Travel
- The Congress is sponsored by the WMU Medieval Institute
Travel
Air Travel
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) is served by Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Detroit and Minneapolis (Delta) and Chicago (American) are the major hubs offering air connections.
Some Congress attendees find it convenient to fly to Grand Rapids, South Bend, Detroit, or Chicago and rent a car. Driving time from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (Grand Rapids) and from South Bend Regional Airport is less than two hours. Driving time from Detroit Metro Airport is about two-and-a-half hours, from O’Hare (Chicago) at least three hours. Kalamazoo (Eastern Time) is always one hour ahead of Chicago (Central Time). DTW Transportation Services (1-866-389-8294) offers taxis from Detroit Metro Airport to Kalamazoo (ca. $250.00; advance reservation required).
Ground Transportation from the Airport
Medieval Institute buses meet all incoming flights at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport on Wednesday and Thursday and transport passengers to Congress registration (Eldridge-Fox lobby, Valley III). More limited shuttle service is offered to and from the airport on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, bus transportation to the airport is provided from 4:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. On Monday, there are four bus trips to the airport (at 4:00, 5:15, 6:30, and 7:45 a.m.).
The Radisson Plaza Hotel, the main off-campus site, Four Points by Sheraton, and the Holiday Inn–West provide shuttle service to and from the airport, which will be the most convenient option for Congress attendees staying at those hotels.
Taxi service is also available at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport. Kalamazoo Metro Transit offers very limited service between the airport and the Downtown Transportation Center (bus # 12).
Train and Bus Travel
Amtrak trains (Chicago-Detroit-Pontiac and Chicago-East Lansing-Port Huron routes), as well as Greyhound and Indian Trails buses, serve Kalamazoo daily.
Taxi service is available at the Kalamazoo Downtown Transportation Center (where both trains and buses arrive), and the Kalamazoo Metro Transit bus #16 (departing from the Downtown Transportation Center) stops near Congress registration (no Sunday service). On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and Sunday until midday, Medieval Institute shuttle buses travel between Congress locations on the Western Michigan University campus and the Radisson Plaza Hotel, a three-block walk on Rose Street from the Downtown Transportation Center.
Driving to WMU
Kalamazoo is located at the crossroads of Interstate-94 and US Route 131 in Southwest Michigan, a two-and-a-half hour drive from Chicago or Detroit.
Driving from I-94 to Congress registration
Take exit 74B onto US 131 north. Travel 2.8 miles on US 131 to exit 36A (Stadium Drive) toward Kalamazoo. Take Stadium Drive east 2.2 miles to Howard Street. Turn left onto Howard Street and travel 1 mile to Valley Drive. Turn right onto Valley Drive and follow the signs to Congress registration.
Parking
Parking for Congress attendees is available in Goldsworth Valley I, II, III parking lots and at selected other parking lots on campus. Parking permits ($10.00 in 2013) are available at registration. Please do not park in prohibited areas.
Photographs:
- Congress attendees preparing to board a Medieval Institute shuttle bus
- An Amtrak locomotive