@pickledginger - I agree with @maryversity and @Astro77 that the Campus Drive entrance, past the “M” is the more scenic entrance, but they may have signs directing people to the Stadium Drive entrance for “Event Parking”. Download mobile phone apps and maps as they recommended, and maybe even print one out. It’s a big Campus.
I will second Busboys and Poets as a place to eat. There is free parking in a lot behind it, but it often full, so we just use meter parking on the street. It’s about 3 miles south of UMD on route 1 and on the left. I also like Ledo’s. I’ve eaten at other Ledo’s locations but not the one in College Park. It’s a short walk across Route 1 from South Campus Commons.
I would expect the Dorm tour to be one of the standard High Rises on North Campus, since that is where most Freshmen end up. We didn’t do the Dorm Tour when we went to Admitted Students’ Day, since we had done an earlier tour.
The Hotel at UMD is awesome, but we won’t be staying there until Graduation in May… Since we are somewhat local, we haven’t stay at any hotels near UMD.
While driving on Campus, be aware that pedestrians have the right of way, ALL the time.