If you’re attending the Music for All Summer Symposium this year and you’re driving, the main question on your mind might be how much time should I give myself to get to camp? (and for all of our campers who are traveling by air, check out our Air travel guide here).

Muncie, IN is located between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, with two major interstates splitting off (I-69 North and I-70 East). Be sure to put the address to camp (found below) into your favorite navigation system and find out how much time you’re are going to need to travel to camp. Don’t forget to account for some stops if you have a long drive ahead of you!

Whether your home is in Indiana, Texas, or anywhere in between, make sure that you give yourself enough time to arrive safely and on time for camp registration to ensure a smooth and stress-free start to your week!

Ball State University
2000 W University Ave
Muncie, IN 47306
Note: This address will take you to the campus, and is a great address to use to estimate the time needed for travel. Once you get on campus, you will want to reference the driving directions provided to get to your specific residence hall (dorm) assignment. You can find those directions here.

Registration times:

Leadership Weekend: Saturday, June 24
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Full Camp Week: Monday, June 26
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For our out-of-state campers, we have another convenient option. Six years ago, Music for All developed “Get on the Bus” program. Save some money on travel costs, and get your camp experience started early by “getting on the bus” from areas of the country where routes have already been scheduled to transport students to the Summer Symposium. These busses are “captained” by educators who know and love the Music for All Summer Symposium and want to help students from their regions get to camp.

This year there are bus routes from Alabama, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Western Pennsylvania. You’ll have to act fast since there is limited room on these buses. Routes are listed below, and if any of these spark your interest you can find more information and how to contact the bus captain on our Get on the Bus information page.

Alabama
Captain: Jerell Horton
School: Vestavia Hills High School
Route: I-65 N to Nashville, TN to Bowling Green & Louisville, KY to Indianapolis to Ball State University

Illinois – Full Week Camp Arrival
Captain: Quinlan & Fabish Music Company
*Bus provided free-of-charge to riders*
Departure Date: Sunday, June 25

Kansas – Full Week Camp Arrival
Captain: Chad Coughlin
School: Olathe South High School
Route: I-70 E from Kansas City to Indianapolis to Ball State University

Missouri
Captain: Ted Keck
School: South Harrison High School
Route: The Bethany Bus will depart from Bethany, MO at the intersection of US-136 and I-35 in Northwest Missouri. Stops to pick up people along the route can be arranged. The bus will proceed down I-35 to Cameron and then travel on US-36 to Hannibal. Upon entering Illinois, the bus will take I-72E to I-57 (Exit 182B) to I-74 (Exit 237A) to IN-32.

South Carolina – Leadership Weekend arrival
Captain: Glenn Price
School: Lugoff-Elgin High School
Route: Lugoff, SC to Columbia, SC I-20, Columbia, SC to Asheville, NC 1-26, Asheville, NC to Knoxville, TN I-40, Knoxville, TN to Lexington, KY I-75, Lexington, KY to Cincinnati, OH I-75, Bypass Around Cincinnati, OH I-275, Cincinnati, OH (toward Indianapolis) to Greensburg, IN I-74, Greensburg, IN to Muncie, IN Hwy 3

Omaha, NE
Captain: Darren Myers
School: Millard South High School
Route: I-80 from Omaha, NE through Iowa to Indianapolis to Ball State University

Western Pennsylvania
Captain: Chris Protho
Route: Pick-up at Mars Area HS (I-79 Exit 78 near PA Turnpike), south I-79, west I-70 through Washington, PA, Wheeling, WV, Columbus, OH

Have you decided that driving to camp is the right option for you? Here are some tips for your drive to Muncie:

  • Have a plan in place: Make sure you know your route and how much time you’re allotting for stops.
  • Pack entertainment for the ride: Make sure to pack your favorite books and games to keep you entertained if you the car ride is long. Also if you want to take your Netflix or Hulu on the go, download the apps to your phone, so you can watch movies and TV shows on the go (just be aware that those streaming apps consume a lot of your phone battery).
  • Get comfortable: There’s nothing worse than being uncomfortable in a small space for a long period. Wear comfy clothes, and have a pillow and blanket during your car ride. Also be sure stretch occasionally, so you don’t tense up.
  • Rest: Rest is key! Whether you’re coming to camp for the Leadership Weekend, the full week camp, or both, rest beforehand will set you up for the long, but exciting week ahead!