Travel Info

Half the fun of a Red Carpet Day is exploring the campus and Bloomington on your own

From the moment you arrive until the end of your Red Carpet Day, you’ll soak in the Hoosier experience. Here’s what you need to know about parking, directions, hotels, and lunch options.

See the tentative schedule on this page—it’s designed specifically for admitted students. You’ll receive a full schedule in your confirmation email after you register and a printed schedule (part of the Red Carpet Day booklet) when you arrive for your session. As a reminder, you can call us at 812-855-0661 to update your reservation or use the online form to cancel your visit if your plans change.

Schedule

Red Carpet Day check-in begins at 8 a.m. Required activities end at lunchtime, and optional activities wrap up by 5 p.m. Start planning your trip today!

Note: Bloomington is in the Eastern Time Zone and observes daylight saving time.

Upon arriving, you will have an opportunity to talk with current students and staff, and enjoy a light continental breakfast before your program begins.

Students and staff will welcome you to campus and give you a preview of what the rest of the day will hold.

Join an IU student for a campus tour—explore where you’ll take classes and learn more about student activities and IU traditions. Already visited IU? This tour is different from our regular tour, so you’ll learn new things about IU and see new places on campus.

Participate in a discussion and ask questions about life at IU. Panel participants will include a faculty member; one or more current IU students; and staff from the Office of Student Life, the Office of First Year Experience Programs, and University Division.

We’ll conclude the required portion of the day and make sure you have everything you need to explore lunch options and enjoy your optional activities in the afternoon.

Enjoy the delicious on- or off-campus dining options and take some time to explore campus and Bloomington.

Attend one of these sessions to learn more about specific programs of study.

Check out these options to keep exploring and learn more about special opportunities at IU. You can choose a session or tour when you register for Red Carpet Day.

  • Education Abroad session
  • Student financial assistance session
  • Student Recreational Sports Center tour
  • Visit a Residence Hall (a sample room in Smith Hall at Collins Living Learning Center will be available from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.)

Hotels

From a highly rated hotel right on campus to national hotel brands, you have options for where to stay during your Red Carpet Day visit.

The following hotels are providing Red Carpet Day guests a discount on select days. Claim your discount with the code or link listed below, or let the hotel know that you are coming for a Red Carpet Day when you call. We encourage you to wait until your Red Carpet Day visit is confirmed before making your hotel reservation or other travel plans.

The Biddle Hotel and Conference Center has welcomed campus visitors for more than 100 years. Located in the Indiana Memorial Union, it’s a great option if you want to stay right in the heart of IU Bloomington.

The Biddle Hotel is offering a 10 percent discount off their online rate and a discounted parking rate of $6 per night in IMU lots 1 and 2 for visitors who are attending a Red Carpet Day, subject to availability.

To book, call 812-856-6381 or visit the Biddle Hotel website. When making your reservation, use the promotional code ADMISSIONS24.

Learn more about the Biddle Hotel

The Courtyard Marriott is located southwest of campus at 310 S. College Avenue and is offering a 15 percent discount for visitors who are attending a Red Carpet Day on select dates, subject to availability. When making a reservation, please use the Courtyard Marriott Red Carpet Day link below or call 812-335-8000.

Book online

The Courtyard by Marriott is minutes away from the center of campus at Indiana University, close to all of Bloomington's downtown restaurants and shops. Their rooms offer High Definition LCD televisions, spacious work desks, luxurious bedding, complementary wireless Internet, coffee, and morning newspaper. They also feature an indoor pool, whirlpool, and a well-equipped fitness room. Their Bistro is open every morning and evening to cook your favorites from scratch and enjoy Starbucks coffee.

Graduate Bloomington, prominently located on Kirkwood Avenue, is a campus-comfy Hoosier hangout just steps away from Sample Gates and neighboring shops and restaurants. For a discounted rate, call 812-994-0500 or use the link below.

See RCD offers at The Graduate

Check out Visit Bloomington to learn about additional off-campus accommodations.

Dining

Indiana Memorial Union (IMU) dining

Choose from a variety of on-campus dining options in the Indiana Memorial Union:

  • The Chocolate Moose—a Bloomington tradition since 1933—serves locally made ice cream as part of Sugar and Spice
  • The Globe, serving a rotating selection of favorites from around the world
  • Lantern, a pan-Asian style street kitchen
  • The Mix, where you can build a salad and order a side of soup
  • Quarry Pie Co., pizza made fresh, on-site, and cooked to perfection in a fire oven, plus salads also available
  • Starbucks, with all your favorite drinks and snacks
  • Sugar and Spice, with pastries, cookies and other sweet treats 
  • The Tudor Room, offering an extensive lunch buffet in a stately space—a favorite among visiting parents (check their website for hours)
  • Whitfield Grill, with a classic diner-inspired menu

Dinner option: The Vault serves classic pub food, beer, and wine. Family-friendly. Opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday–Friday, noon Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday.

