7 Most Scenic Small Towns in Indiana
Indiana—the 15th most populous state in the United States—is affectionately known as the Hoosier State. Recognized for its love for basketball, this Midwestern state is also known as a year-round destination jampacked with outdoor attractions and cultural gems, from the revving engines at the Indy 500 to the cozy village of Santa Claus. The small towns in Indiana are scenic like their city counterparts, offering plenty of picturesque sights and attractions to travelers.
Franklin
Be close to the buzz of Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana, while enjoying the comforts of a friendly town in Franklin. This scenic small town in Indiana has a rich history with a promising tomorrow, featuring a blend of old brick homes, family-friendly attractions, and a hub for international businesses.
Explore downtown Franklin and discover why it was recognized as having one of the best Main Streets in Indiana. The space is packed with historic buildings, local businesses, and walking trails. Stop by the historic Artcraft Theatre, which has been a staple of Franklin since 1922—or stroll through the Franklin’s Farmer’s Market to find local goodies and crafts.
Take pretty photos at the Franklin Arts District, where the town’s streets pop with colorful art! Be surrounded by 200 glowing stars in Artcraft Alley or enjoy the art at Kuji Alley, which pays homage to Franklin’s sister city, Kuji of Japan. Among other displays, the district is full of artistically painted box covers and abstract bike racks.
Albion
This small Indiana town is the heart (and county seats) of Noble County. Stop by Albion, Indiana, to admire its beautiful courthouse; often recognized for its beauty, historical architecture, vibing main street, and local history.
Dive into local history with a visit to the Old Jail Museum of Noble County, which is only a block from the Noble County Courthouse. The museum’s building was constructed in 1876 in the Second Empire/Gothic Revival style and features exhibits that highlight the history of Noble County.
Albion’s Black Pine Animal Sanctuary of Lake County is a must-visit for animal-loving travelers. This animal refuge is home to over 75 exotic and wild animals that were voluntarily surrendered or rescued and is Indiana’s only multi-species Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries accredited sanctuary!
This small town in Indiana is also a gateway to the Chain O’ Lakes State Park, regarded as a small boater’s paradise. Sit back and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Lake Country! This state park is perfect for recreational water activities, from boating to fishing. The Chain O’ Lakes State Park has a collection of natural lakes alongside 488 miles of shorelines, 6,500 areas of water, and four trail systems.
Spring Grove
Spring Grove enjoys the comforts of a small town while being within arm’s reach of the bustling city of Richmond. Spring Grove maintains its small-town charm with tight zoning restrictions that limit fast-food eateries and high-traffic commercial businesses.
Spring Grove is comfortably near Richmond’s premier attractions. Discover local history at the Wayne County Historical Museum or stroll through the fragrant grounds of the 30-year-old grounds of Richmond Rose Gardens.
Travelers who appreciate the outdoors can also make a trip to Thistlewaite Falls, which sits on the western border of Spring Grove off Waterfall Road. This waterfall was formed after Timothy Thistlewaite (along with his brother-in-law and farm teams), to provide more hydropower to his nearby sawmill, dammed the river water, changing its course to flow unto a rocky ledge.
Rockville
This scenic small town is also “The Covered Bridge Capital of the World” in West Central Indiana’s Parke County! Take part in the festivities at Rockville’s Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, one of Indiana’s largest festivals, in October. Among its offerings of authentic arts, delicious food, and autumn foliage, the festival highlights the county’s 31 historic covered bridges—some of which date back to 1856!
See what’s buzzing in the historic streets of downtown Rockville, which is vibing with residents, local businesses, and beautiful historic buildings, including the elegant Parke County Courthouse.
Adventure awaits at this scenic small town with a visit to the Turkey Run State Park. Hike 14 miles of trails at the park and come face to face with the dramatically steep sandstone gorges of the Rocky Hollow-Falls Canyon Nature Preserve, which towers over hikers amongst the hemlock groves.
Greencastle
Explore the community of Greencastle in the heart of West Central Indiana, which is within an hour of Indianapolis, Lafayette, Bloomington, and Terre Haute.
Make a day trip to visit Cataract Falls inside the Lieber State Recreation Area, which is Indiana’s largest waterfall (by volume). The area is a great venue for hiking, boating, fishing, and picnicking. Continue to explore the scenic sights of this Indiana town at the DePauw University Nature Park, which covers over 520 acres on the west side of the DePauw campus. This site attracts outdoor enthusiasts with a knack for hiking, rock climbing, canoeing, and more.
Delve into this Indiana college town’s artistic side and local culture at Downtown Greencastle, steps from the DePauw University Campus (which itself is home to 36 major buildings and 175 acres of landscaped space!). Take note of the downtown highlights, from the historic Putnam County Library to the Indiana’s largest mural along Veterans Memorial Parkway at Silo Mural.
Corydon
Explore the First State Capitol at Corydon, which sits north of the Ohio River in Southern Indiana. This small Indiana town of Harrison County was recognized as the state capital until 1825 when state legislature shifted to Indianapolis. Take a step back into the past and embark on a self-guided walking tour in downtown Corydon, noting the historic buildings and sites that remain standing two centuries later.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Corydon is also a gateway to underground adventures! Tour the nooks of Indiana Caverns or the crannies of the Squire Boone Caverns, which maintains a cool environment of 54 degrees year-round. The Indiana Caverns offers boat rides, walks along the karst trail, and a thrilling zipline experience on the Bat Chaser. Alternatively, tourists can explore the living caves at the Squire Boone Caverns, which is gushing with gallons of water that flows through the cave.
Travelers can also drive to the world-famous Marengo Caves to continue their underground adventures, which is Indiana’s most visited show cave with walking tours suitable for all ages.
Chesterton
This small town in Porter County is a hub for creative souls and artists. This small town in Northwest Indiana also makes for a great nature-filled getaway since it is only south of the Indiana Dunes National Park and the Indiana Dunes State Park!
From May to October, travelers can peruse the local vendors at the European Market. The market is bustling with activity and features vendors that sell local goodies, including handcrafted jewelry, clothing, art, and delicious prepared foods. The market is vibrant with local vendors and live musical performances from May to October.
This small Indiana town is packed with nature-filled excursions. Tackle 5 miles of trails at the Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve, which winds hikers through local prairies, creeks, wetlands, and woodlands. The preserve also makes a great setting for picnicking, bird watching, and fishing.
Chesterton is also a gateway to the Indiana Dunes State Park, which encompasses 3 miles of beach area and about 16 miles of trails (several of which traverse Mount Tom). Visitors should also experience the beauty of the Indiana Dunes National Park! Get up close and personal with the world’s largest lakeshore dunes, and admire this park's ecologically diverse environments of rivers, forests, swamps, marshes, and bogs.
After a stay in Chesterton, continue to new adventures at nearby Duneland communities like Beverley Shores, Burns Harbor, Dune Acres, and Porter!
Uncover Indiana's Hidden Gems
The scenic small towns of Indiana offer just as much charm as their larger city counterparts. Adventure awaits travelers who want to visit these Indiana towns, from the underground caverns near Corydon to the towering dunes that are close to Chesterton.
