2024's 10 Most Scenic Indiana Towns

Sitting between the Ohio River to the South and The Great Lakes to the North, Indiana is a beautiful state in the Midwest. It is often called the crossroads of America due to the many interstates that cut through the state, along with being home to the infamous Indy 500 race. However, when driving through this state, one should stop to enjoy the abundant and underrated scenery. In these towns, you'll discover underground rivers, abandoned amusement parks, picturesque dunes, old fire towers in the middle of the forest, and much more. Here are the top 10 most scenic Indiana towns to visit in 2024.

Charlestown

Located within Clark County on the Ohio River, this small town of just over 8,400 people sits on the spot of the former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant. Today, Charlestown is home to the Charlestown State Park, a 15,000-acre natural wonder with many intriguing sites to check out. For example, on Trail 6, you'll get a view of the Ohio River and Twelve Mile Island from a river bluff and a waterfall and the Charlestown Landing site. The most exciting site in the park is Rose Island. By descending a half-mile path, you will reach an abandoned park from the 1920s that shut down following the 1937 flood. By crossing the Portersville Bridge, you'll see a few old structures that remain, including a swimming pool and several interpretative markers.

Henryville

Although often not as well known as many other picturesque Indiana towns, Henryville serves as the gateway to the Clark State Forest. This is the oldest state forest in Indiana, going back to 1903. There are more than 25,600 acres of land to explore here, with four nature preserves, including White Oak, Virginia Pike-Chestnut Oak, Alum Cave Hollow, and Outbrook Ravine. There are seven lakes within the park that you can go boating or fish on. Within the park, you'll discover a historic fire tower that overlooks the nearby counties and the state of Kentucky. Lastly, for adventurous hikers, the forest offers a trailhead for the 59-mile-long Knobstone Trail.

Shipshewana

This quaint town is home to one of the largest Amish communities in the United States. Shipshewana has plenty of idyllic rural sites to explore, including 14 lakes in larger LaGrange County, such as Adams Lake, Appleman Lake, Shipshewana Lake, and more. At Shipshewana Lake, you can fish or rent a canoe or kayak to explore the waters yourself. If you prefer to go on foot, the best way to explore Shipshewana is to take the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail. On this 17-mile trail connecting the town to Middlebury and Goshen, you'll see beautiful Amish farms, businesses, and natural beauty. The larger LaGrange County has more than 12,000 acres of nature preserves, including the LaGrange County Nature Preserve or Pond Lil Nature Preserve.

Madison

Madison is a charming Indiana river town that is ideal for those desiring to spend a day in nature. For one, Clifty Falls State Park earns its name for its 70-foot gorges and seven waterfalls. These waterfalls change from season to season and are especially beautiful when frozen for those willing to brave the cold weather. You'll want to hit the trails here and try out the Four Falls Hiking Challenge or see the many canyons. If boating is more your speed, you can take your boat to the river with the Ohio River Way. Speaking of the River, at the nearby Hanover College, you can visit the Point, the one place where you can see all three bends in the Ohio River.

New Albany

While exploring Southern Indiana along the Ohio River, you'll want to check out New Albany. This small town makes good use of its riverfront property with the Ohio River Greenway. This riverside paved trail goes for 7 miles from New Albany to the nearby cities of Clarksville and Jeffersonville and also features the Loop Island Wetlands trail if you want to go more rugged. Also right off the Greenway is the Silver Creek Landing, a spot where you can go kayaking or fishing. A few miles away from downtown, you'll find the Campbell-Woodland Nature Trails, a cute paved path through the woods that is accessible for people with handicaps. In the nearby community of Floyd Knobs, you can explore the peaceful trails at the Mount Saint Francis Monastery.

Porter

Porter is home to one of the best attractions in the entire state: the Indiana Dunes National Park. Sitting on the shores of Lake Michigan, this national park has sand dunes that extend nearly 250 feet. You can climb to the top of these dunes on one of several trails within the park, such as the Calumet Dunes Trail, Dune Ridge Trail, and Diana of the Dunes Dare. Within the park, you can relax on the 15 miles of lakeside shoreline at several beaches in the area, such as Central Avenue Beach, Dunbar Beach, and Kemil Beach. There's plenty of opportunity for cyclists here, too, as they can take the 2.5-mile Dunes-Kankakee Trail from the visitor center to the Indiana Dunes State Park, or they can check out the 10-mile Outback Trail.

Marshall

Marshall has a tiny population of just over 270 people but hides a big Hoosier treasure: Turkey Run State Park. This park is well known for its sandstone ravines and challenging hikes. In particular, hikers can try out the 5 Mile Challenge, which will take them by three canyons, up a ladder, and across a suspension bridge in the Falls Canyon-Rocky Hollow Nature Preserve within the park. Visitors can go to the Saddle Barn to rent a horse to try out the trails or go on them on foot. While at Turkey Run, you can visit the Colonel Richard Lieber Cabin. This man was known as the father of the Indiana State Parks system and was a significant conservationist.

Corydon

Corydon served as the first state capitol of Indiana until it was moved to Indianapolis in the 1820s. As a result, there are a lot of historic sites to check out in town, but there are also several scenic places you can go to both above and…below ground. Check out the Indiana Caverns, located just outside of the downtown area, where you can take an 80-minute tour to see remains of Ice Age creatures and take a boat ride. You'll also see an underwater waterfall, or you can go on the Deep Darkness journey, where you can crawl through multiple tunnels in the cave. For above-ground adventures, visit O'Bannon Woods State Park, renowned for its 18-mile biking trail that runs through multiple hills and ravines.

Lincoln City

This small community not far from Santa Claus, Indiana, hides a picturesque site that's a must-visit for nature lovers and history buffs alike. Lincoln City was where famed American President Abraham Lincoln spent his boyhood years in Indiana. At the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, you can learn more about his youth, visit the gravesite of Nancy Hanks Lincoln, and see where he lived. Right next to the memorial is the Lincoln State Park, which has 10 miles of trails within 2,026 acres, along with the picturesque Lake Lincoln, where you can go boating. You can camp at the park and visit the Nature Center for exhibits about the wildlife in the area.

Nashville

Last but certainly not least is the community of Nashville, Indiana. While the city in Tennessee is more well known, Nashville is a beautiful place with a lot in common with the mountains of Eastern Tennessee. Brown County State Park has 18 miles of hiking trails running along rolling hills, 70 miles of horse trails, and 30 miles of mountain biking trails. You can go fishing or swimming in the two lakes in the park. There are also intriguing things to discover within the park, such as the ghost town Elkinsville, where you can find an old cemetery, and the world's most inconvenient inn: Story Inn. Brown County State Park isn't the only park in town, as Yellowwood State Forest is located nearby. This forest, in particular, is renowned for its great fishing opportunities at Yellowwood Lake.

You can spend days getting lost in Indiana's scenic parks, rivers, and lakes. From Corydon's caves to Marshall's canyons, you'll always have new places to discover. And while you're at these places, you might learn a bit about both the history of conservation in America and famous Americans such as Abraham Lincoln. The next time you find yourself driving on the roads of Indiana, consider stopping for a moment to take in the scenery at some of these small towns.