is designed to make guests feel comfortable—there’s in-room coffee service, a complimentary breakfast buffet, and welcome snacks and water bottles upon check-in.

Hanover, New Hampshire

Few destinations embody the phrase “college town” as much as Hanover, New Hampshire. Built around Dartmouth College, the 8,520-person town has everything you could want from a New England getaway: a postcard-worthy main street, access to the outdoors (it’s a popular stop for hikers on the Appalachian Trail), and plenty of cultural activities to fill a weekend itinerary—not to mention, the incredible fall foliage. To dive headfirst into all things Dartmouth, your first order of business should be walking around campus and checking out the Hood Museum of Art, all while donning your new merch from the Dartmouth Co-op.

Where to Stay

At the Hanover Inn, it’s all about location, location, location. The 108-key hotel overlooks Dartmouth College Green, and the thrum of collegiate pride beats steadily throughout. While the hotel has a history dating back over 200 years, it offers a guest experience that’s both modern and rooted in a sense of place. The rooms have all the amenities you’d ever need—plush towels, complimentary Wifi, high-end bath products—and local ingredients are the star of the show at Pine at the Hanover Inn, the boutique hotel’s on-property restaurant.

Charlottesville, Virginia

It’s hard to argue against the fact that Charlottesville, Virginia, has everything. The college town boasts hiking trails, a tubing-friendly river, wineries, idyllic neighborhoods, award-winning restaurants, and a storied history that can be felt both on and off the University of Virginia’s main campus. Even those who don’t identify as a ‘Hoo will fall in love with the leafy green grounds around The Rotunda (the school’s signature landmark building), the quaint strip of coffee shops, bars, and restaurants known as The Corner, and the ease of which you can get a top-tier bagel; Bodo’s Bagels has several locations through “Cville.”

Where to Stay

If you’re planning a visit to the University of Virginia for 2026, add Virginia Guesthouse to your list of must-dos. This new property will anchor the Emmet Ivy corridor and act as a gateway to the campus when it opens in the early part of the year—meaning you’ll be centrally located to explore everything the storied university has to offer.

Explore more destinations across the Benchmark Resorts & Hotels portfolio, a collection of more than 50 distinct, independent properties by Pyramid Global Hospitality. Located in diverse destinations across the globe, Benchmark’s resorts and hotels reimagine immersive travel, inspiring guests to create memories born from meaningful exploration, authentic moments, and innovative experiences – no matter the occasion. Benchmark guests can earn complimentary gift cards, on-property perks, and destination experiences through the collection’s signature Mosaic Rewards program.