Downtown Bloomington and the IU campus are walkable from each other — the walk from the courthouse square to the sample gates takes about 10 minutes, and the campus itself rewards wandering on foot. Cycling is common; Bloomington has a reasonable network of bike lanes and trails for a city its size.
Bloomington Transit runs bus routes connecting downtown with the campus, the south side, and outlying areas. The routes are oriented toward IU and function best for getting between the campus and downtown. Cars are necessary for Lake Monroe, the Hoosier National Forest, and most destinations outside the walkable core.
Parking downtown requires meters or pay lots; parking near the IU campus on weekdays and game days is difficult. The university runs several large garages on the campus perimeter. For visitors, staying in the walkable area near Kirkwood Avenue eliminates most parking difficulties.