When making your travel plans, please remember that you should arrive in the Altoona area on or before Wednesday, August 16, to attend the mandatory on-campus orientation on Thursday, August 17.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued requirements for foreigners traveling to the U.S. by air. Please check out the CDC website for detailed information.
Please be sure your traveling documents—including your passport, I-20, Penn State offer letter, financial documents, etc.—are in your carry-on baggage, not in your checked-in baggage. You need those documents at the U.S. Border Protection in airports.
U.S. Ground Transportation
If your flights will take you to University Park Airport (SEC) in State College or Altoona-Blair County Airport (AOO) in Blair County, you may get a private taxi from those two locations.
If your flights take you to other airports in Pennsylvania or other states, you must take ground transportation to campus. Amtrak, the U.S. Passenger Rail Services, offers The Pennsylvanian Train to Altoona from New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh. Greyhound, a long-distance bus service, offers buses to Altoona from many locations.
If you will arrive at Altoona Train Station or Altoona Bus Station, you may get a private taxi from those two stations.
Please note that Amtrak Train Stations and Greyhound Bus Stations are not in the airports. You will need to take a subway, taxi, or Uber from the airport to the train or bus terminal.
The Office of Global Programs offers free pick-up services from University Park Airport in State College, Altoona-Blair County Airport, Altoona Bus Station, and Altoona Amtrak Station. You can sign up for this service using the online registration form.
Travel Suggestion
Consider purchasing a mobile phone SIM card when you arrive in the United States. Alternatively, we recommend you open an international service with your mobile company before you get your U.S. phone number. It will be useful if you need to make or receive phone calls when you are at the airport or station.
Reminder
Students living in on-campus housing can pick up their room keys from the Office of Housing and Food Services, located in the Port-Sky Café, on Tuesday or Wednesday, August 15-16, from 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Students living in off-campus housing need to contact their individual landlords regarding the date they may move into their housing facility.
If you need a letter confirming your participation in the New Student Orientation program for your off-campus landlord (if needed for early move-in), please get in touch with the Office of Student Affairs.
Please address any questions about your arrival at Penn State Altoona to the Office of Student Affairs at 814-949-5219 or [email protected].