8 Bucket-List Small Towns In Indiana
You may have driven past them a hundred times: these Indiana towns that deserve more than a glance from your car window. Maybe you have thought about stopping, but figured there wasn't much to see. You would be wrong. These eight destinations prove that Indiana saves some of its best experiences for those willing to slow down. From the 200-foot dome at West Baden Springs Hotel to horse-drawn buggies in Shipshewana to the magical, holiday spirit in Santa Claus, each of these towns earned its spot on this list by refusing to be ordinary. If you love exploring small towns, pack a bag, clear your calendar, and discover why these places belong on your travel bucket list.
Nashville
About 60 miles south of Indianapolis, this small town began as an art colony in 1926, but today, it serves as the gateway to Indiana's largest state park. Brown County State Park sits right on the edge of town, spreading across 16,000 acres of wooded hills and ravines that locals compare to the Great Smoky Mountains. Miles of trails cut through the forest for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, while large campgrounds accommodate overnight adventurers. Fall transforms the landscape into a tapestry of reds, oranges, and golds. Year-round, visitors can climb the 90-foot fire tower or stop at scenic overlooks that reveal ridge after ridge of forested hills stretching to the horizon.
Downtown Nashville brims with over 130 galleries and local shops. The Brown County Art Gallery, one of the oldest art galleries in the United States, showcases both historic Indiana masters and contemporary regional artists in a beautiful downtown space. Book lovers will find a haven at Naughty Dog Books, a mother-daughter-owned independent bookstore with armchairs, a fireplace, and free coffee for browsing readers. When you need more sustenance than a good book, Hard Truth Distilling Co. pairs bourbon tastings with views over its 325-acre wooded hilltop campus, plus an outdoor terrace and frequent live-music events just outside Nashville.
Madison
Madison sits along the Ohio River, preserving its 19th-century elegance with over 133 blocks of historic architecture. The riverfront downtown earned recognition as one of the country's largest National Historic Landmark Districts, and walking these streets feels like stepping back in time. Lanier Mansion State Historic Site showcases Greek Revival architecture at its finest, with period furnishings and river views that wealthy merchants once enjoyed.
The downtown extends from a central town square with the Broadway Fountain, built in 1886. This bronze fountain is the perfect backdrop for wedding photos, and the community hosts a farmer's market here each Saturday. For a taste of local flavor, Lanthier Winery & Distillery has been crafting wine for over 30 years, and the tasting room offers wine, craft spirits, and slushies, with outdoor seating blocks overlooking the river. Nature enthusiasts will find their element at Clifty Falls State Park, where limestone cliffs create dramatic waterfalls. The Four Falls Challenge loop covers four miles of terrain that ranges from gentle to steep, but rewards hikers with some of the state's best natural scenery.
Shipshewana
Horse-drawn buggies share the roads in Indiana's largest Amish settlement, where the pace of life follows different rhythms. The Shipshewana Flea Market operates Tuesdays and Wednesdays from May through September, with nearly 700 vendors spreading across 40 acres, making it the Midwest's largest outdoor market. As you browse, you can expect to find everything from handcrafted Amish furniture to local produce, homemade jams, and one-of-a-kind crafts.
The Menno-Hof Mennonite-Amish Visitor Center is a great place to begin your visit to the heart of Indiana Amish culture. Downtown, Davis Mercantile spans four floors and houses 21 shops selling everything from handcrafted quilts to locally made candies. Don't miss the 1906 Dentzel Carousel with hand-carved farm animals on the third floor. When hunger strikes, Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery serves Amish home cooking with fried chicken, homemade pies (20+ varieties), and hearty portions meant for sharing.
Santa Claus
Yes, the town really is named Santa Claus, and yes, it takes the theme seriously. The Santa Claus Museum & Village chronicles how this settlement adopted its famous name and became a year-round Christmas destination. As a part of the village, the 22-foot-tall historic Santa statue has welcomed visitors since 1935. During December, the town transforms into a holiday wonderland, and the Santa Claus Christmas Store keeps the spirit going from May through December with aisles of ornaments, décor, and sweet treats. When you are ready to mail holiday cards with that coveted Santa Claus postmark, the town's post office handles up to 50,000 pieces of mail daily during peak season.
As if all the Christmas magic wasn't enough reason to make this town a bucket list stop, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari are also popular draws. The complex claims three of the world's top-ranked wooden roller coasters, plus Thunderbird, America's first launched wing coaster. The water park side features the world's two longest water coasters and offers free soft drinks, parking, and sunscreen, and best of all, one ticket gets you into both parks.
