8 Great Road Trips to Take in Indiana
Indiana hands you eight different road trips before you even leave the driveway. There's a loop through Amish country with cheese samples and a buggy or two on the shoulder. There's a string of castles that would not look out of place in Bavaria. There's a ribbon of waterfalls and a route lined with covered bridges. Saint Meinrad Archabbey runs spires into the sky. The eight routes below cover Amish kitchens to monastery gardens.
Heritage Trail
The Heritage Trail is a 90-mile route that begins in Elkhart and winds through Goshen, Middlebury, Nappanee, Bristol, Wakarusa, and Shipshewana. As a loop, it tours Amish country in Indiana, with opportunities to explore historical sites, shop, and dine. Start the adventure in downtown Elkhart, then follow the Heritage driving-tour route toward Goshen, crossing the Elkhart River. While traveling, explore the ELC Heritage Collection Nappanee Center, which features 45,000 items about the town's history, as well as tributes to notable cartoonists. Continue toward Shipshewana, using Indiana State Road 5 for the final approach into town. Nearby in Middlebury, the Heritage Ridge Creamery awaits with cheese samples and local Amish goods. Continue west to Bristol to visit the Elkhart County Historical Museum, which displays the area's heritage. Complete the journey by returning to Elkhart for a stroll through the Wellfield Botanic Gardens.
Ohio River Scenic Byway
The Ohio River Scenic Byway spans 943 miles through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Limited to Indiana, the drive is shorter at just 302 miles, beginning at the Wabash River in the west and stretching east to the Ohio border. Along the way, you will pass through destinations like Evansville, which sits along the Ohio River and is home to cultural highlights such as the Mesker Park Zoo. The zoo features animals from the Amazon to the African Rift. Traveling further east along Indiana Route 62, nature lovers can stop at Harrison Crawford State Forest, which covers 24,000 acres of hardwoods and includes a 25-mile Adventure Trail that takes about three days to complete, with overnight backpack camping along the way. Continuing east, the Byway ends at the state line, with Cincinnati, OH, just over the border. Cincinnati makes a fitting end to the trip, with hotels like The Lytle Park Hotel offering city views and a popular wedding venue.
Indiana Lincoln Highway Byway
Another long road trip can be enjoyed along the Indiana Lincoln Highway Byway, which includes two historic alignments across northern Indiana: the original 1913 route and the later 1928 route. The 1928 alignment follows much of U.S. Route 30 and first passes through Merrillville. This is a practical place to kick off the drive, with Southlake Mall offering two floors of shopping and dining. The second major city farther east is Fort Wayne, home to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. The museum showcases both classic and modern work, ranging from glass to bronze sculpture and paintings. Next is South Bend, running along the highway's 1913 northern alignment. You will want to stop and admire the architecture at the University of Notre Dame, including the Main Building and its Golden Dome. From South Bend, journey west and then southwest back to Merrillville, where your route began.
Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway
A much shorter day trip is the Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway. The route stretches 78 miles north along the Whitewater River and features hills, farmlands, and several small towns. The journey starts in Lawrenceburg along the Ohio River, with peaceful water scenery. Journeying north takes you briefly into Ohio and back into Indiana. Before you do, you can stop in Harrison, OH. Nearby, the Miami Whitewater Forest is an excellent destination for those who want to walk the shores of Miami Whitewater Forest Lake. Another popular trail in the area is the Timberlakes Trail, which offers views of a small lake from the surrounding forest. Returning to your drive, you can head northwest to Brookville. This stretch runs along the Whitewater River and offers views of the water again. Close to Brookville, you can relax at the Brookville Overlook Recreation Area, which overlooks Brookville Lake. The Overlook Shelter gives some of the best views of the Brookville Dam in the area. Your final stretch runs north on Indiana State Road 121 until you reach Hagerstown. You will pass the Laurel Feeder Dam as you move north, parallel to the Whitewater River.
