DaylightSunset about 7:53 PM. Long evenings, so the sunset stops stay light late.
HappeningThe heat eases, with warm days and cool nights. The first leaves begin to turn in the hills of Brown County, and persimmons ripen in the fall (dates vary).
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
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 0.2 to 1.1 miles a day, and 78.3 miles by car in all across 5 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
Day 1. Downtown and Monument Circle
4 stops · 1.1 mi on foot
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
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 whenLate 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.
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 whenMorning, 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.
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 5 min walk0.3 mi
3
MorningIndoor
Indiana Statehouse
The state capitol of Indiana, built in 1888, which houses the General Assembly, the governor's office and the state supreme court. A working government building in the middle of downtown.
Go whenMorning, as an indoor stop.
Local tip The state capitol, built in 1888 and still home to the legislature, the governor's office and the state supreme court. It is a working government building, so check ahead on whether visitors may go in.
A historic public market founded in 1821 and in its present building since 1886, a one-story brick hall that is now a food hall, a short walk east of Monument Circle.
Go whenLate morning, as an indoor stop.
Local tip A market hall of 1886 with a food hall inside, a short walk east of the circle. Walk the aisles with the family and share something small, and check ahead on what is open.
A bowl of beef and bean chili, ladled hot with crackers on the side, a simple supper for a cool evening after a day on foot.
Local tip Ask for the mild bowl if children are at the table, and add the toppings yourself.
If it rains. Indiana Statehouse and Indianapolis City Market are covered, so keep them. Move Indiana World War Memorial Plaza and Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument to a dry day if you can.
Day 2. Downtown and Monument Circle, part 2
4 stops · 1.1 mi on foot
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
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 whenMidday, 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.
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
An art museum in White River State Park with a collection of art by the native peoples of the Americas and paintings and sculpture of the American West.
Go whenMidday, as an indoor stop.
Local tip A museum of the art of the native peoples of the Americas and of the American West, in White River State Park. Choose a few rooms, and check ahead on the opening.
An urban park along the White River that holds the state museum, a zoo and a gardens, with paths, lawns and water. Walk the riverside paths and let children run. Check ahead on events, since the park hosts concerts and festivals.
Go whenAfternoon, on the paths along the water (about 7:53 PM).
Local tip Let the children run on the lawns and walk the riverside path. The park hosts concerts and festivals, so check ahead on events and on closed paths.
A paved shared-use path and linear park of about eight miles that loops through the downtown area, with art and gardens along the way.
Go whenAfternoon, on foot or by bike (about 7:53 PM).
Local tip A paved path that loops through downtown, with art along it. A good way to move between stops with children, and a place to stretch the legs. Keep an eye out for bikes and scooters.
If it rains. Indiana State Museum and Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art are covered, so keep them. Move White River State Park and Indianapolis Cultural Trail to a dry day if you can.
Day 3. Downtown and Monument Circle and The museums north of downtown
4 stops · 0.9 mi on foot, 5.1 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 Zoo
A zoo, aquarium and botanical garden in White River State Park near downtown, opened on this site in 1988.
Go whenMorning, before the animals rest and the sun climbs.
Local tip A zoo with an aquarium and gardens in White River State Park. Wear comfortable shoes, carry water and sun cover, and check ahead on tickets and what is open.
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 whenMidday, 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.
The former home of the 23rd president, Benjamin Harrison, in the Old Northside district. Built in the 1870s, it is where he gave speeches from the front porch in the 1888 campaign.
Go whenMidday, as an indoor stop.
Local tip The home of President Benjamin Harrison, built in the 1870s, where he ran his campaign from the front porch in 1888. Tours are the way in, so check ahead on tickets and times.
A small museum, gallery and reading room about the writer and artist Kurt Vonnegut, who was born in Indianapolis.
Go whenAfternoon, as an indoor stop.
Local tip A small museum, art gallery and reading room about the writer and artist who was born in Indianapolis. A calm stop for older children and grown-ups. Check ahead on the opening.
If it rains. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site and Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library are covered, so keep them. Move Indianapolis Zoo to a dry day if you can.
Day 4. The museums north of downtown and The Speedway and the west side
4 stops · 0.2 mi on foot, 15.3 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from Kurt Vonnegut Museum and LibraryAbout 17 min by car or transit3.9 mi
Where Day 3 ended.
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 whenMorning, 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.
A municipal park in the northwest of Indianapolis, opened in 1972, built around a reservoir with woods and about thirty miles of trails.
Go whenMorning, on a dry day.
Local tip A big city park with a reservoir, woods and trails on the northwest side. Pick a trail or a lakeside spot, take water and sun cover, and check ahead on what is open and on the weather.
The same breaded pork cutlet as the sandwich, served as a plate with fries or a side, for those who want to skip the bun.
Local tip Ask whether the cutlet is cut thin, since the thin ones fry crisp.
About 24 min by car or transit6.3 mi
3
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 whenAfternoon, 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.
A historic estate and house museum on the Newfields campus, built between 1909 and 1913 and later the home of Josiah K. Lilly Jr., now called the Lilly House, a National Historic Landmark since 2003.
Go whenAfternoon, with the gardens in the light (about 7:53 PM).
Local tip The house and gardens of an estate on the Newfields campus, home of the Lilly family, a National Historic Landmark. Take the tour or walk the grounds, and check ahead on tickets.
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. Oldfields is covered, so keep it. Move Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Eagle Creek Park and Newfields to a dry day if you can.
Day 5. Nashville and Brown County
4 stops · 57.9 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 OldfieldsAbout 1 h 11 min by car42.8 mi
Where Day 4 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 whenMorning, 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.
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 whenMidday 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.
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.
About 17 min by car or transit4.1 mi
3
AfternoonIndoor
T. C. Steele State Historic Site
The home and studio of the painter Theodore Clement Steele, who settled in Brown County and painted its hills, run as a state historic site. Look at the house, the studio and the gardens and trails around them. Check ahead on the opening and on tours.
Go whenAfternoon, as a gentle stop between the hills.
Local tip Look at the studio first, then walk the gardens and the short trails. It is run as a state historic site, so check ahead on the opening and on tours.
A large state forest in the hills of Brown County, with hiking trails, built partly by work crews in the Great Depression, and named for the yellowwood tree. Take a short trail and a picnic if the weather holds. Wear boots, check ahead on trail conditions and leave before dark.
Go whenLate afternoon (about 7:53 PM), for a short trail.
Local tip Take a short, well-marked trail and keep the group together. Wear boots, carry water, and check ahead on trail conditions. Leave before dark.
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. T. C. Steele State Historic Site is covered, so keep it. Move Nashville, Indiana, Brown County State Park and Yellowwood State Forest to a dry day 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 5 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 0.2 to 1.1 miles a day, and 78.3 miles by car in all across 5 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
4 days of horses, bourbon country and cavesAbout 110 miles awayAn easy add-on
3 days of skyline and deep dish in ChicagoAbout 180 miles away
3 days in NashvilleAbout 240 miles away
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