Facility Overview

Hitchins Lot is a dedicated on-campus surface parking facility serving Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland. Positioned directly adjacent to the historic Hitchins Administration Building near the campus's main ceremonial entrance along University Drive and Braddock Road, this lot functions as one of the primary designated visitor parking hubs for the university. As an open-air surface lot, it provides an unobstructed layout with standard parking stalls and clear drive aisles. Because there are no overhead barriers or parking deck ceilings, the lot provides unlimited vertical clearance, comfortably accommodating standard passenger cars, minivans, full-size pickup trucks, large SUVs, and high-roof delivery or transit vans.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Hitchins Lot is strategically located within easy walking distance of core academic, administrative, and cultural facilities across the Frostburg State University campus as well as the nearby downtown district:

• Hitchins Administration Building: Located directly adjacent to the lot, housing the Office of the President, University Advancement, and executive administrative departments.
• Pullen Hall & Admissions: Approximately 200 feet away, serving prospective students, campus tour groups, and student academic services.
• Lane University Center: A short 3- to 4-minute walk (under 500 feet), home to the Alice R. Manicur Assembly Hall, campus dining, university bookstore, and student organization hubs.
• Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center (PAC): Less than a 5-minute walk (0.2 miles), hosting live theater, concerts in the Pealer Recital Hall, dance showcases, and cultural events.
• Harold J. Cordts Physical Education Center & Bobcat Stadium: Located roughly 0.3 miles south, hosting NCAA Bobcat athletic games, swimming meets, and community fitness events.
• Gira Center for Communication and Information Technology (CCIT): Within a 5-minute walk, featuring modern multimedia classrooms and the FSU Planetarium.
• Downtown Frostburg & Arts & Entertainment District: Situated approximately 0.6 miles north along Main Street (US Route 40), offering local dining, cozy coffee shops, and the historic Palace Theatre.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress to Hitchins Lot are designed for straightforward vehicle movement. Drivers enter the campus via Braddock Road and turn onto University Drive, following clear on-campus directional signage leading directly to the Hitchins complex. The lot features wide, two-way driving lanes that prevent congestion even during morning peak administrative arrival windows.

For regional highway travelers, the lot is located just one mile north of Interstate 68 (National Freeway) via Exit 33 (Midlothian / Braddock Road), providing seamless, direct highway connectivity between Cumberland, Morgantown, and Baltimore/Washington. Local public transportation is available nearby through Allegany County Transit (ACT), which connects the university campus with downtown Frostburg, Mountain City communities, and the broader Cumberland metropolitan transit hub.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Open-air, ground-level surface parking with wide travel lanes and clear stall striping.
• Designated, signed visitor parking spaces reserved for university guests.
• ADA-accessible parking bays equipped with level access to paved sidewalk curb ramps.
• Nighttime illumination with campus standard pole lighting along walkways and parking rows.
• Direct oversight and routine safety patrols conducted by the Frostburg State University Police Department.
• Convenient paved pedestrian walkways linking directly to the main quad, administrative offices, and student union.

Ideal For

• Official visitors, guest lecturers, and trustees attending meetings in the Hitchins Administration Building.
• Prospective students and families touring campus or meeting with admissions staff at neighboring Pullen Hall.
• Patrons attending afternoon lectures, presentations, and conferences at the Lane University Center.
• Audience members attending recitals, plays, or dance productions at the Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center.
• Faculty, staff, and authorized permit holders working in central administrative facilities.

Visitor & Driver Tips

All visitors planning to park during official campus enforcement hours (typically Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM during academic semesters) should ensure they obtain and display an authorized university visitor parking pass. Complimentary visitor passes are easily obtained through the department you are visiting or directly from University Police Headquarters. Avoid parking in unauthorized permit-only stalls or fire lanes, as campus parking regulations are actively monitored. For large-scale events or commencement weekends, arrive 20 to 30 minutes early, as visitor stalls fill promptly; overflow parking is generally directed to stadium lots or lower campus areas.