Travel, On-site Transportation and Parking
On-site Transportation
Indianapolis offers a full range of transportation service providers, from public transportation to rental vehicles and everything in between.
Walking
The Indiana Convention Center is connected via skywalks to seven full-service hotels and the Circle Centre Mall, which features more than 100 shopping, dining and entertainment options.
Everything in Indianapolis's convenient downtown is within easy walking distance. For more information, visit the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association website.Rental Cars
Shuttle Service
Shuttle service will be available Wednesday, Oct. 20 and Thursday, Oct. 21 to transport convention attendees to and from the Indiana Convention Center and the Indiana State Fairgrounds.- Shuttles will NOT run on Thursday and Friday during the times of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Shuttles riders need to be at a designated shuttle pick-up point 10 minutes prior to departure time.
- Shuttles will arrive at stop 1 on the hour to start the routes. Drive time between each stop is approximately 10 minutes.
- Shuttles depart the convention center to return to hotels on the hour.
- Please keep in mind that shuttle timing could be impacted by traffic and weather conditions.
Enterprise Rental Car will provide discounted rates for all national FFA convention attendees.
Call 1-800-Rent-A-Car (1-800-736-8222) or go to www.enterprise.com to book your vehicle. Use FFA Discount number XZ08140. (Note: If you book your vehicle online, you'll also be asked to enter a pin. The pin is NAT.)
Enterprise will be handling a large number of rentals for the FFA convention, so it's best to reserve your vehicle by September 1, 2010. You may still be able to book your rental after this date, but availability will be limited.
Also, please note that the discount number does not guarantee the lowest possible rental price. Please compare prices of all car rental companies.
| Key Hotel Shuttles |
| Weekly passes are $25 and can be purchased during convention pre-registration. One-time passes are $10 and have to be purchased at on-site registration. All riders returning to their hotel must have a pass. More specific route information will be provided when you complete you purchase your passes. |
| Wednesday, Oct. 20 | 10 a.m. - 1 a.m. |
| Thursday, Oct. 21 | 6 - 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. - 1 a.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 22 | 6 - 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. - 1 a.m. |
| Saturday, Oct 23 | 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. |
| Please note: |
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| Indiana State Fairgrounds Shuttles |
| A free shuttle between the Indiana Convention Center and the Indiana State Fairgrounds (ISF) is provided for all registered convention participants. The ISF shuttle will run: |
| Wednesday, Oct. 20 | 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. |
| Thursday, Oct. 21 | 6 a.m. - 5 p.m. |
| Three Hills Outlaws of Rodeo Shuttles |
| Three Hills Outlaws of Rodeo shuttle passes, between the Indiana Convention Center and the Indiana State Fairgrounds, are available for purchase at registration for $10. These passes are valid for one round-trip only. The rodeo shuttle will run: |
| Thursday, Oct. 21 | 4:45 - 10 p.m. |
| Friday, Oct. 22 | 4:45 - 10 p.m. |
Public Transportation
Taxi cabs are available for transportation in and around the Indianapolis area. Call 1-800-TAXICAB to request a taxi.
IndyGo offers several bus routes with stops at or near FFA convention locations.
Visit www.IndyGo.net for fare pricing, maps and schedules. Try the new Online Trip Planner if you know your origin and destination. For additional info, call 317.635.3344.
Print this coupon to save $2 on the IndyGo Green Line - Downtown Airport Express.
Parking
- Parking for regular-sized vehicles
Prepaid parking passes for regular-sized vehicles will be available for purchase when you register for convention online. A parking pass will allow you in-and-out privileges in the same parking lot or garage, Tuesday through Saturday during the convention.
The passes will be priced to reflect negotiated group rates, which are expected to range from $27-$77. If you chose not to purchase a pass through convention registration, daily parking passes can be purchased at each parking facility. Daily parking passes do not include in-and-out privileges, and prices are at the discretion of the parking facility.
- Parking for Buses
Prepaid parking passes for school and charter buses can be purchased when you register for convention online.
Note: If your chapter is staying in one of the hotels in downtown Indianapolis during the convention, you must purchase a prepaid bus parking pass. Most downtown hotels do not provide parking for buses. - Hotel Parking
If your chapter is staying at a hotel in downtown Indianapolis during the convention, you will have the option to use the hotel's parking lots for your vehicles. Parking arrangements must be made through the hotel. At this time, parking rates for downtown hotels are between $12 and $28 dollars per day. - Parking at Indiana State Fairgrounds
Parking at the fairgrounds will be complimentary Tuesday, Oct. 19 to Friday, Oct. 22 during the national FFA convention. Convention participants attending the career development events or the Three Hills Outlaws of Rodeo events will need to follow the directions of the parking attendants.
Please Note: Bus parking lots will not allow vans, automobiles or pick-up truck parking. Parking facilities for these vehicles will not accommodate mini, charter or school buses. - Additional Downtown Parking
Even if you choose not to buy prepaid parking passes through convention registration, you will find abundant and affordable parking options in downtown Indianapolis. For more information visit Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. - Trailer Parking
Trailer parking will be in the Fern Marshalling yard. To obtain directions and parking passes for trailers, contact Mandy Hazlett, mhazlett@ffa.org. - Parking Map
Downtown Indianapolis Parking Map
Street Closures
Wednesday, Oct. 20 and Thursday, Oct. 21
In preparation for the Wednesday and Thursday night concerts at Lucas Oil Stadium, parts of Capitol Avenue, Maryland Street and South Street will be closed to pedestrian traffic. Beginning at 8 p.m., Capitol Avenue will be closed for southbound traffic between Maryland Street and South Street; Maryland Street will be closed for eastbound traffic at West Street; South Street will be closed for east and westbound traffic between Illinois and West Streets.
