Travel and Lodging
There are two official conference hotels (make sure you call them directly to get the conference rate):
The Grandstay Residential Suites St. Cloud
213 Sixth Avenue South
St Cloud, Minnesota 56301
320.251.5400
There are two different types of rooms available from the Grandstay: a suite with one queen and a pullout bed for $80 a night and a room with two queens for $90 a night. There are only a few of the larger rooms available so be sure to book soon!
Radisson Suite Hotel St. Cloud
404 W. St. Germain
St. Cloud MN 56301
Telephone: (320) 654-1661
The Radisson is offering rooms at $99 a night.
Both are located a few blocks north of the St. Cloud State University Campus and both have shuttle service available. There is also a The Best Western Kelly Inn St. Cloud located a few blocks away from downtown but this hotel is already booked with other conferences. You may be able to find a room at their regular rate, however. There are many other hotels in the city, but these three are within easy walking distance to campus.
Travel to/from St. Cloud:
You’ll need to rent a car or take the shuttle from the MSP Airport, about 80 miles from St. Cloud. There are two shuttle companies:
http://www.lakesexpress.com/index.html
http://www.executiveexpress.biz/
Both of them normally drop off across town. I’ve just been able to arrange a special rate from Executive Express, who will be waiving the door-to-door drop off fee (both companies charge extra to be dropped off at the conference hotel) IF we can get 50 people to sign up for the service. The round trip for Executive Express is $68, which is quite a lot cheaper than renting a car (and paying for gas, parking, etc) for the duration of the conference. The hotels are quite near loads of food options and close to campus.
Parking:
If you decide to drive yourself, both hotels offer parking (the Radisson will charge a small daily fee). There is also parking available for $1/hour, maximum of $8 a day on campus, directly across from the Performing Arts Center. This lot tends to be full from about 10am-Noon, although this is a little hard to predict. Both hotels are about 5 blocks from campus, and the lovely 70 degree weather we’ve had recently might encourage you to walk. The Radisson does have a courtesy van and we are working on arranging an occasional shuttle between campus and the Radisson. The Grandstay is about 4 blocks from campus and a taxi would run you about $3.
Directions:
From the airport, follow the signs for I-494 WEST. Take this to exit 27, which I-94 WEST to St. Cloud. Follow 94 for about 46 miles to exit 171, Hwy 75, towards Augusta/St. Cloud. Merge onto 75 from the ramp, and follow Roosevelt Road for 1.7 miles, then take a right onto 33rd Street South/Clearwater Road. Follow Clearwater Rd (which makes a sharp left immediately upon leaving Roosevelt Road) for 2 miles.
To Radisson:
Keep following Clearwater as it turns into 9th Ave, then 10th Ave. Go under the bridge at Hwy 23, then take a right on W St Germain St. Follow St. Germain for 5 blocks, and the Radisson will be on your right.
To Grandstay:
Keep following Clearwater as it turns into 9th Ave. Exit onto Hwy 23, and then take a quick right (in two blocks) onto 6th Ave South. Grandstay will be on your right.
To Performing Arts Center:
The Performing Arts Center is located at the corner of 3rd Ave and 6th Street South. From the Radisson, head South on 5th Ave until you hit 6th Street South, hang a left and go two blocks to the Performing Arts Center on your left. The parking garage is on the corner of 6th Street South and 4th Ave, on the right. From the Grandstay, head down 6th Ave to 6th Street South, then take a left and go 3 blocks to the Performing Arts Center.
Check in/Registration will be in room 239 of the Performing Arts Center.
