Lap Swimming in State College

Depending on where you are staying there are two places that I have been to and one which I have not that offer day passes for lap swimming. If you are relatively close to the actual college campus then the Penn State Natatorium would be your best bet. Passes to the indoor pool OR outdoor pool are $4/day for either, NOT both. The indoor pool is 25 meters and the outdoor is 50. Information can be found here. 

Another option if you are more downtown is the State College YMCA . BUT you must belong to another Y, because while they participate in the AWAY program (always welcome at the Y), which would give you a up to 10 free visits if your home Y is 50 miles or more away, they do NOT offer day passes. So you'd have to bring your other Y membership card with you.

If you are located more out by 26 though your best bet would be the Bellefonte YMCA , but it's the same deal as State College, no Y membership then getting in. 

There is also the Downtown Swim and Fitness Club, which is located on 240 S. Pugh Street, State College, PA 16802. I believe that this pool uses bromine instead of chlorine for keeping their water clean, which apparently dries the skin much less and is less irritating. It is also free if you were to stay at the Days Inn Penn State.  I tried to find a phone number and information on day passes for this place but it seems to be alluding me. You could probably just stop in and ask if you had the time, but if you didn't don't bother because it might be a waste of time.

So yes in summation basically if you don't have a Y membership just hit up the Nat and pay for it by the day. It's a nice facility, I've been there before, and if you pay the daily rate it'd be $24 for the week, which wouldn't be too awful. It's located at the corners of Bigler and Curtin roads, and is easily accessed by taking route 26 west, and then turning right onto Shortlidge Road (the first stoplight after Hooters, there will be many dorms passed on your right and McLanahan's (a general sort of store) on your direct left. So take that right, go up the hill until it dead ends into Pollock Road and take a right there as well. That will take you past some soccer fields on your left and some dorms on your right. That road will hit an end as well and at that stop sign turn left onto Bigler Road, which will again take you up a hill and actually pass the tennis courts and the pool itself (I'm taking you towards parking the parking facility, there is no direct parking outside the Nat save for like three spots, which will likely be filled). At that first four way stop sign intersection take a right onto Curtin Road, and drive all the way to the stop lit intersection of Curtin Road and University Drive. Keep driving past Univ Drive until on your left you will see the stadium and then on your right you'll see some parking lots. Turn right into those parking lots. Ignore the "red lot" markers, those only really apply during football season and I have parked overnight there before (as has my mom, best friend, etc) and we've not been towed. Then just walk back to the Nat (on Curtin Road, past Univ Drive, take a left back onto Bigler and the Nat should be on your left.) It's a big brick building, just go inside and follow the signs. Have your money with you to pay the attendant, and have a fun swim! By the way on July 4th only the outdoor pool is open and only from 10:30 am to 5 pm, just for your information. Sorry this is super long but parking in SC can get crazy. Other options if you didn't want to park on campus would be parking off campus and just taking the blue loop bus (it's free on campus, you can pick it up on College Ave) and just taking it there. It stops right by the Nat, you can ask the driver to stop there if you're not sure where it is. And that's all, reply back if you have any questions. =)