YSU Visitor Information

Official YSU Visitor's Guide

The guide contains more specific directions to the various YSU facilities, contact information, restaurant and hotel information.

Directions To Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio is located in the northeastern quarter of the state, along the Pennsylvania border. It is about half-way between Cleveland and Pittsburgh airports. Driving distance from Pittsburgh airport is approximately 56 miles...so allow about 1-hour to 1.5-hours (depending on traffic). Driving distance from the Cleveland airport is approximately 77 miles...so allow about 1.5 hours of driving time. The university is approximately 13 miles from the Youngstown-Warren airport. Directions from the airports and major highways are below. Please remember that the Ohio and PA turnpikes are toll roads and they do provide change.

From the Regional Airports

From Pittsburgh International Airport:

From Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport:

From Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport:

Official YSU Campus Map (.pdf)

The above map has parking lots and facilities marked by letter/number

Official YSU Visitor's Guide

The above guide contains more specific directions to the various YSU facilities, contact information, restaurant and hotel information.

Attention football visitors: YSU is known for it's tailgating and pre-game festivities. In fact, the school has been rated #1 at the I-AA/FCS level in two major sporting publications. It is not uncommon for there to be many thousands of friendly people on hand. So, please come early and enjoy yourself ...and drive carefully.

• Tailgating is done in lots M7 and M24, with overflow in M26. Tailgate lots (m7 and M24) are $25 (2010 season) per vehicle to park, and free to walk. There is plenty of other campus moderately-priced parking, and never a charge to enter the tailgate lots.
• There is always plenty of food and drinks in the tailgate lots. However, alcohol is sold and permitted in the tailgate lots and within Stambaugh Stadium facility.
• Busses run from most parking lots before and after the game.
• Please be careful and drive safely. Feel free to go to ysupenguins.com's board to ask for specifics on places to stay and things to see and do. See below for a list of "things to see and do in Youngstown".

From the northwest (Cleveland, Toledo): Take Ohio Turnpike to Exit 218. Follow I-80 East to I-680, Youngstown. Take Exit 4A, Route 422 East and proceed to the Wick Avenue exit. Turn right onto Wick Avenue. Turn right again at the first light (Alumni House is on the right) onto University Plaza and enter the F-1 visitors’ parking lot.

From the north (Ashtabula): Take Route 11 South to the intersection with I-80. Follow signs for Route 711 South. Exit at Gypsy Lane and make a left onto Gypsy. Cross Belmont Ave. (Rt. 193); at the fourth traffic light after Belmont, turn right onto Fifth Ave. Drive down Fifth until you get to Rt. 422 (look for the YSU stadium), then cross the overpass and turn left onto the Eastbound Service Road, staying on the service road as you pass the stadium. Cross the Elm Street intersection, then turn right onto Wick. Make a right at the next light (Alumni House is on the right) onto University Plaza and enter the F-1 visitors’ lot.

From the east (western Pennsylvania): Take I-80 to Route 711 South (Exits left). Exit at Gypsy Lane and make a left onto Gypsy. Cross Belmont Ave. (Rt. 193); at the fourth traffic light after Belmont, turn right onto Fifth Ave. Drive down Fifth until you get to Rt. 422 (look for the YSU stadium), then cross the overpass and turn left onto the Eastbound Service Road, staying on the service road as you pass the stadium. Cross the Elm Street intersection, then turn right onto Wick. Make a right at the next light (Alumni House is on the right) onto University Plaza and enter the F-1 visitors’ lot.

From the southeast (Pittsburgh): Take the PA Turnpike to Exit 234 (16A) on the Ohio Turnpike. From there, take I-680 approximately 10 miles to Exit 6 (Route 62 and Hubbard). Follow signs for YSU and take Route 422 West. Take the first Exit (Wick Avenue) and turn left on Wick. At the second light (Alumni House is on your right) make a right on to University Plaza and enter the F-1 visitors’ lot. From the south: Take Ohio Route11 North to I-680. From I-680, take Exit 4A, Route 422 East. Exit the freeway at Wick Avenue and turn right on Wick. Turn right again at the first light (Alumni House is on the right) onto University Plaza and enter the F-1 visitors’ parking lot.

