We here at Indiana University Bloomington are so excited to have everyone from A Century of 16mm here at our university! Keep reading to learn the inside tricks on how to navigate to Bloomington, Indiana, from anywhere!
First of all, please remember that you are traveling to Bloomington, Indiana, not Bloomington, Illinois. We know that the flyover “I” states just kind of merge into one big blurry cornfield in the minds of some of our coastal friends (it’s okay—we get it!), and you would be surprised how many people over the years have called us, very confused, from Bloomington, Illinois!
Bloomington is in south-central Indiana, about an hour’s drive (50 miles) south of our capital, Indianapolis. It is about 230 miles from Chicago, 105 miles from Louisville, and 128 miles from Cincinnati.
Air Travel to Indianapolis
Bloomington only has a small airport so for the most direct air travel you’ll want to fly into the Indianapolis International Airport (IND). The airport is very easy to navigate and has won numerous awards for being the best airport of its size (rated Best Airport in North America serving 5 to 15 million passengers by the Airports Council International for eleven years in a row). For those without direct flights to the Indianapolis Airport, you may be able to catch I flight from one of Chicago’s two large airports to Indianapolis, rent cars from Chicago, or even catch buses from Greyhound/Miller or Flixbus.
Ground Travel From Indianapolis to Bloomington
To get from Indianapolis Airport to Bloomington, your cheapest option is to ride the Go Express Shuttle ($29 one way). Check the link to see the schedule—it runs hourly on some days but not others. You will want to make a reservation in advance, with so many film professional coming into town, plus the usual student traffic, the buses will likely fill up. Go Express also offers limos and ride shares if you want to book something a bit fancier. You can also catch an Uber or Lyft from the airport and take it all the way down to Bloomington. Shuttles, Uber, and Lyft all pick up on the lower level of the airport. Just follow the signs to the car rental/ground transportation area, walk outside, and you will see signs for your options. There is also a Go Express station near the car rental area if you did not book your ticket in advance. Rental cars are available as well, should you prefer to have ready transportation to explore the fabulous Bloomington surroundings at your leisure.
Traveling From Other Destinations
Many buses connect to Indianapolis at or around the Indianapolis downtown bus/rail station. While waiting for a layover, you can leave the station for cheerier surroundings in a nearby hotel to wait out the layover with a welcoming cup of coffee or other refreshment. One spot in mind is the Omni Severin, a close option for those worried about reaching their transportation! Not sure how to get here? Check out the Wanderu app to see available offerings and to compare options.
Written by Rebecca Baumann, Erika Dowell, Isabel Planton, Ursula Romero, Lilly Library