Like most US college towns, housing in West Lafayette/Lafayette can be difficult to find. Check the following places for housing leads —
For more housing tips and resources, see Finding or Changing Housing.
Utilities are controlled by the government. For the greater Lafayette area —
Internet, cable, and cell phone service are all handled by private companies.
Metronet and DirecTV are also options. However, Metronet only covers West Lafayette, and Comcast is the biggest one. The previous Utilities and Services/Area Resources links have more details on contact information for those companies.
Cell phone service options are —
Make sure to check their policies on international services if you have family or contacts that live outside the US.
If you are arriving via an airplane, you’ll want an airport shuttle to bring you to your destination. Shuttles include Lafayette Limo, Reindeer Shuttle, Express Air Coach (EAC)
After you successfully settle in, you will need a way to get around town. Busses are a great affordable option. If you have the university ID, you can ride for free with CityBus. CityBus has an app you can use to better navigate the bus schedule and route.
If you don’t want to take a bus, and you are only staying a short period of time, car rentals are an option. Uber or Lyft are also common apps people use to get around town.
If you are traveling out of town, Greyhound is the usual mode of public transportation, but the train, Amtrak, is also a decent choice. There is also a Facebook group for ridesharing at Purdue.
If you are staying a long period of time and have the ability, leasing a car or buying a used car is a good idea, as America is a very car-oriented country. There is a BMW you can contact for that.
For more transportation resources, see Lafayette/West Lafayette Community Resources under "Transportation."
Hotels are also good option if you are still settling in, your apartment isn’t ready yet, or if you have visitors coming over. There are plenty of hotels around Purdue, including the Union Club Hotel on campus. Hilton Garden Inn or Hampton Inn are also decent choices, but we recommend looking at multiple options if you are trying to find something specific.
Indiana weather varies, so being prepared for all types of weather is important at all times of the year. It isn’t common, but it has snowed in July, and it has rained in December. So having raincoats, umbrellas, and coats are important to buy even if it isn’t the right season. Tornadoes also happen sometimes. Please check Purdue’s Weather Preparedness page for more information.