From the west (Akron): Take I-71 or I-77 to I-76 East. Where I-80 and I-76 divide, follow I-80 until it intersects with I-680 to Youngstown. Follow I-680 to Exit 4A, Route 422 East. Exit the 422 freeway at Wick Avenue and turn right. Turn right again at the first light (Alumni House is on the right) onto University Plaza and enter the F-1 visitors’ parking lot.

Penguin Game Day Activities

Click above to see a typical fall Saturday in Youngstown

Game Day Parking

Click above for official university parking page. Specific athletic parking is below

YSU Football

General Information
Those arriving early, approximately 1 ½ -3 hours prior to kickoff, suggested parking will be in the M-2 Deck located on Fifth Avenue. Approximately 1 ½ hours prior to kickoff, available parking will be in the M-1 Wick Avenue Deck. 

There will be shuttle buses, with disability lifts, leaving from the driveway of McDonough Art Museum, located on Wick Avenue, approximately every 10 minutes and dropping off patrons near the Stadium. To get to the shuttle bus from the Wick Deck – take the elevators, located towards Wick Avenue, to the third level (marked Bliss), proceed across the bridge. The white building to your left is the McDonough Art Museum and the shuttle will be in the front of the museum. Those that prefer to walk take the 4th level (marked Bridge) and proceed across bridge through campus to the Stadium.

The shuttle buses will also be running after the game. The pick up location will be on Fifth Avenue near the Stadium. We hope this service will make your game day an enjoyable experience.

Lot Designation
F-5: President's Guests
F-6: President's Guests / Penguin Club & Balance of President's Guests
F-1: Loge owners, trustees, ambulance, x-ray truck, visiting president & possible visiting coaches
F-7: Marked press vehicles, Disability Access - Behind East stands is disability parking, Beeghly patio can also be used. In the event we have a televised game, the production truck will park on Stadium Loading Dock or possibility East End and the additional vehicles will park on Beeghly patio.
Stadium Drive: President's Guests
M-5: Special Concession Groups, ushers, stat crew, press not having M-27 permit,Wick/Weller residents
M-27: Athletic staff, major press, coaches, visiting coaches if they are with the team, officials. 

Tailgate Lots
Lot Hours
1 p.m. games   8am - Closes 90 minutes after conclusion of game
4 p.m. games 10am - Closes 90 minutes after conclusion of game
6 p.m. games Noon - Closes 90 minutes after conclusion of game
No one admitted before designated lot hours.

Tailgate Regulations

• Tailgating is not permitted from kick off until the end of the game
• Permit is valid for vehicles only, must be displayed on the rearview mirror.
• Permits may be exchanged for tent passes at the Ticket Office at Stambaugh
• Permit is non-refundable.
• No sales or give-a-ways of any kind are permitted in the tailgate lot.
• Failure to follow parking instructions will void tailgate permit.
• Bottles, cans and coolers are not permitted into the public areas of Stambaugh Stadium.
• For your safety and the safety of others, tailgate occupants ARE NOT permitted to throw balls, Frisbees, or other objects in the tailgate area. YSU Police may confiscate Frisbees, footballs, etc. until after the game when given prior warning.
• No re-admittance

Loge Owners and Guests

• Guests of the Loge owners are to be directed to the closest available parking and will be paying for parking on their own.
• Loge owners will be parking in F-7

Baseball

Baseball games are played at Cafaro Field at 111 Eastwood Mall Boulevard in Niles, Ohio.

Basketball

Lot Designation:
F-5: 4 reserved spots for Head Coaches and 2 others
Balance of lot available for those with F-5/F-6/Elm Street permits. Three (3) disability spaces in area.

