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Huntsville, TX is a small East Texas city tucked into the Piney Woods about an hour north of Houston, and it's defined by Sam Houston State University, whose Bearkat crowd makes up a big share of the town. The compact campus sits near University Drive, the main artery for student dining and life, and the city carries deep state history as home to the towering Sam Houston statue. Surrounding pine forests, Huntsville State Park, and nearby Lake Raven give students easy outdoor escapes for hiking, paddling, and camping. Neighborhoods like The Avenues and Memorial keep students close to campus, and the walkable core around University Drive gives the town a true college-town feel. It's small, green, and friendly, where campus and city blur together.
Just south of campus, the classic Bearkat pick, with a walkable layout and quick access to University Drive's dining and shops.
Another popular student area, it keeps you close to campus with a mix of apartments and houses.
The blocks right along the corridor put you in the thick of student life within walking distance of class.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Huntsville.
The university runs Bearkat shuttle and transit options connecting campus, parking lots, and nearby housing, and the city's own bus service is limited. The shuttle covers the gap from student housing to class. For anything beyond campus, transit options thin out. Plan around the shuttle if you intend to skip a car for daily trips.
Sam Houston State sits close to the student-heavy Avenues and University Drive, where you can walk or bike to class and to dining in minutes. The flat terrain near campus makes biking practical. If you live in The Avenues or Memorial, you may not need to drive daily. The compact core keeps daily life on foot for students close in.
A car remains useful for groceries, work, and the hour-long Houston runs. Parking, while sometimes tight on campus, is manageable. From outer subdivisions, plan a short 10 minute trip. Rideshare covers nights out when you'd rather not drive.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Shared student units near Sam Houston State commonly start around $600 a month per person and run up toward $900, with full apartments often landing between $800 and $1,300 depending on bedrooms and amenities. Purpose-built student complexes sit at the higher end; older houses in The Avenues can be friendlier on the wallet.
Browse student housing near each Huntsville-area university.