Published October 4, 2024
Your Guide to Road Trip Season
Your family’s next big discovery is just a tank of gas away.
With 12 locations across the state, the possibilities are endless for a weekend getaway.
So, buckle up and head out — this is your guide for the perfect Indiana road trip.
Ready to go? Share your adventure on social and tag us @indianamuseum on Facebook, X/Twitter and Instagram.
Angel Mounds State Historic Site
Connect culture and sky at Angel Mounds State Historic Site — one of the best-preserved, pre-contact Native American sites in North America.
Discover the links between the cosmos and the mounds, then learn about the Mississippian people who built them as you explore an ongoing story spanning back thousands of years.
While you’re there …
GRAB A BITE
- Unique atmosphere and culinary twists at Madeleine’s Fusion Restaurant
- Hot fiddlers, draft beer and a little of everything at the Knob Hill Tavern
SPEND THE NIGHT
ROUND OUT YOUR TRIP
- Tour the last remaining fully functioning Landing Ship Tank at the LST Ship Memorial.
- Visit the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science.
Corydon Capitol State Historic Site
Welcome to Corydon Capitol State Historic Site — Indiana’s first state capitol!
Trace Indiana’s roots all the way back to the Constitution Elm as you discover the families who helped our state get its start.
While you’re there …
GRAB A BITE
- Comfort food classics at Frederick’s Café
- Craft cocktails and Asian fusion dishes at 1816
SPEND THE NIGHT
ROUND OUT YOUR TRIP
- Explore high-tech interpretive galleries at the Harrison County Discovery Center.
- Shop around at Zimmerman Art Glass, the country’s second-oldest family run studio glass factory.
Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site
At the Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site, you’ll discover the colorful rags-to-riches story of William Culbertson, the benevolent businessman and philanthropist who put Indiana’s economy on the map and gave back to the community he loved.
Explore the gorgeous artwork that adorns each room as you hear the stories and impact of Indiana’s most influential families.
While you’re there …
HAVE A MEAL
- Steakhouse favorites at Brooklyn and the Butcher
- Fresh sandwiches, salads and smoothies Seeds and Greens
SPEND THE NIGHT
ROUND OUT YOUR TRIP
- Encounter 390-million-year-old fossil beds at the Falls of the Ohio State Park.
Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site
Wander the peaceful lakeside retreat of Indiana’s most prolific female author at Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site.
Encounter Stratton-Porter’s spirit of ingenuity, independence and love for the wildlife she surrounded herself with as you explore her cabin, the Wildflower Woods, Sylvian Lake and the gardens.
While you’re there …
GRAB A BITE
- A little of everything Rome City at Sylvan Shores Diner
- Delightful diner fare at Blue Sky Restaurant
SPEND THE NIGHT
ROUND OUT YOUR TRIP
- Go camping, hiking or boating in Chain O’ Lakes State Park.
- Visit the wild critters at Black Pine Animal Sanctuary.
Indiana State Museum
The Indiana State Museum is all things Indiana, all in one place. Explore the ever-changing natural world, science, people, pop culture, art and technology that make Indiana what it is!
There’s always something new in our changing galleries on the third floor. Bold new Hoosier artists? Whimsical forest at nighttime? A train ride to a winter wonderland? It’s all possible, but you have to go find out for yourself.
While you’re there …
GRAB A BITE
- Sandwiches, salads and seasonal creations at Farmer’s Market Café
- Delicious tacos at Social Cantina
SPEND THE NIGHT
ROUND OUT YOUR TRIP
- Explore the attractions in White River State Park
Lanier Mansion State Historic Site
Known as the “crown jewel” of Madison, Lanier Mansion State Historic Site is James Lanier’s beautiful Greek Revival mansion settled right along the Ohio River.
From its beautiful artworks to the winding spiral staircase twisting past large, light-loving windows, Lanier Mansion is a work of art, as well as the home to the man who used his wealth to transform Indiana’s railroad and banking industries and defend the state during the Civil War.
