The College Inn, at 2717 Western Blvd., is located directly across from the main campus entrance of North Carolina State University, where Avent Ferry Road meets Morrill Drive. D.H. Hill Jr. Library is reachable on foot through campus from that entrance, and a computer lab and dedicated study rooms are available on-site for residents who need to work without making the trip. Off campus, five independent coffee shops are within reach by bike or a short drive along Western Boulevard and into downtown Raleigh.

Does The College Inn Have Its Own Study Spaces?

Yes, The College Inn has in-building study spaces available to residents, including a computer lab with free printing and dedicated study rooms.

The computer lab covers coursework, online assignments, and document printing without requiring a trip to campus. Study rooms provide a dedicated space for focused work sessions, individual or otherwise. Residents working on a deadline outside of campus library hours have either option available in the building.

What NC State Libraries Are Close to The College Inn?

D.H. Hill Jr. Library is the primary NC State library, located a seven-minute bike ride from The College Inn.

NC State libraries within walking distance of The College Inn:

D.H. Hill Jr. Library: 2 Broughton Dr., 0.9 miles, 7-minute bike ride: NC State’s main undergraduate research library on North Campus, eight floors of collections, reservable individual and group study spaces, 24-hour reading room

The library is NC State’s primary research facility for undergraduates, with collections spanning eight floors and study spaces ranging from open reading areas to reservable individual and group rooms. The adjoining Atrium connects the building to University Plaza, known as the Brickyard, at the center of North Campus. Residents who need access outside of standard library hours can use the 24-hour reading room with a valid Wolfpack One Card.

What Coffee Shops Are Near The College Inn?

Five independent coffee shops are within reach of The College Inn, from a 9-minute walk to Cup A Joe in Mission Valley to a 10-minute drive to Little Native Coffee Co. in downtown Raleigh.

Coffee shops near The College Inn:

Cup A Joe Mission Valley: 2109 Avent Ferry Rd., Suite 142, 0.5 miles, 9-minute walk or three-minute drive: Raleigh coffee shop in the Mission Valley Shopping Center, in-store bean roasting, Wi-Fi, indoor and outdoor seating
Haraz Coffee House: 3915 Western Blvd., 1.4 miles, 6-minute drive or 8-minute bike ride: Yemeni specialty coffee house on Western Boulevard, spacious interior, outdoor seating, private room available, espresso drinks and Middle Eastern-inspired desserts
321 Coffee: 615 Hillsborough St., 1.9 miles, 7-minute drive or 13-minute bike ride: specialty coffee roaster, indoor and outdoor seating, open weekdays until 3 p.m.
Iris Coffee Lab: 725 Tucker St., 2.2 miles, 8-minute drive or 13-minute bike ride: specialty coffee shop in the Glenwood South district of downtown Raleigh, rotating roster of single-origin roasters, local pastries, indoor and outdoor seating, open daily until 5 p.m.
Little Native Coffee Co.: 426 S. Person St., 3.2 miles, 10-minute drive: small plant-filled shop in a historic downtown building on Person Street, espresso drinks, local baked goods, patio seating

Cup A Joe in Mission Valley is the only option on the list within walking distance of The College Inn, sitting on Avent Ferry Road at the Western Boulevard intersection. Haraz on Western Boulevard is a straight shot west by bike and a workable option for early-morning sessions before class. 321 Coffee operates a second location on NC State’s Centennial Campus at 930 Main Campus Dr., which students already on campus may find useful during the school day; the Hillsborough St. location is the closer of the two by drive from The College Inn.

Iris Coffee Lab draws students looking for single-origin specialty options in a Glenwood South setting with indoor and outdoor seating. Little Native, the farthest of the five, is a small independent shop with a tightly edited menu and a patio, suited to students who want a change of scenery from the campus area.

Studying Near NC State at The College Inn

Residents at The College Inn have in-building access to a computer lab and study rooms for sessions that don’t require a library trip, and D.H. Hill Jr. Library is reachable by walk, car, or bike. Five independent coffee shops extend the study rotation off campus, from Mission Valley to downtown Raleigh, all reachable by bike or a short drive along Western Boulevard.