I used to live there, and I completely agree with folks that mentioned that travel may be more of a problem than camping. It might be nice weather or it might be terrible, with icy roads. If her conference is at Purdue Univ (West Lafayette, right next to Lafayette) then you might enjoy staying at the Student Union, which has a hotel (or at least used to have one). Very nice, old building in the middle of campus.
As John Denver once said when doing a concert at Purdue: "Ain't no one laughing in Lafayette!" And "Lafayette..what a great town. Gateway to Delphi, Badger Grove and Montmorenci!"