If you're coming from the east on I-70 you'll see construction right at downtown Indianapolis.
Don't worry, this is a route that's difficult to screw up.
EASIEST- From I-70 Westbound, exit I-65 North to Chicago:
Once you take the exist, you have two options:
- First option:
- Take exit "Meridian St./Pennsylvania St." on the right.
- Turn left on either Pennsylvania (the first street you cross) or Meridian (the second). Both go directly downtown. If you miss both, don't worry. Turning left at Capitol works too. Just don't take the exit back onto the interstate or you'll end up in Chicago in 3 hours.;)
- This is probably the easiest for people in the Columbia Club hotel, the Conrad, the Hampton Inn, Hotel Alexander, or many of the hotels east of the Convention Center
- Take exit "Meridian St./Pennsylvania St." on the right.
- Second Option
- Take exit "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. To West St." on the LEFT. Yes, it's off of the left lane. So if you miss Meridian/Pennsylvania, you'll want to start getting all the way to the left to take this exit.
- You'll eventually arrive at a stoplight. Both lanes are forced to go left, but you may want to be in the left-hand lane anyway.
- After the turn, avoid the rightmost lane. That forces you into a right turn at the next stoplight. Just go straight.
- And keep going straight. You'll eventually see the JW Marriott looming in the distance.
- You will eventually drive past the JW on the right and the Convention Center on the left. You're there.
- Take exit "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. To West St." on the LEFT. Yes, it's off of the left lane. So if you miss Meridian/Pennsylvania, you'll want to start getting all the way to the left to take this exit.
This route is best if you're in the JW Marriot, the other Marriott, the Westin, any of the connected hotels, etc.
Just keep in mind that neither route is wrong, both will get you downtown.
Next post will be the alternate route: Taking I-65 South. It's not open all the way, but it does get to downtown.