2-Day Indianapolis Itinerary

Arrival day

Before Day 1. Downtown is flat and walkable, so a room close to Monument Circle saves driving on the first day.Details

Flying in: Indianapolis International Airport lies southwest of downtown, with taxis and booked rides outside. A car makes Days 2 and 3 easier, so plan to pick one up here or bring your own.
By car: Most visitors arrive by interstate. Downtown parking is in garages and on the street, and a room with parking helps on Day 1. Leave extra time when a big event is on in the city.
What to pack: Comfortable shoes for the downtown streets and the state park paths, a rain layer in any season, and sun cover for the summer. Winters are cold, so bring a warm coat in the cold months.
Day 1 starts nearby: Day 1 starts on Monument Circle, so settle in and take an easy walk around the circle in the evening, when the tall monument is lit.

How much walking? On foot, about 0.4 miles a day, and 63.8 miles by car in all across 2 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.

Day 1. Downtown and Monument Circle and The museums north of downtown

6 stops · 0.4 mi on foot, 14.3 mi by car

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1
Morning
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The home of the Indianapolis 500, a banked oval racing circuit in the town of Speedway, west of downtown, built in 1909. What you can see depends on events, so check ahead on tours, on the museum in the infield and on any race or practice days that close parts of the grounds. Children who like cars will want a long look.
Go when Morning, on a day when the grounds are open.
Local tip What you can see depends on events, so check ahead on tours, on the museum in the infield and on any race or practice day that closes parts of the grounds. The kids will want to see the track itself.
Photo: tpsdave, CC0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 18 min by car or transit4.4 mi
2
Morning
Indiana World War Memorial Plaza
A memorial plaza of lawns, fountains and stone a few blocks north of the circle, built to honor the veterans of World War I. Its focal point is a stone memorial modeled on an ancient tomb, with a military museum inside. Open space for children to stretch their legs, in a place that asks for respect. Check ahead on the museum.
Go when Late morning, once the lawns are in the sun.
Local tip The lawns give children room to run, but this is a place of remembrance, so keep it calm near the memorial. Check ahead on the military museum inside.
Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Lunch
Pork tenderloin sandwich
A breaded, fried pork cutlet, pounded thin and often wider than the bun, served with pickles and onion. A sandwich the Midwest takes seriously and Indiana claims as its own.
Local tip Cut it in half to share, or eat the overhanging edge with a fork.
About 7 min walk0.4 mi
3
Morning
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
A tall neoclassical monument on Monument Circle, the brick-paved ring at the center of downtown, dedicated in 1902 to Indiana's soldiers and sailors. Walk once around the circle and read the carved figures at its base. It is a memorial, so keep voices low near the steps. Check ahead on whether the inside can be visited.
Go when Morning, or evening (about 7:53 PM) when the monument is lit.
Local tip Walk once around the circle, then read the carved figures at the base. It is a memorial, so keep voices low near the steps and check ahead on whether the inside can be visited.
Photo: alexeatswhales, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 14 min by car or transit2.9 mi
4
MiddayBook aheadIndoor
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
A museum made for families, said to be the largest children's museum in the world, with five floors of mostly hands-on exhibits. Dinosaur settings, a carousel, a steam locomotive and a tall glass sculpture are among them. Check ahead on tickets and timed entry.
Go when Midday, as an indoor stop. Weekends are busy.
Local tip Choose two or three floors and let the children set the pace. There are stairs and long walks between exhibits, so wear comfortable shoes, and check ahead on tickets and timed entry.
Photo by BASIL ANAS on Unsplash
About 14 min by car or transit3.0 mi
5
MiddayIndoor
Indiana State Museum
A museum on the west edge of downtown about the science, art, culture and history of Indiana, from the Ice Age to today. A good indoor stop for the middle of the day. Check ahead on the exhibits and on any ticket.
Go when Midday, as an indoor stop.
Local tip Pick a few galleries and follow what the children ask about rather than trying to see everything. Check ahead on the exhibits and on any ticket.
Photo by BASIL ANAS on Unsplash
About 17 min by car or transit4.1 mi
6
Afternoon
Newfields
The campus of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, about three miles north of downtown, with an art museum, a historic house and gardens, and a nature park with trails and outdoor art. Choose the art, the gardens or the park, depending on the mood and the weather. Check ahead on tickets and on what is on.
Go when Afternoon, in the gardens if it is dry (about 7:53 PM).
Local tip The campus is large, so choose between the art museum, the gardens and the nature park rather than all three. Check ahead on tickets and on what is on.
Photo: Katsushika Hokusai on Wikimedia Commons
Dinner
Sweet corn, in season
Sweet corn boiled or grilled on the cob with butter and salt, a summer plate in Indiana, served with grilled chicken or a burger.
Local tip The corn is freshest from a farm stand in summer, and there is no point chasing it out of season.

