9 Best Attractions To Visit In Indiana

Boxed in by Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois, Indiana is the crossroads of the Midwest, where sandy dunes, roaring speedways, underground caves, and historic sites all converge into a destination worth exploring. When Indiana became the 19th state in 1816, it stepped into the limelight as a place of rich history, industry, and culture. That legacy is still reflected today in the state’s top attractions, whether you’re wandering the shores of Lake Michigan, exploring hidden caves, or tracing the footsteps of pioneers and presidents. Together, these nine attractions showcase nine of the very best reasons to visit the Hoosier State.

Indiana Dunes National Park

Located along 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, Indiana Dunes National Park is the go-to destination in the Midwest for outdoor adventurers who enjoy hiking on 50 miles of trails, paddling across the 300-mile lake, and birdwatching for the over 350 bird species that have been spotted in the park. If you are a first-time visitor or a repeat trekker, consider the Indiana Dunes Discovery Trail, a self-guided tour that highlights the hidden treasures buried in the shifting sands. Leave the beach crowds behind, and discover places like Cowles Bog, a 4.7 mile trail that winds its way through the forest to the lakeshore, Coffee Creek Preserve, a 157-acre nature preserve full of wildflowers and birds, or Miller Woods, where you can learn about the flora and fauna that make the Indiana Dunes their home at the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education. Or if you’re looking to burn some calories and earn bragging rights, take the 3 Dune Challenge, a 1.5-mile hike up the three tallest dunes.

Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Why not spend a day with the kids in Indiana’s capital, Indianapolis, at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the world’s largest children’s museum. The museum features five floors of exhibits and 7.5 acres of outdoor experiences for the future Olympian in the family, including the 25-foot Tree House of Sports, the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever Basketball Experience, or the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Pedal Car Racetrack Experience. Inside the museum, junior paleontologists won’t be able to resist exploring the Dinosphere, an immersive exhibit that transports visitors back to the Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Mesozoic periods to meet the giants that roamed the Earth. Part science, part adventure, all fun, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a world-class attraction that will appeal to the kid in anyone.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, you don’t have to wait until May (shorthand for “Indy 500 season”) to feel the excitement of being at the Indy 500. The museum is filled with exciting educational exhibits, legendary race cars, and a rich history of motorsport, which brings the iconic race to life. Plan on spending a few hours exploring the museum’s numerous permanent galleries, such as the Gasoline Alley Gallery, featuring seven garages that display historic memorabilia throughout the years, and the Winners Gallery. Alternatively, feel the thrill of the Starting Line Experience and enjoy a hands-on, immersive experience in the Qualifying Zone. For real motorsports fans, enhance your visit with a guided tour of the Winners Gallery or a behind-the-scenes Track Tour of the Pagoda, Victory Podium, or Yard of Bricks.

Turkey Run State Park

One of the best parts about visiting Turkey Run State Park is the drive there. The park is located in Parke County (also known as the Covered Bridge Capital), home to over 31 covered bridges, including nearby Rush Creek Bridge, Jackson Bridge, and West Union Covered Bridge, which you can plan a detour to on your way into the park. Considered by many to be the crown jewel of Indiana’s 24 state parks, Turkey Run is a hiker’s paradise known for its obstacle-style wooden ladders, waterfalls, and winding slot canyons. Add in a suspension bridge over Sugar Creek and the 1,609-acre Rocky Hollow-Falls Canyon Nature Preserve, and you’ll feel transported into an otherworldly landscape of sandstone ravines, deep gorges, and towering old-growth forests. Camp overnight under the stars, book a cabin, or better still, check into the Turkey Run Inn and enjoy home-style meals in the Narrows Restaurant.