While you’re there …
HAVE A MEAL
- Steaks, seafood and pasta at Harry’s Stone Grill
SPEND THE NIGHT
ROUND OUT YOUR TRIP
- Take a river tour or go hiking in Clifty Falls State Park.
Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site
Step inside Levi and Catharine Coffin State Historic Site, known as the “Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad,” where over 1,000 freedom-seekers took refuge on their path to freedom.
Discover the unforgettable stories of the Quaker couple who dedicated their lives to providing food, clothing and shelter to people traveling the Underground Railroad, and the many people they encountered.
While you’re there…
HAVE A MEAL
- Fine Italian cuisine at Galo’s Italian Grill
- Barbeque, burgers and pizza at Firehouse BBQ and Blues
SPEND THE NIGHT
ROUND OUT YOUR TRIP
- Look for fossils while you explore Thistlewaite Falls.
- See items from around the world at the Wayne County Historical Museum.
Limberlost State Historic Site
Discover the storybook natural beauty of Stratton-Porter’s beloved swamp at Limberlost State Historic Site.
Come wander the places that inspired some of Indiana’s most prolific female author like the Loblolly Marsh, the swamplands and the cabin where she wrote her most famous works.
While you’re there …
SPEND THE NIGHT
ROUND OUT YOUR TRIP
- Go fishing in Ouabache State Park.
- See the 160-foot-tall clock tower that’s a replica of one in Bern, Switzerland.
New Harmony State Historic Site
Fizzing with curiosity, New Harmony State Historic Site was the place to be for artists, scientists, inventors and social innovators in the early 19th century.
Discover the utopian society that was gone almost as soon as it appeared, and the lasting impact this hotbed of curiosity had in Indiana and beyond.
While you’re there …
GRAB A BITE
- Fantastic specials and diner classics at The Main
- Craft coffee and tea at Black Lodge Coffee Roasters
SPEND THE NIGHT
ROUND OUT YOUR TRIP
- Explore the gardens and sculptures at the Jane Blaffer Owen Sanctuary
- Bike and hike your way through Harmonie State Park.
T.C. Steele State Historic Site
Explore the picture-perfect scenery at T.C. Steele State Historic Site that the renowned Impressionist artist put to canvas.
Wander the gorgeous gardens and where Steele painted his iconic plein air artworks, his studio and the House of the Singing Winds as you discover the details of the life he and his second wife, Selma, built together.
While you’re there …
HAVE A MEAL
- Burgers, pasta and an iconic apple pie at Runcible Spoon
- Southern comfort food at Nashville House – try the apple butter!
SPEND THE NIGHT
ROUND OUT YOUR TRIP
- Go out on the water at Monroe Lake.
- See why Brown County State Park is known as the “Little Smokies”
Vincennes State Historic Sites
Packed with stories of the American frontier, Vincennes State Historic Site was once a bustling intersection of cultures in the moments before Indiana became a state.
Explore the fascinating world of territory Indiana, including the Jefferson Academy, the birthplace of Indiana’s first newspaper, a sacred burial mound, the 1809 French House and more.
While you’re there …
HAVE A MEAL
- Chicken, fish and steak at The Cafe Moonlight
- Pizza and pasta at Procopio’s
SPEND THE NIGHT
ROUND OUT YOUR TRIP
- Hear the story of a legendary Revolutionary War battle at George Rogers Clark National Historic Park.
Whitewater Canal State Historic Site
Discover the aquatic highway that kept Indiana running in the 1840s at Whitewater Canal State Historic Site.
Learn boats made their way through a hand-dug canal to transport goods all over the state and check out the Metamora Grist Mill at this charming site nestled in the heart of Metamora.
While you’re there …
HAVE A MEAL
- Home-cooked pizza, sandwiches and baked goods at Of the Earth Café
SPEND THE NIGHT
ROUND OUT YOUR TRIP
- Relax on the beach, go hiking, boating and more at Brookville Lake State Park.
- Visit historic Oldenburg a charming town with a German heritage.
