Going down to visit IU sometime during D21s spring break and wondered where people stay to make it convenient to walk around without having to drive and find a parking spot on campus.
IMU
Hyatt Place is right downtown. Will try the new Graduate Hotel later this month.
Thank you @davidlt1 and @prep4col. Will probably go down for an event for HS Sophomores thinking of attending IU and we want to check out the campus more thoroughly. We wandered around campus for a day when D21 was in 6th grade but she hasn’t been down there since that time. So this should be a fun trip.
My first preference is Hyatt Place. On Kirkwood, close to bars and restaurants. Second choice is Hilton Garden Inn, a few blocks away and still close to downtown. Both are somewhat walkable to campus. Third is the Holiday Inn. Close to the stadium but not really walkable due to traffic and suck.
As for campus, you can pay to park at the IMU lot. It’s not that bad. You’re right in the middle of everything – so walking is easy.
Thank you for more suggestions and tips @yourmomma. We’re staying Friday night at friends in Indy and driving in for the HS Sophomore event early Saturday. We’ll be staying at the IMU and are able to park and walk to the auditorium from there. Looking forward to it, haven’t been to IU in a few years and we’ll have two full days for D21 to explore.
Btw, I’m a Purdue alum but I really value the quality of both of these state schools. We’re lucky as Hoosiers to have them!
I’m sorry. 
There’s a whole new section by the new Informatics building!
https://www.visitbloomington.com/hotels/
check section “Hotels Near Indiana University”
Be careful of pricing on big weekends. I was planning to stay at the graduate Mar 29-31 and needed to switch to Apr.5-7. The price went from $118 a night to $480.
Walnut Street Inn on the courthouse square. It’s an historic building with about 5-6 rooms above an Indian restaurant. We got a very reasonable rate there and loved it.
We stayed at the Hampton Inn on Walnut Street. I highly recommend them. It’s less than a five minute drive to the parking garage by Jacobs School of Music. There are several Indiana and Jacobs students that work there. They are so helpful and friendly! I would say one of the friendliest places I’ve ever stayed. D had an audition at Jacobs and one of the desk workers (former Jacobs student and future doctoral student) knew D was very nervous about her audition. She wrote the nicest note to D that definitely helped with her audition.
I normally stay at the Courtyard by Marriott and my wife has stayed at the Springhill Suites. She said the Springhill was nice but parking was a little difficult at times. The Courtyard had plenty of parking. Its a bit further but I have walked from it to my D’s sorority house up on the extension. Otherwise, it was a pretty cheep Uber ride.
A new hotel just opened up. It’s immediately downtown, about five minutes’ walk from the Sample Gates. The Graduate Hotel, I think.
It seems pretty nice, and it’s very close to the center of town. Depending on your needs it could be good.
The IMU is also pretty classic.