Conner Prairie

Step back into 19th-century pioneer life in Conner Prairie in Fishers, Indiana, an interactive 800-acre park that immerses you in life in pre-Civil War Indiana. Once the home of prominent fur trader, entrepreneur, and politician William Conner, who helped pave Indiana’s path to statehood, the living history museum invites you to discover the fictional town of Prairietown in 1836, where you’ll meet costumed interpreters taking on the roles of blacksmiths, potters, and bakers and see hands-on demonstrations. There’s a Treetop Outpost for the kids to explore, rare animals to encounter, including English Longhorn cattle, Ossabaw Island hogs, and Tunis sheep, and a 1859 Balloon Voyage that hovers up to 370 feet in the air for a panoramic view of the prairie below.

Marengo Cave

Marengo Cave is a U.S. National Landmark and one of the best natural attractions in Indiana. If you are new to spelunking or mildly claustrophobic, Marengo Cave may be the perfect choice, with its wide pathways and open, airy caves. There are two cave tours to choose from: the 40-minute Crystal Palace tour and the 60-minute Dripstone Trail tour. During both tours, you’ll learn about the discovery of the cave by two children in 1883, as well as its history, with tour guides pointing out fascinating underground formations known as “speleothems.” These include deposits such as helictites, flowstone, cave popcorn, soda straws, and long, translucent sheets called “draperies” that hang from the ceiling. After spelunking, families can enjoy additional activities, including gem mining, mini-golf, mazes, and climbing structures. There’s also an old-timey Sweet Shop on site.

Indianapolis Zoo

The 64-acre Indianapolis Zoo is home to over 1,400 animals from 230 diverse species and 48,000 plant species in the lush White River Gardens. The zoo is separated into five biomes, including Oceans, Deserts, Plains, Forests, and Flights of Fancy, where you will encounter animals in habitats that mirror their native environments, making you feel as if you’re stepping into ecosystems from all over the planet. A few must-see exhibits in the zoo include the new International Chimpanzee Complex, home to a community of 21 chimpanzees, as well as presentations featuring bottlenose dolphins and five giant Aldabra tortoises, which weigh more than 500 pounds and live 150 years or longer. The zoo is conveniently located about a mile from downtown Indianapolis inside the 250-acre White River State Park, making this top attraction a 2-for-1 day out.

Eiteljorg Museum Of American Indians and Western Art

For anyone interested in the art, history, and culture of the American West, the Eiteljorg Museum is a must-see attraction in the sprawling White River State Park. It’s also the only museum of its kind in the Midwest that delves into both Native American and American West Art. The museum showcases art by Georgia O'Keeffe, Frederic Remington, and Kay WalkingStick, considered by many as one of the most important contemporary Indigenous artists in the U.S., whose work is included in the museum's collection of contemporary Native art, which is ranked among the world's best. The museum is very kid-friendly, with a dedicated space catering to families with younger children, located in the museum's basement: the Nina Mason Pulliam Education Center. The new center offers numerous opportunities for hands-on play and discovery. There’s even a full-size stagecoach to climb on for kids with extra energy.

Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site

For history buffs, especially those interested in 19th-century U.S. history, politics, and the presidency, the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site in Indianapolis is a must-visit. Despite being born in Ohio, Benjamin Harrison is considered the only U.S. president from Indiana, serving from 1889 to 1893. The site is a source of local pride for Hoosiers, and also a top attraction for historic house enthusiasts who can tour the 10,000-square-foot home, full of original furniture, Harrison family artifacts, and political memorabilia. There are fascinating exhibits on rotation in the home’s former ballroom, which showcases everything from presidential pets to first lady fashion. Special events, such as Coffee with the Curator on the first Friday of each month, give you a chance to enjoy coffee and donuts while learning about the quirkiest items in the museum’s collection.

Exploring The Hoosier State’s 9 Best Attractions

From dunes to dinosaurs, Indiana is packed with attractions as surprising as they are diverse. One day, you could be challenging your friends on the tallest dunes on Lake Michigan, the next staring down a T. rex, spelunking underground, or soaring above a pioneer village in a hot-air balloon. Whether your style is chasing waterfalls, cheering on chimpanzees, soaking in Native American art, or stepping inside a president’s home, the Hoosier State is yours to discover.