Bloomington-Normal

Many students describe Illinois State's location as just the right distance from home—close, but not too close. Chicago, St. Louis, Rockford, Indianapolis, and the Quad Cities are all three hours away or less (by car).

There's lots to do in the Twin Cities!

• Just blocks from campus, Uptown Normal features great restaurants, unique shops, and much more including the Normal Theatre where you can catch a movie like you won't find at the local megaplex—documentaries, foreign films, and independent movies.
• Hit the links at one of Bloomington-Normal's many golf courses, including the University's Weibring Golf Club or Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course, the Den at Fox Creek.
• Cheer on the Normal CornBelters baseball team in their brand new stadium, the Corn Crib.
• Once you've learned rock climbing basics at the Student Fitness Center, you can take your skills to the next level at Upper Limits Indoor Rock Gym which features 65-foot silos and a 110-foot outdoor climbing wall.
• The Illinois Shakespeare Festival is known nationally in the theatre community as one of the top Shakespeare Festivals. The Illinois Office of Tourism nominated the Illinois Shakespeare Festival as one of the top 120 attractions in the country.
• Get some exercise and enjoy the scenery on the Constitution Trail, a 24-mile, hard surface trail for walking, running, biking, even cross-country skiing in the winter months.
• The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention & Visitors Bureau offers much more information about the community, including where to stay.

Transportation

• Local bus service, free with student ID, gets students ar ound campus and Bloomington-Normal. Learn more about Bloomington-Normal Public Transit and Illinois State University Redbird Ride.
• Charter bus service is available from the Bone Student Center to Chicago and many other destinations throughout the Midwest. Options include Peoria Charter Coach, Burlington Trailways, and more.
• Just blocks from campus, the Amtrak station provides daily service to Chicago and St. Louis.

• The Central Illinois Regional Airport offers free parking and daily flights to Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Detroit, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and more.

Maps and directions

• Campus Map
• Driving directions to campus
• Printer-friendly driving directions (pdf)
  Includes an area map and local hotel and motel information.