Lodging near campus
The university does not own a hotel. It does have negotiated rates with the places below. Mention the code when you book, and bring a tour confirmation, a Porter Card or a student’s name when you check in. Rates are per room, per night, before the 9.5% room tax, and are what the properties quoted for 2026–27.
| Property | Where | Distance to Welcome Center | Rooms | Typical rate | University code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porter Falls Inn | Main Street, Depot District | 0.3 mi (three blocks) | 64 | $119–$169 | PORTERVISIT |
| Millrace Inn | Main Street on the Millrace | 0.6 mi | 38 | $139–$199 | UWPF-MILL |
| The Trestle House B&B | Lakeview Drive, Cedar Bluff | 1.1 mi | 4 | $135–$175, breakfast included | “Porter guest” (10% off Sun–Thu) |
| Highway 12 Lodge & Suites | US 12 at County P, next to Lot R | 2.4 mi | 92 | $99–$139 | UWPF |
| Osprey Bend Cabins | Porter River, 9 miles upriver | 9 mi | 6 cabins | $145–$210 | UWPF-RIVER (weekdays only) |
| Harborview Hotel & Conference Center | Lake City, near the regional airport | 34 mi | 210 | $109–$159 | PORTER |
What each one is like
- Porter Falls Inn. The default. It is a 1920s brick hotel with a ballroom that hosts most reunion dinners. Families walk to the depot in six minutes. Four rooms are accessible, two with roll-in showers. Free parking is behind the building. Its rooms go first on homecoming weekend.
- Millrace Inn. It is smaller and a little more expensive, and it has a riverside restaurant and banquet room that seats 220. Some rooms look over the Millrace. Ask for the north side if the sound of water keeps you awake. Several Hospitality Management students work the front desk.
- The Trestle House. A B&B run out of a converted 1908 railroad foreman’s house, with four rooms and shared parlors. The owners bake, and the stairs are steep. It is a five-minute walk from the Porter Loop’s Cedar Bluff North stop.
- Highway 12 Lodge & Suites. The practical choice for families with a car and children. It has an indoor pool, a waffle machine and suites that sleep six. The Lake City Connector stops next door at Lot R.
- Osprey Bend Cabins. Six cabins on the river with kitchens and fire rings. In summer, weekend stays are two nights minimum. Bring groceries.
- Harborview, Lake City. For the weekends when Porter Falls is full, or for an early flight. The hotel runs a free airport shuttle.
Booking tips
- Book these weekends early. Millrace Week (Oct. 11–17, 2026), December commencement (Dec. 19, 2026), spring commencement (May 15, 2027) and move-in sell out every room in town. The visitor guide lists the dates.
- Reunion and event blocks are released 30 days before the event. Call the property anyway, because the Porter Falls Inn and the Millrace Inn both keep cancellation lists.
- Preview Day travel grant. Students who live 150 miles or more away and qualify for the Preview Day Travel Grant get one night for the student and one adult at the Porter Falls Inn, billed directly to the university.
- Alumni get the same codes and a later checkout at the Porter Falls Inn; see alumni benefits.
- Long stays. For visiting faculty, interns and conference guests staying a week or longer, ask conference services about summer residence hall rooms in Birchwood Suites.
Getting from your room to campus
From the Porter Falls Inn and the Millrace Inn, walk: Main Street to the depot is flat and lit, and in winter the city plows the Riverfront Trail before the sidewalks. From Cedar Bluff and the Highway 12 Lodge, take the free Porter Loop or park in Lot D. From Osprey Bend and Lake City you will need a car or the coach. See directions to campus. Ask the front desk about restaurants, or read the site’s own guide to eating in Porter Falls.
Fictional information
UW–Porter Falls is a work of parody. The Porter Falls Inn, Millrace Inn, Trestle House, Highway 12 Lodge, Osprey Bend Cabins and Harborview Hotel are invented, along with their rates and rate codes; none of them will hold a room for you.