If it rains. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis and Indiana State Museum are covered, so keep them. Move Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indiana World War Memorial Plaza, Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument and Newfields to a dry day if you can.

Day 2. Nashville and Brown County

2 stops · 49.4 mi by car

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

Drive from NewfieldsAbout 1 h 11 min by car42.7 mi
Where Day 1 ended.
1
Morning
Nashville, Indiana
The small town and county seat of Brown County, in the hills of southern Indiana, known as the center of the Brown County Art Colony and as a tourist destination. This is Nashville, Indiana, not the city in Tennessee. Walk its streets, look at the old courthouse square and the local galleries, and take your time. Weekends in the fall are busy, so check ahead on parking.
Go when Morning, before the streets fill.
Local tip Walk the streets and the courthouse square and look at the local galleries. It is Nashville, Indiana, not the city in Tennessee. Weekends in the fall are busy, so check ahead on parking.
Photo: MrGreenBean on Wikimedia Commons
About 25 min by car or transit6.7 mi
2
Midday
Brown County State Park
The largest state park in Indiana, on the edge of the town of Nashville, opened in 1929 and named a memorial to the Indiana humorist Kin Hubbard. Wooded ridges, lookouts and trails make it a place for a short walk or a long one. The hills are steep in places, so wear shoes with a grip, and check ahead on the entry rules and on the trails.
Go when Midday into afternoon, in dry weather.
Local tip Drive to a lookout, then take a short trail. The hills are steep and slick after rain, so wear shoes with a grip, carry water, and check ahead on the entry rules and on the trails.
Photo: MrGreenBean ( talk ) on Wikimedia Commons
Lunch
Persimmon pudding
A baked pudding made from the pulp of wild persimmons, dense and spiced with cinnamon, a regional dessert of the Midwest and of the Indiana hills in the fall.
Local tip Eat it warm with whipped cream, and share, since one slice goes a long way.
Dinner
Sugar cream pie
A custard pie of cream, sugar and cornstarch, sometimes called Hoosier pie, made in Indiana since the state was founded. Plain and sweet, a good end to a day in the hills.
Local tip Take a slice with coffee, and ask for it cold or at room temperature.

If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. Day 3 ends with a drive back from the hills, so leave time for the road to the airport.Details

Leaving town: Book your ride or plan your drive the day before. The road back from Brown County runs through the countryside, so leave early if you have a flight, and check the road and the weather ahead.
Last souvenirs: A small pack of Brown County art cards, a jar of apple butter and a race track keepsake are all easy to carry. Wrap anything fragile well, and check the rules on food before you fly.
If you have a few hours: Take one more walk around Monument Circle, or stroll the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, a paved path through downtown that suits bikes, scooters and children.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Indianapolis?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, April to May and September to October are the most comfortable months for walking around Indianapolis. This plan is built for september to October, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 2 days in Indianapolis, planned for september to October. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

On foot, about 0.4 miles a day, and 63.8 miles by car in all across 2 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.