The Arboretum at Penn State
Explore botanic gardens, children's spaces, and pollinator habitat at Penn State.
Artwork inspired by George Luks
The Arboretum at Penn State brings a surprisingly varied landscape to the edge of campus. H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens organize collections into walkable rooms, while Childhood's Gate gives younger visitors places to explore rather than merely read labels. Pollinator and bird gardens connect ornamental design to ecological function.
Because the grounds are free and open from dawn to dusk, a visit can be a short campus break or a longer loop. Use the Katz Building parking lot and note its hourly charge; free entry does not mean free parking. Check the arboretum calendar if a class or event matters, since those operate on schedules separate from outdoor access.
- Admission
- Free
- Parking
- Paid Katz lot
- Open
- Dawn–dusk
Quick guide
- Start with Smith
- The botanic gardens give the clearest first loop.
- Bring children onward
- Childhood's Gate is designed for active discovery.
Know before you go
- Park deliberately
- Use the Katz visitor lot rather than an unmarked campus space.
- Follow the loop
- Botanic rooms change character at each turn.
- Find pollinators
- Plantings connect garden design to local habitat.
- Check events
- Programs may need registration despite free grounds.
Good to know
The grounds are free, but campus parking is not; use the marked Katz visitor lot and pay the posted hourly rate.
Notice these
- A living campus landscape
- Free
- Paid Katz lot