See Bloomington Beyond the Campus Tour.
College is a huge investment in your future and personal growth, but academics are only half the story.
Students spend about 75% of their time outside class and that often defines their entire college experience.
Tour College Towns shows you the real Bloomington life, guided by current students who live it every day.
Our guide walked us throughout campus and answered any questions we had in a very honest and informative way. A great way to get first hand information on the school, and it helped us parents feel more comfortable.
Parent Google
Super informative, and it helped us walk through what life actually looks like living there as a student.
Incoming student Google
It's rare to get that kind of perspective in a one-on-one setting with a current student. Our son left feeling well-informed and even more confident about his decision.
Parent Google
What stood out most was their ability to customize the experience so everyone could see the parts of campus they were most interested in.
Group booking Google
The best thing we could have done. Time so well spent. A wealth of information we could never have so efficiently gotten.
Parent Google
Incredibly helpful showing campus in a way other tours don't. Great people and perfect time length.
Family visit Google
If you're seeking a personalized, 1:1 experience for your kiddo, look no further. He feels much more equipped to make a decision.
Parent Google
Personable, knowledgeable, and approachable. Truly a can't miss if you are visiting.
Parent Google
Three ways to see IU.
In person, over video, or with your whole group. Tours run seven days a week, around your visit.
Private tour
60 to 90 minutes
Just your family and a current IU student. Campus, Kirkwood, Greek life, and the neighborhoods upperclassmen rent in, shaped around your questions.
Book this tour →Virtual 1-on-1
30 minutes over video
Can't get to Bloomington yet? Ask an IU student anything about dorms, classes, Greek life, or what a normal week feels like.
Book this tour →Group tour
Built for your group
Bringing friends or a school group? We build the route and pair you with the right guides.
Request a quote →Why families book us
What makes our tour different.
The official tour runs the same route for everyone. Yours does not.
Built around your questions
Tell us what matters before you arrive. Kirkwood, Greek row, where upperclassmen rent.
A guide that matches your family
The IU student closest to your student's major and interests.
Timing that fits your trip
Seven days a week, early or late, around your visit.
Private or group
Your family and one student, or a custom route for a bigger group.
Honest answers
We are independent of the university. No script, nothing to sell you.
Your IU Campus Lead.
A current Indiana University student runs every tour here. Each guide he adds is named on this page before they take a family out.
IU Campus Lead
Brady Hawk
Brady runs our Bloomington tours and is building the IU guide team. On his own IU visit he had no idea how housing or the social scene worked, so that is what his tours cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tour College Towns?
Tour College Towns runs private tours of college towns, led by current students, for families deciding where to go to school. Your guide walks you through campus and the parts of Bloomington the official tour skips. We are independent and not affiliated with any college or university.
Who leads the tours?
A current Indiana University student, trained by us and named on this page. Brady Hawk is our IU Campus Lead and runs the tours here. We match your guide to what your student cares about.
How much does a tour cost, and how long is it?
A private tour is $150 for your whole group, not per person, and runs 60 to 90 minutes at your family's pace. Siblings and grandparents come along at no extra cost. A Virtual 1-on-1 is $50 for 30 minutes over video. Group tours are quoted.
How is it different from the official tour?
The official tour covers admissions and academics and runs the same route for everyone. Ours covers the rest, where students live, eat, and spend their weekends, built around your questions. Do both if you can, and if the official tour is full on your dates, ours still runs. The official visit is a 45-minute admissions presentation plus a 75- to 90-minute student-led walk of campus, booked on the university's website, as of September 2026.
When can I take the tour?
Seven days a week, early or late, around your visit, weekends included and often on short notice. Weekdays during the semester show campus at its busiest. Private tours meet at Sample Gates (601 E Kirkwood Ave), and the spot is in your confirmation email. Rescheduling is free up to 24 hours before your tour.
From the blog
All posts-
Sorority Recruitment at Indiana University: What a Current Member Wants You to Know
A round-by-round look at IU sorority recruitment, plus costs, house life, and honest advice from current members.
Read this post -
Rushing a Fraternity at Indiana University: A Current Brother’s Guide
A current IU fraternity member breaks down IFC rush, what houses look for, real costs, and the new member semester.
Read this post -
Why a Private IU Tour Should Include Kirkwood Avenue
Class is only part of life at IU. See campus, Kirkwood Avenue and the Bloomington spots students actually spend their time with a private, student-led tour.
Read this post