family sitting together at Wildcat Weekend

Parent and Family Resources

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Families have lots of questions as their student navigates life at Davidson College. We have collected a list of questions that families often ask while planning a visit or helping their students navigate life on campus. 

Visiting Campus

Within the town of Davidson are the following options:

The Carnegie Guest House
An early 20th-century structure, the house is situated near the campus entrance. The Guest House enjoys hosting parents, alumni, prospective students; however, we are unable to reserve rooms for Wildcat Weekend, Commencement and Reunion Weekend.

Davidson Village Inn
Located just across from campus on Main Street The Davidson Village Inn has all the charm of an intimate European bed and breakfast.

Homewood Suites by Hilton
Homewood Suites is located right off exit 30 in a quiet residential neighborhood and close to the attractions of Lake Norman and the college.

Beyond Davidson and in the surrounding Lake Norman communities (Cornelius, Huntersville and Mooresville), are several more options. For additional overnight accommodations, check out Visit Lake Norman and Mooresville Chamber of Commerce.

Hampton Inn (Cornelius)
This modern roadside hotel is located just off Interstate 77, 2.8 miles from campus and 24 miles from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

Courtyard by Marriott–Lake Norman (Huntersville)
Located right off Interstate 77 in Huntersville, the hotel is only minutes away from Davidson College and is located in the midst of all the action in Huntersville, across the street from the well-known Birkdale Village.

Four Points by Sheraton–Lake Norman (Huntersville)
The newly opened hotel is conveniently located off Interstate 77 in Huntersville just 4 miles south of campus across Birkdale Village. 

Hilton Garden Inn–Mooresville
Conveniently located off I-77 just three miles north of Davidson.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites–Mooresville
Recently renovated, the hotel is 7.5 miles from campus and just minutes from the sparkling waters of Lake Norman.

* signifies a staff favorite!

Casual Eats

Summit Coffee Co. *
128 S Main St, Davidson

The Famous Toastery
101 N Main St, Davidson

The Soda Shop
104 S Main St, Davidson  

Carrburritos
445 S Main St, Davidson

Mandolino's Artisan Pizza
208 S Main St., Davidson

The Crazy Pig
402 S Main St, Davidson

Pickled Peach *
202 S Main St., Davidson

Milkbread *
624 Jetton Street #110, Davidson

Brickhouse Tavern
209 Delburg St., Davidson

Osito’s Tacos & Tortas
20700 N Main St, Cornelius

Hello, Sailor 
20210 Henderson Rd, Cornelius

Masla Mastee *
107 N Main St #101, Davidson

Finer Dining

Flatiron Kitchen + Taphouse
215 S Main St., Davidson

North Harbor Club
100 N Harbor Pl, Davidson

Kindred *
131 N Main St, Davidson
Dinner Only

Barrel & Fork
20517 N Main St, Cornelius

131 MAIN
17830 Statesville Rd, Cornelius

Davidson College Lake Campus
152 Lake Campus Drive, Mooresville
Located 7 miles from main campus, Lake Campus’s 110 acres includes a waterfront beach and swim area, sand volleyball courts, picnic areas, wet and dry boat slips, a boat ramp, and open green spaces. Students will need a Cat Card for entry.

Jetton Park
19000 Jetton Rd, Cornelius 
A 104-acre lakefront park that includes picnic sites, lighted tennis courts and walking trails. 

Latta Nature Center and Preserve
6211 Sample Road, Huntersville 
Amenities include a Nature Center, 18 miles of hiking trails and horseback riding, fishing and kayak tours. Additional attractions on the preserve include the Carolina Raptor Center. 

U.S. National Whitewater Center
5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy, Charlotte
Whitewater rafting, ziplines, deep water solo, kayaking, SUP, climbing, ropes and mountain biking.

Carrigan Farms
1213 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy, Mooresville
Swimming in a natural quarry. Reservations required.

The Davidson College Store is located on Main Street, just across the street from campus.

You’ll find several cute boutiques and shops as you stroll along Main Street in Davidson, and nearby Cornelius has the big box stores like Target, Home Depot and Lowes. The centers below offer multiple options for both shopping and dining.

Birkdale Village
5 miles from campus
A popular open-air shopping, dining and residential area in Huntersville. Enjoy tree-lined sidewalks and vibrant gardens. Birkdale Village offers plenty of dining choices within walking distance of boutique shops and dessert spots.

Concord Mills
12 miles from campus
Concord Mills is a large indoor outlet and value retail shopping destination that also offers family dining and entertainment options.

SouthPark Mall
25 miles from campus
With 150+ stores, SouthPark is a climate controlled indoor mall with many dining options from sit down restaurants to grab and go choices. 

Supporting Your Davidson Student

Student Health and Well-Being outlines the valuable resources that Davidson provides for students’ health, counseling, nutrition and educational needs. A highly trained care team can meet with students in-person and virtually. For after-hours needs, a registered nurse is available when Student Health is closed (nights and weekends). In case of an emergency, students should still call 911. The CVS pharmacy on Main Street is walkable from campus and also has a Minute Clinic.

If you are concerned about your student, you may complete a CARE Referral Form, which initiates a confidential review process. A team of staff from the Dean of Students Office meets weekly to ensure that appropriate action and necessary referrals are made for the student’s well being. 

Our campus post office has a helpful Mailing Address Guide with easy instructions for mailing and shipping.

Our on campus catering service, Much Ado Catering, provides a variety of ’Cat Packs to surprise your student on a special day.

The Student Government Association organizes an airport shuttle to coincide with the major holiday breaks. Students receive an email several weeks prior and can sign up for a spot based on their flight times. 

Uber and Lyft rides are also easy to schedule.

Yes, students may have cars on campus. Check with the Public Safety Office about the process for registering vehicles.

Unfortunately, Davidson doesn’t have the capacity to offer storage to students. However, we do partner with an approved local vendor. If your student needs help with moving or storing belongings, check out this company for options.

Our Residence Life Office offers informative overviews of all campus residence halls that include approximate dimensions, building information and photographs. 

Please remember that rooms can vary even within the same building, so it’s impossible to give exact details for each space. 

The website also provides a helpful list of items to bring (and not bring).

We encourage you to explore this comprehensive guide on all things FERPA.

In summary:

  • Students control access to their educational records once they enroll in college.
  • Parents must obtain their child's permission to access academic records, grades, or other personal information.
  • In emergencies, schools may share information with parents under specific circumstances.
  • FERPA does not automatically allow parents access to financial records unless the student is a dependent for tax purposes.

Important Contacts

As parents, guardians or family members of a college student, you can help your students become responsible adults by letting them negotiate conflict and advocate for themselves. Empower your students to contact the appropriate office about their exam conflicts, enrollment in courses or housing situations.