Here's how to get from Bloomington to Indianapolis or Chicago without a car

Rachel Smith, The Herald-Times
·3 min read

Bloomington has several transit opportunities to make your way around the city, but some destinations are farther than an electronic scooter or rideshare car can take you.

For students or residents looking to get away for a bit, two bustling metropolitan cities perfect for a low-cost vacation are close by — all one has to do is find a way to get there.

If you don't have access to a reliable vehicle or just don't want to add to your mileage, there are a few ways to get away from Bloomington and go shopping in Indianapolis or take a stroll around Chicago's Navy Pier. Bloomington has three intercity bus systems where passengers can schedule round trips to nearby bustling cities for less than $100.

A day trip in Indianapolis starting around $20

Indianapolis is a walkable city teeming with shops and local eateries. For free or cheap entertainment, visitors can tour the wide range of museums or stop by the Indianapolis Zoo. History buffs can walk along cobblestone streets to view the 19th-century buildings of the Lockerbie Square District.

A FlixBus.
A FlixBus.

FlixBus, an international intercity bus service, just added a connecting route from Bloomington where riders can go to Indianapolis, Chicago or Lafayette. FlixBus users must purchase tickets in advance and meet at Bloomington Transit Center. Ticket prices are $10.99 each way, with a flat service fee of $5. The bus will stop in Indianapolis on Washington Street between Alabama and Delaware streets, across from the Julia M. Carson Transit Center. The bus stop is adjacent to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, near a bus stop shelter. Each way is approximately an hour and 15 minutes. People can catch a ride on a FlixBus every day except Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Riders also could use the Hoosier Ride system. Hoosier Ride Intercity Bus Service is managed by the Indiana Department of Transportation, Greyhound Lines and Miller Transportation and is intended to connect rural areas with larger cities. Tickets to Indianapolis start at $13 each day, plus a service fee of $6. Riders will get on at the Bloomington Transit Center and arrive at the Indianapolis bus station, 350 S. Illinois St.

If traditional bus systems are not what you're looking for, riders can use a shuttle system called GoExpress. This company has several shuttles that take Bloomington passengers to the Indianapolis International Airport. Shuttle locations in Bloomington include the Graduate Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, SpringHill Suites, Home2Suites and Hyatt Place as well as a few spots on IU's campus: the McNutt Dorm, IU Memorial Union and Willkie Dorm North. Keeping in mind the airport is about seven miles southwest of downtown, passengers would have to arrange for additional transportation to make it into the heart of the city. The cost is$29 each way.

GoExpress has several stops in Bloomington and takes passengers to the Indianapolis International Airport.
GoExpress has several stops in Bloomington and takes passengers to the Indianapolis International Airport.

A weekend in Chicago for around $60

Whether you're into weird art installations, rooftop bars or paddle boarding, Chicago has a lot to offer for a quick, three-day weekend excursion.

Hoosier Ride offers bus rides to Chicago at $76 roundtrip. The bus will pick up riders at the Bloomington Transit Center and drop them off at Chicago Bus Station, 630 W Harrison St. The trip takes 5 to 6 hours each way.

For about $67, FlixBus offers a roundtrip to Chicago. Ticketholders wait at the Route 7 Bloomington Transit bus stop on East Third Street in front of the Bloomington Transit Center. Once in Chicago, the bus will stop on the east side of Canal Street between Van Buren Street and Jackson Boulevard, one block south of Union Station. It will also stop in front of the Divvy bikeshare station and adjacent to the CTA local bus stop.

GoExpress previously provided private transportation for Indiana University students to Chicago through chartered sedans, SUVs and private vans. This service allowed students to travel based on their own schedules with door-to-door pick-up and drop-off. However, this service, titled Chicagoland Express Shuttle, is not available this academic year.

Tickets for each intercity bus service can be purchased at their individual websites.

Rachel Smith covers Indiana University and student life for The Herald-Times. Reach her at rksmith@heraldt.com or on Twitter @RachelSmithNews.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: How to get from Bloomington to Indianapolis, Chicago on a bus