We are excited to host LCC11 on from Friday, April 11 to Sunday, April 13, 2025, at the Maryland Language Science Center on the campus of the University of Maryland College Park (UMD).
Traveling to the United States
All non-US citizens / permanent residents must get US visitor’s visa or ESTA before entering the US, except Canadian citizens travelling on a Canadian passport, who do not need an ESTA or visa.
The US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) covers citizens of most European countries and some others (see link for the full list); citizens of those countries need the simplified Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), and must travel on an e-passport. All other countries’ citizens need a visitor visa, which requires a more formal application, including an interview at a US embassy. Generally, visitors must have a passport valid for at least 6 months after the planned departure from the US, but many countries are exempt from this requirement.
Non-US citizen travellers should expect to be questioned by US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). Questions like “Why are you here?”, “How long will you be here?”, “Who are you staying with?”, “Where are you staying?”, and “Who do you work for?” are routine, and CBP officers have a more aggressive attitude than most European countries’ border control.
Please note that the US might consider LCC11 a “scientific, educational, professional or business conference” (“business”) or “activities of a fraternal, social, or service nature, or participation by amateurs who will receive no remuneration in musical, sports and similar events” (“tourism”). We know this is ambiguous, and we can’t advise you on which to declare. We suggest you describe it in plain language terms — you’re attending the 11th Language Creation Conference, which is a conference for people who make languages, organized by a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization — and leave the categorization decision to US government officials.
We can provide a personalized PDF letter for registered international attendees which describes the LCS, UMD, and LCC11, lists your name, says that you are a registered attendee (or volunteer presenter), and provides our contact information; this may help to ease your interaction with CBP. Please email lcs@nullconlang.org if you want this.
For trans attendees, we recommend reading the Trans Travel Guide for specific advice — particularly the sections on the US generally, air travel in the US, border control, Maryland, and D.C.
Setting
Location and land
UMD is a public land-grant research university in the city of College Park, Maryland, just outside of northeast Washington, DC. College Park is located in Prince George’s County, the second most affluent African American-majority county in the United States. The University of Maryland traces its history to 1856, when the General Assembly chartered a state agricultural school.
The Maryland Agricultural College was established on ancestral land of the Piscataway tribe, which it purchased from a slaveholding farmer and agricultural education advocate. The University of Maryland has been working to recognize our past and acknowledge the role our university has played throughout its history in denying access and full participation. UMD recognizes and respects that the Piscataway People are the traditional stewards of the lands where we work, live and learn. The organizers of this year’s LCC invite you to read or watch UMD’s Land Acknowledgement as you prepare to visit campus.
Transportation to College Park, Maryland
College Park sits right in the middle of three major international airports: BWI Baltimore in Maryland, and both DCA Ronald Reagan and IAD Dulles in Virginia.
All of these airports offer sufficient mass transit options so that ground travel to College Park, Maryland can be accomplished without driving, using the DC subway/train system (WMATA) as a hub and the MTA MARC Train from BWI.
This LCC11 Google Map includes the venue at UMD, the College Park area, and major airports and transit hubs to help with trip planning.
Local transportation
For visitors unused to high-density urban settings, local traffic and parking may provide challenges, but this is balanced by the availability of a robust public transit network and taxis or rideshare services like Uber and Lyft.
For our off-campus LCC events, the organizers plan to arrange dropoff shuttle service to ensure we all arrive on time together. Although we will not provide returning shuttles, we will provide guidance and facilitate organizing groups for return trips after these events (e.g., rideshares to hotels, arranging groups for safety while riding DC Metro to return to College Park).
Parking at the University of Maryland
Because the H. J. Patterson building, which houses the Language Science Center, is near the center of a large university campus, parking directly at the building is available only for those with handicapped parking permits (see UMD Visitor Parking for information). The building is accessible for drop offs from personal vehicles.
Visitor parking locations on campus, including rates ($3-4/hr, $20 daily maximum), locations, and walking distances to the H. J. Patterson building (290-800 meters, 4-11 minutes) will be provided by the conference organizers. All parking fees must be paid by the individual; parking is not included in the conference registration.
Given some local traffic disruptions due to light rail construction of the WMATA Purple Line, LCC attendees may want to consider using a ride service (e.g., taxi, Uber, Lyft) to leave their personal vehicles at their hotel. About half of local hotels offer a free shuttle service to the UMD campus. There is a local bus system, although it can be a little challenging to learn if you are not used to bus systems.
Accessibility
Accessibility of the Language Science Center
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, all University of Maryland facilities hosting LCC are accessible for people with limited mobility.
The H. J. Patterson building has a wheelchair-accessible entrance.
Service animals on the University of Maryland campus
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act, the University of Maryland permits service animals for persons with disabilities on campus. Additional information is available from the University of Maryland Office of Diversity & Inclusion.
Autism spectrum, ADHD, and other sensory neurodiversity
The Maryland Language Science Center is the home for the University of Maryland Autism Research Consortium and we have a sensory room for less-stimulating hangouts or quiet time during LCC11.