The load and unload zone for the concert nights at Lucas Oil Stadium will be on Missouri Street.
Lucas Oil Stadium Drop-off — Alternative Routes:
- From Downtown Indianapolis
Southbound traffic on West Street turn left (east) on McCarty Street. Turn left (north) on Missouri Street. - From I-65, 465, or I-70
Take I-70 Westbound to exit 79A, I-70/West Street. Turn right (north) on Missouri Street.
From I-70 Eastbound traffic take exit 79B and follow the route for Illinois Street. Turn left (west) onto McCarty Street. Turn right (north) onto Missouri Street.
Lucas Oil Stadium Parking—Alternate Routes
- From Downtown Indianapolis
Southbound traffic on Capitol Avenue turn right (west) on Ohio Street. Turn left (south) on West Street. Turn left (east) on McCarty Street. Turn left (north) on Illinois Street. Turn right (west) on South Street. Turn left (south) on Capitol Avenue. - From I-65, 465, or I-70
Take I-70 Westbound to exit 79B, I-70/Madison Avenue. Turn left (west) on South Street. Turn left (south) on Capitol Avenue. From I-70 Eastbound, take exit 79B/Illinois Street. Turn left (west) on South Street. Turn left (south) on Capitol Avenue.
Charter Bus Load and Unload Zones
Indiana Convention Center
The National FFA Organization provides shuttles to key hotels and convention venues. These shuttles will load and unload on the south curb lane of Maryland Street between West Street and Capitol Avenue. Only buses with proper passes may load or unload in this area. Buses without proper passes will be ticketed or towed.
Parking will not be allowed in loading and unloading zones. Bus drivers must be present at all times. Unattended buses will be towed at the owner’s expense. Drivers are expected to cooperate with and follow the directions of the police department or convention staff. In some cases, bus drivers may be asked to move their buses to ensure safety and security of all convention participants.
Chapters arriving by school bus or private charter can drop off and pick up at the following locations:
1.) South curb lane of Maryland Street, east of Capitol Avenue to south curb land of Maryland Street and Illinois Street. (Note: you will not be able to block the Mall Parking Garage entrance/exit at the Hyatt Skywalk on Maryland Street.)
2.) West curb lane of Pennsylvania Avenue, between Maryland Street and Conseco Court.
3.) West curb lane of Delaware Street, between the railroad overpass and Conseco Court.
Indiana State Fairgrounds
Buses entering from 38th Street gate 1A: Buses will be directed to Main Street. Drop-off points will be located east of the coliseum on the south curb lane of Main Street.
Buses entering from Fall Creek Parkway gate 6: Drop off and pick up is the north curb lane of Main Street, between gate 1 and the Champions Pavilion.
After unloading, all buses will be directed to parking locations or to exit onto Fall Creek Parkway. After loading, all buses will exit onto Fall Creek Parkway.
Load Zones for Participants with Disabilities
Indiana Convention Center
The load and unload zone for participants with disabilities is on the south curb lane of Maryland, east of Capitol to mall parking entrance/Hyatt skywalk.
Lucas Oil Stadium
The load and unload zone for participants with disabilities is on the west curb lane of Capitol Avenue at South Street.
Conseco Fieldhouse
The load and unload zones for participants with disabilities are on Conseco Court, Delaware Street and Pennsylvania Street. Conseco Court is an access street just north of Conseco Fieldhouse.
Indiana State Fairgrounds
The load and unload zone for participants with disabilities is in front of the West Pavilion. Drivers will need to notify parking attendants for access to this area.
Hotel and Tour Shuttle Load and Unload Zones
The Career Success Tour Shuttle load and unload zone is on Capitol Avenue, between Maryland Street and the convention center plaza.
The CDE load and unload zone is on the tarmac at the Indiana Convention Center off of Missouri Street.
National Days of Service will load and unload both Thursday, Oct. 21 and Friday, Oct. 22 at Victory Field.
Hotel, Indiana State Fairgrounds and volunteer shuttles will load and unload on Maryland Street, north of the Indiana Convention Center.
Travel to Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the 14th largest city in the country, yet it is easy to get to and around the city regardless of your mode of transportation.
From an award-winning international airport and easy interstate access, to a convenient, connected downtown convention district, Indianapolis has made getting here and navigating the city a snap!
- Fly
The Indianapolis International Airport is currently served by 11 commercial airlines. The airport is a 30-minute drive from the heart of downtown Indianapolis' convention and entertainment district, where the majority of FFA convention activities take place.
Consider an alternative airport if a specific flight into Indianapolis is unavailable. Indianapolis is two hours north of Louisville, two hours northwest of Cincinnati, and three hours south of Chicago. You could fly in, rent a car and drive to Indianapolis, touring agricultural businesses along the way! - Drive
Indianapolis is known as the "Crossroads of America." The city is bisected by more segments of U.S. highways and interstates--including I-65, I-69, I-70 and I-74--than any other metro area. The city is also surrounded by the I-465 loop.
More than half of that nation's population is within a day's drive of Indianapolis.
Directions
Directions to the Indiana State Fairgrounds
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