Travel/Lodging Information

Where is NCSA? How do I get there?

NCSA building    NCSA is on the Urbana-Champaign campus of the University of Illinois. The address is 1205 W. Clark St., Urbana.

You can arrive by train or bus at the Illinois Terminal, which is 2 miles away from campus, or you can fly to Champaign's Willard Airport , which is 5 miles away from campus.

Airplane

The University of Illinois Willard Airport (Airport Code: CMI) serves the Champaign-Urbana area. The only carrier is American Airlines (operated by American Eagle). Other nearby airports include:

  • Indianapolis (Airport Code: IND) is 125 miles east of Urbana 
  • Chicago Midway (Airport Code: MDW) is 130 miles north of Urbana and is served by primarily Southwest
  • Chicago O'Hare (Airport Code: ORD) is 150 miles north of Urbana

Train

AMTRAK has service between downtown Chicago (Union Station)  and Champaign.

Car

If you plan to drive, I-72, I-74, and I-57 all lead directly to Champaign-Urbana.

Parking at NCSA:

Metered parking is available near the NCSA building on Clark Street, in the parking garage just north of NCSA, and on other surrounding streets. Rates are $1.00/hour, and all meters accept quarters, dimes, nickels, and dollar coins. While you can park all day in the garage, time limits for surrounding streets are usually two hours. There is no attendant in the parking garage, but you do have the option to pay for metered parking in the parking structure by either using the MobileMeter app on your smart phone, the web at mobilemeter.us, or by phone at 1-217-207-3033. You will need to provide the zone code of "312" along with the space number indicated on the meter. For more information, go to mobilemeter.us.

Where can I stay in Urbana-Champaign?

I Hotel

I Hotel and Conference Center

1900 South First St., Champaign

The rate is $159/night, and to reserve a room call 217-819-5000 and ask for the "nano MFG Workshop" rate or use the attendee code "MFG19" on-line.