Indianapolis itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Indianapolis, day by day: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Zoo, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument and the Children's Museum first, then the Eiteljorg Museum, the Indiana State Museum, Indiana Avenue, the War Memorial Plaza and Newfields on day two. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Indianapolis in 1 day
Day 1
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The 2.5-mile oval track west of downtown, with a museum of racing cars and the famous brick finish line.
Indianapolis Zoo
Zoo, aquarium and botanical garden in White River State Park, with dolphins, orangutans and a large outdoor savanna.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
A 284-foot limestone monument on Monument Circle honouring Indiana's veterans, with an observation deck and a museum.
Indianapolis Catacombs
Underground brick vaults beneath the City Market, once used as storage, shown on guided tours.
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
The world's largest children's museum, with a dinosaur gallery, a carousel, a planetarium and hands-on exhibits.
Indianapolis in 2 days
Day 1
Indianapolis Zoo
Zoo, aquarium and botanical garden in White River State Park, with dolphins, orangutans and a large outdoor savanna.
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art
Museum in White River State Park with Native American art and Western paintings and sculpture.
Indiana State Museum
Museum in White River State Park on the state's natural and cultural history, with galleries on Indiana's wildlife, art, sports and people.
Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau
State library near the Capitol with historical collections, genealogy resources and exhibits on Indiana's past.
Indianapolis Catacombs
Underground brick vaults beneath the City Market, once used as storage, shown on guided tours.
Indiana Avenue
Historic Black cultural district northwest of the Circle, known for its jazz clubs.
Day 2
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
A 284-foot limestone monument on Monument Circle honouring Indiana's veterans, with an observation deck and a museum.
Indiana World War Memorial Plaza
Five-block plaza north of the Circle with an obelisk, the Shrine Room and a war memorial museum.
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
The world's largest children's museum, with a dinosaur gallery, a carousel, a planetarium and hands-on exhibits.
Newfields
Campus north of downtown with the Indianapolis Museum of Art, gardens, a sculpture park and a historic house, best for half a day.
Watch: Indianapolis
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Indianapolis
May to October is the best time, with warm weather and long days. The Indianapolis 500 takes place on Memorial Day weekend in May, and prices and crowds rise sharply. Summers are hot and humid, with thunderstorms, and winters are cold with some snow, though the museums stay open.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Indianapolis on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Indianapolis on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Indianapolis on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Indianapolis
- Hotels fill up and prices rise around the Indianapolis 500 weekend in late May, so book well ahead if you plan to be in town then.
- Downtown is flat and compact, and the Cultural Trail makes it easy to walk or cycle between the Circle, the museums and Indiana Avenue.
- The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is very large; allow most of a day, and check opening days since it closes on some Mondays.
- The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is northwest of downtown and is best reached by car or ride-hail; the museum and track tours depend on race schedules.
- The Indianapolis Catacombs lie under the City Market and are visited on guided tours; check the dates and book ahead.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art: User:Sailko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Indiana Avenue: Nyttend, Public domain
- Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau: Bedford at en.wikipedia, Public domain
- Indiana State Museum: Murphsdaughter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Indiana World War Memorial Plaza: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Indianapolis Catacombs: Valerie Keinsley, Indiana Humanities, CC BY 2.0
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway: tpsdave, CC0
- Indianapolis Zoo: IU Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, CC BY 2.0
- Newfields: Newfields, Public domain
- Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument: Jacob Piatt Dunn, Public domain
- The Children's Museum of Indianapolis: HstryQT, CC BY 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