Northern Indiana Waterfall Loop
This road trip, offering endless waterfall views, is perfect for travelers who appreciate natural scenery. The journey covers 377 miles, beginning in Indianapolis. From there, you will travel east on Interstate 70 to Richmond, following rolling countryside and river scenery. Heading north on U.S. Route 35 to Andrews, Lagro, and Wabash, you enter quieter rural roads winding through farmland, forested hills, and waterways. Continuing west on U.S. Route 24, you will pass through Logansport for a little countryside feel and beautiful landscape by the Wabash River.
From there, the route heads south on U.S. Route 41 to Williamsport, then returns east on Interstate 74 to Indianapolis. Along the drive, consider stopping by Salamonie River State Forest, a common fishing and hiking destination. The 2-mile Yellow Trail near Hominy Ridge Picnic Area features wooded terrain and waterfall views. The route then heads toward Williamsport, where Williamsport Falls awaits. Often cited as Indiana's tallest free-falling waterfall, it spills over a wide sandstone ledge in the middle of town and is a quick stop before the drive returns toward Indianapolis.
Southern Indiana Castle Tour
If you have three hours to spare and you happen to be an architecture geek, you'll be impressed by the many castles scattered throughout Indiana. This castle tour begins in Bowling Green, then heads south to St. Meinrad along Indiana State Road 62. The first stop is Clayshire Castle, a themed bed-and-breakfast with a fairytale exterior and rooms, an ideal spot to spend the night before continuing. Continuing south, you will pass large green spaces and small lakes before heading past Ashboro and crossing Eel River and White River en route to Bloomfield. Just west of Bloomfield, Greene Sullivan State Forest offers road trippers the chance to camp among 9,000 acres of woodland and over 120 lakes. Resuming the journey south, you will pass smaller waterways like Plummer Creek and Bogard Creek on the way to Ferdinand. Nearby, the Benedictine monastery of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, which is open to visitors, has towering spires and elaborate windows worth a brief photo stop. Lastly, travel 13 miles southeast along Indiana State Road 62 to the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception, home to the Sisters of St. Benedict, where the red-brick facade overlooks green fields. It makes a fitting conclusion to your tour of Indiana's castles.
Historic National Road
The Historic National Road, also known as the Cumberland Road, was the first major improved highway built by the U.S. government. Originally, the road crossed 620 miles. The Indiana stretch covers a more convenient 156 miles from Richmond to Terre Haute, with a stop midway in Indianapolis. Your journey opens in Richmond at the Old National Road Welcome Center, which provides information about the road and locally produced Indiana merchandise. One early photo stop is at Richmond's Madonna of the Trail Monument, an 18-foot-tall tribute to the women who traveled west during the days of the pioneers. As you move west, you will find several places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lewisville has the Guyer Opera House, first opened in 1902 and, for a long time, the town's community center and historic small-town theater. Road trippers will not want to miss the Oasis Diner, which dates to 1954 and retains its stainless-steel frame, a common mid-20th-century feature.
Indiana Dunes National Park
One of Indiana's most popular destinations is Indiana Dunes National Park. The park extends along 15 miles of Lake Michigan's shoreline and is home to diverse wildlife and environments. Visitors discover sandy beaches, dunes, wetlands, and forests along with 50 miles of hiking trails. If you are short on time, the dunes area is also fine for a short road trip. In just one hour, you can experience the dunes for yourself. The drive is great in summer if you want to enjoy the lake at its peak. Fall is also popular since the trees turn golden and orange. As you drive, you will find historic homes and plenty of places to stop for photos. There are two particularly long stretches of this drive. The first, 10 miles long, extends from Sunset Hill Farm County Park through Ogden Gardens. Directly north of Sunset Hill, along Indiana State Road 49, you can reach the Dunes Highway that runs east and west along the shoreline. The stretch from Sunset Hill to the Dunes Highway passes alongside parks, lakes, and the dunes themselves.
Road Tripping Through Indiana
One of the great things about Indiana is the variety of places to visit and sights to take in. From the spires of Saint Meinrad Abbey to the 1950s look of the Oasis Diner, Indiana accommodates a breadth of tastes. Get on the road, and any of these eight routes will deliver.
