Need a State College Hotel Room for Penn State’s College Football Playoff Game? Be Prepared to Pay Big

If you’re looking for a hotel room in the State College area for Penn State’s first-ever College Football Playoff game at noon on Dec. 21 against SMU, be prepared to pay big.

A two-night stay for hotels in the immediate State College area Dec. 20-22 will range from $1,700 to $3,500 total, including tax and fees, according to listings on Hotels.com.

With the Nittany Lions having been likely to host a first-round playoff game for several weeks, and with fall commencement also scheduled for the same weekend on Dec. 22, many hotels are already sold out. Others have a limited supply available.

On the high end, Carnegie House is $1,599 a night for check-in on Dec. 20 and check-out Dec. 22, for a total of $3,550 including taxes and fees, according to Hotels.com. Country Inn and Suites by Raddison starts at $1,510 a night and $3,351 total, and both Toftrees Golf Resort and Spring Hill Suites by Marriott are $1,499 a night/$3,328 total.

Even at the lower end, the Nittany Budget Motel will require a decent-size budget at $799 a night and $1,774 total.

Available State College Hotels as of Dec. 9
(Per Hotels.com except where noted; taxes and fees included in total)

• Carnegie House: $1,599 per night / $3,550 total
• Country Inn & Suites by Raddison: $1,510 per night / $3,351total
• Toftrees Golf Resort: $1,499 per night / $3,328 total
• Springhill Suites by Marriott: $1,499 per night / $3,328 total
• Holiday Inn Express State College at Williamsburg Square: $1,294 per night / $2,872.70 total (Priceline.com)
• Best Western Plus University Park Inn & Suites: $1,249 per night / $2,742 total
• Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott: $1,194 per night / $2,651 total
• Comfort Suites: $999 per night / $2,218 total
• Nittany Budget Motel: $799 per night / $1,774 total

Further from State College, rates are a bit (or a lot) lower.

The We Are Inn in Philipsburg is $447 a night for a $993 total two-night stay. Just off I-80, the Baymont by Wyndham Milesburg is $324 a night/$719 total and the Hampton Inn & Suites Lamar is $473 a night/$1,051 total. A little farther east on 80, Best Western Lock Haven is $184 a night/$408 total.

Cheaper deals mostly can be found further away. In Clearfield, Best Western Plus is $357 total for two nights; Wingate by Wyndham is $379 total; and Super 8 by Wyndham is $415 total.

In Altoona, chain hotels range from $347 total for two nights to $762. In Huntingdon, two-night stays are $886 total at Comfort Inn and $1,082 at Fairfield Inn & Suites. And to the east in Lewistown, Budget Inn rooms are going for $220 a night/$488 total.