Travel Information
We recommend an arrival date of Sunday June 25 and a departure date of Saturday July 1.
- Flying: We recommend flying into Indianapolis International Airport (IND), which is served by most of the major US carriers including American, Delta, Southwest, and United. There are no commercial flights that land in an airport in Bloomington, Indiana; all Bloomington airports with commercial flights are farther away than Indianapolis.
- Bus: Greyhound offers limited service between Bloomington, IN and various cities (html). Megabus now also offers bus service between Bloomington, IN and Chicago, Louisville, Nashville, and several Indiana cities (html).
- Driving Directions: See the Mathematics Department Web Page (html)
Airport Transportation
We hope to be able to arrange rides/carpools between Indianapolis International Airport and the IU campus on Sunday June 25 and Saturday July 1. Other transportation options include:
- Go Express Travel Bloomington Shuttle (html). Cost is about $30 each way. It runs hourly departing airport 6:40am to 10:40pm on Sunday (to Bloomington) and every two hours on Saturday, arriving at the airport 8:30am to 10:30pm. Reservations: (link)
- Car Rental. National and Enterprise offer
Big 10
discounts (total rental fee about $300 per week or $75 one way, including tax and damage waiver, excluding gas). If you are at a Big 10 university, ask locally about eligibility for this discount. - Uber/Lyft. About $90 from airport to campus, about $120 from campus to airport (plus tip). A good choice for a group of 3-4 participants.
Go Express Bloomington Shuttle
The Go Express Travel Bloomington Shuttle is often the best and most affordable way to travel between Bloomington and the IND airport. It costs about $30 each way and runs hourly on Sundays and every two hours on Saturdays. The schedule is subject to change but currently is:
IND Airport to Bloomington- Sunday: every hour on the :40; first shutle departs IND at 6:40am; last shuttle departs IND at 10:40pm
- Saturday: every even hour on the :40; first shutle departs 8:40am; last shuttle departs 10:40pm
Pick up the shuttle in Zone 1, outside the Ground Transportation Center. (map)
Bloomington to IND Airport- Saturday: every even hour on the :30; first shutle arrives at IND at 8:30am; last shuttle arrives at IND at 10:30pm
- Sunday: every hour on the :30; first shutle arrives 6:30am; last shuttle arrives 10:30pm
See below for recommended stops.
Reservations. As you cannot buy tickets from the shuttle driver or at most shuttle stops, the best way to purchase a ticket is to make a reservation: (link). Indianapolis International Airport offers free WiFi, but it does not work in the Ground Transportation Center. Try returning to baggage claim (accross the street at ground level) or the Civic Plaza (using the walkway on the second floor) to connect to the WiFi. There may still be a ticket vending machine at the Go Express booth at the Ground Transportation Center in the Indianapolis International Airport, and if it is not sold out, this is another option to purchase a ticket.
Recommended stops. The stop at Wilkie North is the one closest to Read Hall residence hall, and is about a 10min walk. If you prefer to take an Uber, Lyft, or taxi to get from the bus to the residence hall, the Home2 Suites stop is the first stop on arrival in Bloomington and the last stop leaving Bloomington. A ride from Home2 Suites to Read Hall residence hall costs about $10-$15.
See (html) for more information. Reservation strongly recommended (maybe required): (link)
Residence Hall
Funded participants receive lodging at IU residence halls at no cost to them. It is now confirmed that the residence hall will be Read Hall, located at 125 S. Eagleson Ave. (until very recently, Eagleson Ave. was named Jordan Ave., so you may also see Jordan appear as the address). See this page for more information on Read Hall. For check in and check out, the central desk has hours 10am-10pm on weekends (8am-10pm on week days). For after hours check in and out, call the central desk at (812) 855-5586.
Hotel Information
For unfunded participants, we recommend the following hotels near campus:
- Grant Street Inn (link). Nice bed and breakfast about a 12 minute walk to Rawles Hall. Rooms start at $176 per night + tax ($1180.48 total for Jun 25 - Jul 1). Breakfast and parking included. Reservations: (link)
- Hyatt Place Bloomington (link). Chain hotel, about 15 minute walk to Rawles Hall. Rooms start at $129 per night + tax ($866.88 total for Jun 25 - Jul 1, cancellable until Jun 23). Breakfast is included. Parking is extra, $16 per night. Reservations: (link)
Other hotels farther from campus that tend to have lower prices and free parking include: Hampton Inn (link), Holiday Inn (link), La Quinta (link)
Internet
For on campus WiFi, use eduroam or IU Guest.
Nearby Restaurants
Visit Bloomington keeps a list of local restaurants with descriptions (html) which can be narrowed to those near the IU campus (html) and those on 4th Street (html). Here are some of their links for nearby restaurants:
- Anyetsang's Little Tibet (Tibetan, Thai, Indian)
- Big Woods Bloomington (Pizza, Burgers)
- Bloomington Bagel Company (Bagels)
- Btown Gyros (Mediterranean)
- BuffaLouie's (Wings, Burgers, Sandwiches)
- Burma Garden (Burmese)
- Cafe Bali (Indonesian)
- Cafe Pizzaria (Pizza)
- Chipotle (National Chain)
- Chow Bar (Chinese)
- Dagwood's Deli Sub Shop (Sandwiches)
- Dat's Cajun Creole Cafe (Cajun)
- Dave's Hot Chicken (National Chain)
- Do Asian Fusion Cuisine (Korean, Asian Fusion)
- Five Guys (National Chain)
- Goodfella's Pizzeria (National Chain)
- Hartzell's Ice Cream (Ice Cream)
- India Garden (Indian)
- The Inkwell (Coffee)
- Japonee Express (Sushi)
- Jimmy John's (National Chain)
- Kilroy's on Kirkwood (Bar Food)
- Korea Restaurant (Korean)
- Lennie's (Salads, Sandwiches, Pizza)
- Longfei (Chinese)
- My Thai Cafe Plus (Thai)
- Nick's English Hut (Bar Food, Staff Favorite)
- Noodles & Co. (National Chain)
- Osteria Rago (Italian)
- Parlor Doughnuts (Doughnuts)
- Poindexter Cafe (Cafe)
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop (National Chain)
- Qdoba Mexican Grill (National Chain)
- The Runcible Spoon (American)
- Rush Hour Station (Vietnamese)
- Siam House (Thai)
- Soma Coffeehouse (Coffee)
- Taste of India (Indian)
- Village Deli (Breakfast, Sandwiches)
Russ Lyons maintains a page of nearby restaurant recommendations (html). (This list includes ratings, but is somewhat out-of-date, and several restaurants on the list have since closed.)