Additional Onsite Assistance
As needed, local volunteers and organizers will be available to guide visitors in and around the H. J. Patterson Building and other LCC11 venues.
Safety & cultural issues
United States general travel safety advisories
For general travel safety advisories about the United States, see e.g. the Canadian, Danish, and UK travel advisories and U.S. terrorism risk assessment.
LGBTQ+
Maryland has statewide protections against discrimination based on an individual’s sexual orientation since 2001 and gender identity since 2014. Today, the state of Maryland is regarded as one of the most LGBTQ-friendly states in the country, with a 2022 Public Religion Research Institute poll showing that 87% of Marylanders support LGBTQ anti-discrimination laws. Most of the College Park and Greenbelt lodging options researched for LCC11 at UMD carry the Google Maps LGBTQ+ friendly rating.
Busboys and Poets, the planned venue for the LCC11 Saturday night social dinner, is both a queer/artists hub and a DC local institution.
In the District of Columbia, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people enjoy the same rights as non-LGBTQ people. The District of Columbia is regarded as very accepting and tolerant of LGBTQ+ people and same-sex relationships, with a 2017 Public Religion Research Institute poll indicating that 78% of residents supported same-sex marriage. The District also explicitly bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
There are many places and groups for trans, gender non-conforming, and queer folks to socialize in the area (especially in DC). The conference organizers can provide further information about local destinations.
The University of Maryland was named the top college in the nation for LGBTQ+ students by Campus Pride and BestColleges in 2023. The University of Maryland Policy of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Expression in the Use of Gendered Facilities applies to all persons on campus, and the university maintains a very active LGBTQ+ Equity Center, where additional resources can be found. Visitors can search for ‘gender inclusive’ on our Interactive Campus Map to locate gender-inclusive restrooms all over campus. The primary venue of LCC11 on the UMD campus, the H. J. Patterson Building, includes single-stall gender-inclusive restrooms.
We anticipate no policy changes on LGBTQ+ rights in Maryland, DC, or at UMD in 2025.
Military presence
Due to the University of Maryland’s proximity to multiple military facilities and Washington, DC, it is common to see military helicopter transports over the area. There are no major military installations in College Park; however, military uniforms may sometimes be seen on and around campus worn by undergraduates enrolled in our ROTC programs for the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force. Some of these sights may disturb people who are sensitive to reminders of the military. UMD offers online education programs for military servicemembers and veterans, but this has no visible presence on campus.
Gun laws
Maryland allows both concealed and open carry of guns with appropriate permits.
Weapons are prohibited in and around most Federal buildings and museums. In other areas, the District of Columbia allows concealed carry of guns with appropriate permits. Open carry is prohibited.
Most U.S. police carry guns, and UMD police are authorized to carry firearms. However, no weapons are allowed on the University of Maryland campus, and it is rare to see non-law enforcement professionals carrying weapons near the university.
Controlled substances
Cannabis
The U.S. federal government outlaws all cannabis, but does not prosecute intra-state use that complies with state/DC law.
Maryland allows medical and recreational use of cannabis.
In the District of Columbia, cannabis is permitted for medical and recreational use under District law once a regulatory system is implemented. However, DC is overseen by the United States Congress, which has not yet established such a regulatory system, and it is federally illegal. The practical result is that cannabis possession is still illegal under federal law in DC, and this is enforced on federal lands (about 29% of the total land area of DC), including national parks, the National Mall, military property, and other federally managed areas.
Alcohol
Both drinking and purchasing alcohol is restricted to people over 21 in the United States.
Drinking in public spaces is illegal (under what are commonly known as “open container” laws). For this reason, outdoor alcohol service is enclosed by boundaries.
Based on the protections of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution against unreasonable search and seizure, some people choose to consume alcohol in public in covered or concealed containers. This practice is not recommended, as police may use observed behavior or scent to justify probable cause for illegal public consumption.
Crime
As with most large urban centers, College Park and DC experience criminal activity at a rate higher than the national average. College Park crime rates are lower than Maryland statewide crime rates (which includes Baltimore’s much higher crime rate). College Park experiences mainly property crimes.
As with any urban setting, visitors should keep aware of their surroundings and travel in groups, especially at dusk or after dark. It may be preferable to leave your vehicle at your hotel whenever possible to decrease the likelihood of break-in or theft.
Some information about emergency services and crimes in the UMD and DC areas and advice brochures for staying safe in the DC Metro area are available at:
- University of Maryland Police Department Crime Statistics Reports
- UMD Police, non-emergency: +1 (301) 405-3555
You can call the non-emergency number to request an escort from the UMPD (if you are walking alone at night, etc.) or to assist you if you lock your belongings in a building, or need assistance with a flat tire on campus. - UMD Police, emergency: +1 (301) 405-3333
On the UMD campus you will find blue light emergency PERT phones: These phones are located throughout campus, including inside and outside of many academic buildings and residence halls. They are encased in a blue cylindrical column with blue lights overhead.
- UMD Police, non-emergency: +1 (301) 405-3555
- Washington, DC Metropolitan Police: