Getting to Purdue
Source: https://admissions.purdue.edu/visit/getting-to-purdue/ Parent: https://admissions.purdue.edu/visit/
No matter which location you choose to visit, we have all the information you need to make the most of your time in West Lafayette or Indianapolis.
West Lafayette
Purdue West Lafayette is conveniently located near Interstate 65. We’re about one hour north of Indianapolis and two hours south of Chicago. Whether you choose to travel on your own or through commercial services, West Lafayette is easily accessible. There are many lodging options available in the surrounding area just a short drive away from Purdue, as well as options on or within walking distance of campus. Use the resources below to help you plan for your trip.
Commercial Travel Services
Air Travel
- Purdue University Airport (LAF): Located on campus, offers daily service to and from Chicago O’Hare
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND): 65 miles south of West Lafayette
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD): 140 miles north of West Lafayette
- Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW): 130 miles north of West Lafayette
Airport Shuttle Services
- IND to/from campus: Regular daily service, reservations recommended
- ORD to/from campus: Prepaid service, runs based on reservations only
- IND to/from campus: Regular daily service, reservations recommended
- ORD to/from campus: Regular daily service, reservations recommended
Ground Travel
These services are available to the local area, stopping at a station in downtown Lafayette. Visitors can ride Greater Lafayette’s CityBus system or hop on a rideshare service to Purdue (about 1.5 miles away).
Lodging
Purdue West Lafayette is very walkable, and the Union Club Hotel in the Purdue Memorial Union is a convenient on-campus location for overnight visitors.
There are a variety of other lodging options in the Greater Lafayette area — some within walking distance. Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette is a great resource to locate nearby hotels, campgrounds and vacation rentals to fit your needs.
Indianapolis
Primarily located in the heart of downtown, our Indianapolis expansion covers the city in its entirety with multiple facilities across Indiana’s capital. Known as the “Crossroads of America,” personal and commercial travel to Indianapolis is easy to navigate with Chicago, Louisville and Cincinnati all within a three-hour drive. When it comes to lodging, enjoy the conveniences of a major city with many options on or near our Purdue location. Use the resources below to help you plan your trip.
Commercial Travel Services
Air Travel
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND): Located 15 miles from downtown Indianapolis
Airport Shuttle Services
- IndyGo offers $4 per day passes for all fixed bus routes throughout Indianapolis as well as fixed route service from the airport to downtown for $1.75 per ride.
- Taxi services are available with a $15 minimum charge for all fares from the airport, regardless of distance.
- Uber and Lyft rideshare services are also available.
Ground Travel
Lodging
Indianapolis hosts a wide variety of lodging options. The Homewood Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown is a location close to Purdue for overnight visitors.
Visit Indy is a helpful resource for locating nearby hotels, restaurants, attractions and more.
[Animal Policy
While West Lafayette and Indianapolis are pet-friendly cities, we cannot accommodate pets on campus visits, with the exception of service animals. Learn more about the university’s operating procedures for service animals on campus.
Learn More](https://www.purdue.edu/ethics/resources/service-animals-on-campus.php)
[Parking
Visit the Purdue parking website to learn more about available parking for visitors, including hourly garage and metered parking options. If you’ve registered for an on-campus visit with the Office of Admissions, your event confirmation email will contain parking information.
Find Parking](https://www.purdue.edu/parking/ )
Time Zone
West Lafayette and Indianapolis are in the Eastern time zone and observe daylight saving time.
Travel Advisory
As you plan your visit, we encourage you to monitor the most current information on detours and traffic from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT):
[800-261-ROAD (7623)
Or dial 511 from your mobile phone](tel: 800-261-7623)
For the latest construction information on and around Purdue, visit Physical Facilities.