Hellenic Student Association

In this section we present useful information regarding travelling to West Lafayette through the Indianapolis and the Chicago O' Hare airports. We also show what options you have as far as transportation in the Greater Lafayette area is concerned.

The two most convenient airports for Purdue students are the Chicago O' Hare (ORD) and the Indianapolis (IND) airport. The O' Hare airport is bigger with all the consequences this entails. Probably many european airports have direct flights to Chicago airport but if you want to fly to Indianapolis, in all likelihood you will have a stop in another big airport somewhere else in the U.S. If you fly from Europe directly to Chicago then you will go through the Customs Office once you take your luggage at the airport. However, if your destination is Indianapolis, then you will have to pick up your luggage in your first stop inside the U.S. and pass through the Customs Office in that airport. Once you are done with the Customs Office then you turn in your luggage again to your airline's employees so that they can send it to your final destination.

After you arrive to Indianapolis or Chicago then you will have to travel some more to come to Purdue. If you choose to come to Purdue through Indianapolis, you can take the Lafayette Limo to bring you here. Lafayette Limo is a small bus that serves the Purdue community and it travels from the Indianapolis airport to West Lafayette. For stops, schedule, prices and contact information please check the Lafayette Limo website. If you choose to arrive at the O' Hare airport, you can take the Express Air Coach bus. This is also a small bus that serves the Purdue Community and it travels from the Chicago O' Hare airport to West Lafayette. For prices, stops, schedule and more information, please check the Express Air Coach website

When it is time to decide whether to use the Chicago or the Indianapolis airport you should consider that:

• it takes twice the time to travel from Purdue to Chicago than to go from Purdue to Indianapolis airport
• it will cost you more to travel from Chicago to Purdue rather than from Indianapolis to Purdue
• it might take you longer than expected to travel from your airport to Purdue due to constructions on the interstates, traffic etc.

If you do not want to use the Lafayette Limo or the Express Air Coach bus then you could rent a car from the airport in order to travel to West Lafayette. You can rent a car from the airport and then return it to the company's representatives here in West Lafayette. Keep in mind though that this will cost you significantly more because you will return the rental car in a different location from the one that you picked it up. Some car rental companies are Budget, Avis, Thrifty, Hertz and Enterprise.

From Chicago O' Hare airport you can also take the Blue Line train to go downtown Chicago and then take the Amtrak train or the Greyhound bus to Lafayette. More information about the Blue Line train and Chicago Transit Authority can be found here. Keep in mind that you will have to carry all your luggage with you at all times. Greyhound is a provider of intercity bus transportation and Amtrak is the train that you can take to travel to Chicago or Indianapolis.

The bus that serves the Lafayette area is CityBus and this also includes a trolley. You can check their website for all the loops, stops, and schedules. Currently, Purdue students ride on CityBus for free if they show their Purdue ID card.

There are two taxi services in the Lafayette area if you ever need one.

• Four Star Taxi: 765-742-8400
• Fast Cab and Courier: 765-474-4450