Additional on-campus locations:

All of the following locations, with the exception of Bookmarket, are All-You-Care-To-Eat (AYCTE) dining halls, a type of dining hall where current students can use meal swipes multiple times a day and enjoy unrestricted servings. The following AYCTE locations will all be offering discounts for Red Carpet Days.

1320 E. Tenth Street
Bookmarket, located on the ground floor of the Herman B Wells library, offers a blend of international cuisine and local favorites at five micro-restaurants and convenient grab and go options.

541 N Woodlawn Ave
This is a carry out AYCTE option that offers cold and hot features. Menus change daily and include vegan, vegetarian, and meat options.

1725 E. Third Street
Discover All-You-Care-To-Eat dining, where you’ll find flavorful food from local, regional, and international cuisine. The menus, which change daily to offer you variety and choice, provide a variety of healthy options including plant-based, vegetarian, and vegan fare.

1011 E. Third Street
Grab something to eat from the cold and hot bars or make a selection at the custom order station which changes daily. There’s plenty to choose from at Goodbody Hall.

1101 N. Fee Lane
Discover All-You-Care-To-Eat dining, where you’ll find flavorful food from local, regional, and international cuisine. The menus, which change daily to offer you variety and choice, provide a variety of healthy options including plant-based, vegetarian, and vegan fare.

125 S. Eagleson Avenue
Choose from a wide variety of dining options at Read Hall, one of the largest dining locations on campus. This location includes wholesome mediterranean cuisine, authentic burgers and sandwiches, soup and salad options, along with American and Middle Eastern BBQ.

Bloomington dining

Take a five-minute stroll to Kirkwood Avenue, walk through the Sample Gates, and voilà: dozens of great restaurants to choose from. Some are listed below. You can also head just southeast of campus and find a Bloomington favorite. For additional appetizing ideas, see Visit Bloomington’s much longer list of Bloomington restaurants.

113 N. Dunn Street

238 N. Morton Street (next to the Hilton Garden Inn)

913 S. College Mall Road

At Bloomington Bagel Company, the bagels are the stars, but the menu also includes salads, muffins, and other treats.

114 S. Indiana Avenue

USA Today named BuffaLouie’s one of the nation’s top 10 wing joints. Choose among 17 sauces.

518 E. Kirkwood Avenue

Come by Everbowl for an acai bowl or smoothie and enjoy the light and healthier alternatives that we provide.

421 E 3rd St #10

Gabels Bagels is excited to bring authentic New York City Kosher Water Bagels to Bloomington.

514 E. Kirkwood Avenue

For gourmet pizza, deliciously large sandwiches, and mini indulgence desserts, come to Lennie’s—one of Admissions’ staff local favorites.

1428 E. Third Street

A Bloomington institution! Ranked best pizza in Indiana by Trip Advisor, Mother Bear’s offers specialty pizzas and lunch specials.

423 E. Kirkwood Avenue

Nick’s English Hut, a student and alum favorite, serves a range of burgers, sandwiches, strombolis, and pizzas.

422 E. Kirkwood Avenue

Raising Cane's specializes in fried chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, and Texas toast.

430 E. Fourth Street

Siam House offers Thai cuisine and serves as an anchor to Restaurant Row, a series of international restaurants on Fourth Street.

316 E. Fourth Street

Discover family-owned and operated restaurant, Taste of India, which features Northern Indian cuisine and boasts Bloomington's only Southern Indian cuisine as well.

Discounts

Use your Red Carpet Day badge to get VIP discounts the day of your visit!

All of the following locations, are All-You-Care-To-Eat (AYCTE) dining halls, a type of dining hall where students can use meal swipes multiple times a day and enjoy unrestricted servings. The following AYCTE locations will all be offering discounts for Red Carpet Days.

  • Bookmarket Eatery, located in the Wells Library
  • Forest Quad
  • Goodbody Hall
  • McNutt Quad
  • Collins
  • Read Hall

Show your badge for a free bagel or $1.25 off your order.

Flash your red RCD VIP Badge to get $2 off any regular size bowl. We cannot wait to serve you!

A 20% discount on one apparel item at the IU Bookstore in the IMU

Show your RDC badge for a 15% discount on food items.

Show your RCD badge to receive free breadsticks with the purchase of a 10” or 14” pizza.

Show your RCD badge to receive a free drink with the purchase of any other item.