With football season officially in full swing, almost all State College hotels are fully booked through the fall, and they’re sure to fill up quickly for next year, too. For those looking for a different experience, there are tons of State College rental properties listed on Airbnb and Vrbo.

If you’re lucky, you may be able to snag one of these properties for the 2023 season. If not, keep it in mind for future football seasons, Arts Fest, graduation weekend, or any other time you want to return to your glory days here in State College.

To help with your next trip to Happy Valley, we scoured rental websites to find the best properties out there.

Treehouse Glamping

On a budget? Looking to get closer to nature? This is the perfect property for you. For just $58 a night, up to three guests can sleep in this literal treehouse that’s accessible only by ladder. While the treehouse has some modern amenities like a television, wifi, and electricity, guests have to head to the host’s house to use the restroom.

Along with sharing a bathroom, guests will also share the backyard, patio, fire pit, and grill with the family who lives in the adjacent home. The hosts even have a “friendly” chocolate lab that guests may run into. How cute!

Land of the Lions

Calling all Penn State superfans. This one’s for you. It’s hard to know where to even start with this property. Nearly every room has blue and white accents and at least one piece of Penn State memorabilia. The property has four bedrooms and can host up to 11 guests. Located only three miles from Beaver Stadium, this home will cost you around $650 per night, but prices fluctuate.

There’s a dedicated game room featuring giant Connect Four, a foosball table, electronic ski ball, and an NFL arcade game. The media room boasts three side-by-side TVs with either a Roku or a basic cable sports package. If you visit this property, you probably won’t even need to head to Beaver Stadium.

The patio is massive, containing a firepit, cornhole tables, a mural across the fence, and a hot tub highlighted by a glow-in-the-dark painting behind it. Thought that was it? Nope, there’s also a full outdoor kitchen with a smart grill, air fryer, pizza oven, and more. It’s tempting to find 10 friends and have a staycation, honestly.

Barbie Dream Apartment

For those not as interested in the tailgate lifestyle, the “Barbie Dream Apartment” located in Bellefonte may be the perfect fit. The apartment is just steps away from Talleyrand Park and can host up to five guests comfortably for only $100 per night.

The pictures provided are straight out of Barbie Land, displaying a kitchen with bright pink and orange decor. Each room has pink accents and dainty features to create the cutest stay for a group of best friends.

Urban King Suite

Tucked away just a few blocks from downtown State College is this utterly magnificent suite. I’m no graphic designer, but it’s not hard to appreciate how luxe this apartment looks. Neon signs, colorful wall art, and accent furniture stand out among black and white walls to create a unique interior.

Featuring a king-sized bed and 1.5 baths, anyone looking for a more upscale experience can rent this suite for a relatively downscale price of $143 per night. The space also has a kitchenette, a Nespresso machine, two TVs, and Ritz Carlton Purple Water toiletries for some reason.

Though it’s not at all Penn State or football-themed, this place must be utterly amazing to return to after spending an entire day in the tailgate lots or running around downtown at Arts Fest.

Country Creek Cottage/Cool Creek Cottage

These two cottages are situated right next to each other in Bellefonte, about eight miles from University Park’s campus. Each cottage holds five guests and can be booked individually or together if traveling with a larger group.

Spring Creek is located just across the road, and full walls of windows in the sunrooms of each cottage provide opportunities for relaxing while watching the water. The host of the cottages even encourages fishing if the time is right.

With sets of bunk beds for kids and plenty of outdoor space, this pair of homes would be perfect for a few families who wanted to stay out of the hustle and bustle of downtown State College.