Travel Information

Outline

Purdue University is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, which is about 65 miles north of Indianapolis and 120 miles south of Chicago.

NCN headquarters offices are in suite 1287 of the Birck Nanotechnology Center.

Getting to Purdue University

By Plane

  • Indianapolis International Airport (code: IND) is the best choice and is served by many airlines.

    Lafayette Limo shuttle buses depart Indianapolis International Airport daily every 2 hours between 6:30 AM, and 10:30 PM. The trip will take between 1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes depending on traffic and your final destination in the Lafayette / West Lafayette area. There is drop-off and pick-up at the Purdue Memorial Union Hotel. Reservations are encouraged.

  • Purdue University Airport (code: LAF) is on the campus and serves private planes. There is no commercial airline service.

  • Chicago O'Hare International Airport (code: ORD) is approximately 125 miles north of Purdue and in the Central Time Zone (one hour behind Purdue). It is approximately a 3 hour drive from the airport to Purdue, which with the timezone change of one hour ahead means an arrival at Purdue 4 hours later by the clock.

By Car
  • Driving Directions from the South (Indianapolis Airport vicinity)
    State & Grant St. Map West Lafayette is 70 miles and about 1 hour 15 minutes by road from the Indianapolis Airport. Here are MapQuest directions. Click the image to the right for a map of the vicinity of the Union Club Hotel at Purdue.

  • Driving Directions from the North (Chicago O'Hare Airport vicinity)
    West Lafayette is 145 miles by road from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Here are MapQuest directions. Click the image to the right for a map of the vicinity of the Union Club Hotel at Purdue.
By Train

Amtrak provides service to Lafayette. To get to Chicago's Amtrak Station or Greyhound Bus Terminal from O'Hare Airport, take the Continental Express Shuttle (773) 454-7800 to Union Station, 225 Canal Street, Chicago. For assistance, Continental's uniformed ticket agents are located in the baggage claims areas of terminals 1, 2, and 3 as well as outside U.S. Customs in Terminal 5. From Union Station, take the Amtrak train bound for Lafayette, IN. A reservation is recommended. The toll-free number is (800) 872-7245.

By Bus

Greyhound Bus provides service. See "By Train" for directions from O'Hare Airport to the Greyhound Bus Terminal. Tickets by phone at (800) 2231-2222.

Campus Parking

Parking in the Grant Street Parking Garage is complementary for guests of the Union Club Hotel. Hourly parking is available with a maximum of $10.00 per day.

Daily visitor parking permits are available from the Parking Facilities Office in the Visitor Information Center located in the Northwestern Avenue Parking Garage. Visitors with a daily parking permit may park in any of the parking garages or surface lots reserved for "A" permits. For information call (765) 494-9494.

Visitors needing special consideration for disability parking should contact the Parking Facilities Office (765-494-9494) in the Visitor Information Center.

MapQuest maps:
Grant Street Parking Garage
Northwestern Avenue Parking Garage

Lodging

Union Club Hotel
Conveniently located on campus between Grant Street, State Street and Northwestern Avenue, West Lafayette. Call (800) 320-6291 for information and reservations.
Hilton Garden Inn
356 East State Street, West Lafayette, IN. (5 minutes from campus) Call (765) 743-2100 for more information and reservations.
Holiday Inn Select City Center
515 South Street, Lafayette, IN. (5 minutes from campus in downtown Lafayette) Call (800) 423-1137 for information and reservations.
University Inn Conference Center and Suites
3001 Northwestern Avenue, West Lafayette. (10 minute drive north of campus) Call (800) 777-9808 for information and reservations.
Other hotels, motels, bed & breakfast accommodations, and campgrounds are listed in the lodging section of Lafayette Online.

Local Transportation

Wabash Trolley Line

Ride the Wabash Trolley Line! There is no faster, easier way to get to hotels, restaurants, shops, cultural, arts and entertainment venues in downtown Lafayette-West Lafayette and at Purdue University. Everyone rides free and there is a trolley every 10 or 15 minutes. Visit the trolley site for routing and times of operation.

Greater Lafayette City Bus

Please visit the City Bus site for campus route and schedule information, including there NightRider service for Friday and Saturday evenings.

Rental Car
  • Budget: Call (765) 743-3987 (Purdue Airport) or (800) 527-0700
  • Enterprise: Call (765) 743-7858 (Purdue Airport) or (800) 736-8222
  • National: Call (765) 743-8455 (Purdue Airport) or (800) 227-7368
Taxi
  • Four Star Taxi: Call (765) 742-8400
  • FastCab: Call (765) 447-4450

Local Weather

Indiana is hot and humid in the Summer, cold in the Winter, as well as everything else in between. Before traveling, check one of the online weather sites for local forecasts to be sure that you will be comfortable during your stay.

www.weather.com (The Weather Channel)

Local Time Zone

Purdue University is in the Eastern Time Zone, as is Indianapolis, Indiana. Please note that Chicago, Illinois is in the Central Time Zone. All of these locations observe Daylight Saving Time.

Restaurants and Other Visitor Information

Area restaurants can be found listed in Lafayette Online's dining section.

For other attractions, recreation, and events in the area please visit Lafayette Online.

Useful Maps

International Visitors and Visa Information

Please visit the United States Visas website for visa information and how to obtain one.