Vevay
This Ohio River town proudly wears its Swiss heritage. Named one of USA Today's best small towns in the Midwest (including #1 in 2023), Vevay sits along a scenic bend in the river, just an hour from both Cincinnati (OH) and Louisville (KY). The town's downtown earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, and Swiss settlers who arrived in the late 1700s established America's first commercial winery right here. The Ridge Winery continues that tradition today with a tasting room overlooking the Ohio River, where you can sample award-winning wines, including their Swiss Heritage blend.
History comes alive at Musee de Venoge, a 1828 French Colonial cottage that stands as one of the area's rarest examples of early architecture. Tours transport visitors to frontier life in the early 1800s. Every August, the Swiss Wine Festival transforms Paul Ogle Riverfront Park into a four-day celebration with wine tastings from Indiana wineries, a grape stomp competition, live entertainment on three stages, and a grand parade through downtown. The Switzerland County Historical Museum, housed in an 1860 Greek Revival church, displays Indiana's first piano alongside Swiss immigrant artifacts and military history. River views are never far away in Vevay, and the Ohio River Scenic Byway runs right through town.
French Lick and West Baden Springs
These twin resort towns sit just a mile apart, connected by history and ambition. During the early 1900s, the wealthy and famous came here to "take the waters," drinking the sulfur-rich spring water and enjoying spa treatments. The grand hotels that served them remain the main attractions. West Baden Springs Hotel features a stunning atrium with a 200-foot dome, the largest in the world in 1902.
The French Lick Springs Hotel, with its bright yellow brick, is impossible to miss, engaging the town with its own spa, casino, and ties to basketball legend Larry Bird's hometown. The French Lick Scenic Railway runs excursions through the Hoosier National Forest, with special trips like the beloved Polar Express ride during the holiday season. For local flavor, visit the French Lick West Baden Museum, housed in the beautifully restored Dickason Building, where exhibits cover everything from circus history to famous visitors like Al Capone and Franklin Roosevelt.
New Harmony
Two utopian experiments and world-class modern architecture converge in this tiny Wabash River town. German Harmonists founded the settlement in 1814, building 180 structures in just ten years before selling everything to Welsh social reformer Robert Owen in 1825. Owen brought scientists, educators, and artists to create an experimental community based on equality and education. Though both utopian visions eventually dissolved, their legacy transformed New Harmony into a National Historic Landmark that draws architecture enthusiasts and spiritual seekers alike.
Start your visit at The Atheneum, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Richard Meier. This striking white geometric structure appears to float above the landscape and serves as the town's visitor center. Just down the street, The Roofless Church creates an outdoor sanctuary where a dramatic bronze sculpture rises beneath an open sky. The church's unusual design welcomes visitors and offers a profound, contemplative space. The Working Men's Institute, founded in 1838, stands as Indiana's oldest continuously operating library, with a second-floor museum displaying natural history specimens, art, and artifacts from both utopian periods. Walk the Cathedral Labyrinth, a modern stone-and-grass labyrinth inspired by medieval designs, created in New Harmony as a contemplative symbol of life's winding path toward spiritual harmony.
Wabash
On March 31, 1880, over 10,000 people gathered in this small town to witness history. Four massive arc lights atop the Wabash County Courthouse burst into life, illuminating the city. Wabash became the world's first electrically lit city that night, beating out Thomas Edison and other competitors in the race to prove that electric lighting could work on a citywide scale. The event made international headlines, and one of those original Brush Lights remains on display inside the Wabash County Courthouse today.
The beautifully restored Eagles Theatre, built in 1906, towers five stories above the street and hosts concerts, plays, and films in an ornate auditorium that won Indiana's prestigious Cook Cup restoration award in 2022. Just down the street, the Charley Creek Inn is a boutique hotel occupying a restored 1920s building. The inn houses a wine shop, candy store, and restaurant (Twenty) under one roof, making it both a place to stay and a destination in its own right. For a moment of reflection, experience the Charley Creek Gardens, six acres of formal gardens that are open year-round at no charge. Stone pathways wind through perennial beds, past fountains and sculptures, creating a contemplative space in the heart of downtown.
Visit The Eight Bucket List Towns In Indiana
These eight destinations each earned their spot by offering something you can't find anywhere else. Whether you are watching the sun set over the Ohio River from Madison's fountain square, walking through New Harmony's contemplative spaces, or mailing postcards from Santa Claus, you will discover that the best travel experiences often come in the smallest packages. The next time you are planning a weekend escape, skip the usual tourist traps and point your car toward one of these Indiana gems. Your only regret will be not visiting them sooner.