Valid permit needed for this area:
F-5/F-6/Elm Street Court side coaches, (3) Disability spaces, Game Officials, Penguin Club, Referees, Scorekeeper, Timekeeper

Valid permit needed for this area:
F-1: 21 spaces reserved for Football Loge members and VIP’s

Valid permit needed for this area:
Stadium Drive/Beeghly Patio Opposing Team Bus
Channels 21, 27 & 33
Newspapers: Vindicator, Tribune,
5 permits issued for this area

Valid permit needed for this area:
Public Parking: M1,M-2, M-24, M-7,M-26 Disability Parking: F-2, F-5 (4 spaces), F-6 (3 spaces)

Soccer

Parking is available in the M-24 lot, located at the corner of Fifth and Grant Avenues for a nominal fee.

Softball

Softball games are played at McCune Park in Canfield, Ohio

Swimming

Parking is available in the M-24 lot, located at the corner of Fifth and Grant Avenues for a nominal fee.

Tennis

Parking is available in the M-24 lot, located at the corner of Fifth and Grant Avenues for a nominal fee.

Track

Parking for YSU & Ursuline Track Meets is in the M5 Lot - charge $5.00

Volleyball

Participants: Directed to F-7 or M-24, charge $5.00/vehicle.
Officials: Stadium Drive with permit

Things To Do While Visiting Youngstown

The city of Youngstown is a city located on the Mahoning River, 65 miles southeast of Cleveland, Ohio, and approximately 62 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is the seat of Mahoning county. The greater Youngstown area has a population of 600,000 and is part of the "steel valley" region containing approximately 725,000 people in two states (OH and PA). The city is not only half-way between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, but also equidistant from Chicago and New York. Certainly visitors do not have to travel far to fine many things to do while visiting. Here are a few of our favorites:

Nature and History:

• Mill Creek Park: A visit to Ytown would not be complete with out a visit to the majestic Mill Creek Park. The park is the largest inner-city park in America, and the second-largest municipal park in the nation. To put this in perspective, the park is approximately 2600 acres, over 3-times the size of New York's famed Central Park. The park contains 20 miles of drives, and 15 miles of foot trails, and a rare collection of gardens, streams, lakes, woodlands, meadows and wildlife for all to enjoy. In addition to numerous historical buildings, visitors will find a wide range of recreational opportunities such as hiking, biking, picnicking, boating, Par-3, or championship golf, tennis, volleyball and more. In fact, the park contains two 18-hole courses that are the home to the YSU Penguin golf and cross-country teams. A few of the park's entrances are just minutes from the university.
  
  
• Museum of Labor and Industry: The Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor provides a dramatic overview of the impact of the iron and steel industry on Youngstown and other Mahoning Valley communities. Objects on display range from workers' tools and clothing to "last heats," the last batches of steel produced at each of the mills before they closed. Hundreds of photographs, some more than 30 feet long, are used throughout the museum.
  
  
• The Cleveland Zoo, Pittsburgh Zoo, and Akron Zoo are with in an hour of Youngstown.
  
  
• Car enthusiasts will know that Youngstown/Warren is the home of the famous Packard Automobiles.The National Packard Museum contains many beautifully restored and original Packard vehicles.
  
  

Sports:

• Certainly you are here to visit YSU Penguins, or one of their opponents. However, Youngstown is currently home to the Mahoning Valley Thunder of af2. The current minor league baseball team just outside of the city is the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, which are the single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The Scrappers compete in the New York-Penn League and share their stadium with the YSU Penguins at Eastwood Field in Niles, Ohio.
  
  
• Of course, the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Cleveland Cavaliers are all relatively short drives away.
  
  
• About a 30-minute trip to Canton will take visitors to the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame.
  
  

Museums:

• Youngstown is the home of several museums. The Butler Institute of American Art, located within walking distance of the university sports facilities, on Wick Avenue is the first, and foremost museum in the nation, dedicated exclusively to American Art.
  
  
• The Historical Center of Industry & Labor is above.
  
  
• Within walking distance of the university is the Arms Family Museum of Local History. The museum is housed in a 1905 mansion, once the estate of a local industrialist, the museum maintains period rooms that showcase the original contents of the household, including furnishings, art objects, and personal artifacts. The museum also mounts rotating exhibits on topics related to local history.

Thanks for coming and we hope you enjoy your visit. See you at the game!