11 Amazing Indiana Day Trips That Are Worth The Drive

Indiana enjoys the nickname "Crossroads of America," with many roads crisscrossing its territory and connecting it to other parts of the country. Hence, it is not surprising that it is one of the best choices for mesmerizing road trips to some stunning destinations! So, travelers from across the nation and the world gather at the state's biggest cities like Indianapolis and South Bend, which are served by international airports, to explore the surroundings. Here are 11 amazing road trips within three hours' drive from these cities that will take you to gorgeous lakes, beautiful historical districts, thrilling amusement parks, picturesque waterfalls, and much more.

Clifty Falls State Park (1 hour 50-minutes drive from Indianapolis)

Located in the charming Indiana town of Madison, Clifty Falls State Park is one of the best-kept secrets in Indiana. Situated above the Ohio River, this park has beautiful cliffs made up of shale and limestone rocks and four waterfalls to explore. These include the 60-foot-tall Big Clifty Falls, Little Clifty Falls, 83-foot Tunnel Falls, and 78-foot Hoffman Falls. There are also plenty of intriguing structures to explore here, ranging from a fire tower to Civilian Conservation Corps stonework from the 1930s and an abandoned railroad tunnel.

Brown County State Park (1 hour 2-minutes drive from Indianapolis)

This park is one of the best in the entire state, located within the charming community of Nashville, Indiana. It is known for its rolling hills that are reminiscent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina. Visitors can spend an entire day here riding horses, fishing at several lakes, mountain biking, swimming in pools, and enjoying one of the many hiking trails. Some of the best trails include the Saddle Barn Loop, which goes by an amphitheater and features many ferns on the ravines and slopes nearby.

The Children's Museum Of Indianapolis, Indianapolis (within the city)

Located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, this museum is ideal for the young and the young at heart. It is one of the largest children's museums in the world and has something for everyone. These include the Dinosphere with beautiful models and dinosaur fossils, a carousel, science experiments, and a 43-foot tower made of 3,200 pieces of blown glass by artist Dale Chihuly. Visitors can also explore the stories of famous children like Anne Frank and Ruby Ridges or discover ancient treasures of the Egyptians.

Indiana Dunes National Park (45-minutes' drive from South Bend)

By taking a short drive through Northern Indiana, visitors can find one of the best parks in the entire state: the Indiana Dunes National Park. Located by the shores of Lake Michigan, the park has dunes that soar up into the sky by 250 feet. These dunes were formed by Lake Michigan receding over a period of thousands of years ago, which left behind the Glenwood, Calumet and Tolleston Dunes, which are all explorable via trails. Speaking of exploring, there are five historic homes located within the park, which were originally displayed at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair as the Century of Progress Homes, including The Cypress Log, Florida Tropical, Armco-Ferro, Wieboldt-Rostone and House of Tomorrow. After a day of hiking, hikers can relax on one of several beachfronts in the more than 15 miles of shoreline such as Dunbar Beach.

Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis (within the city)

Animal lovers will appreciate this zoo located right on the White River in Indianapolis. The zoo has a variety of wildlife and many different ways to observe them. For example, guests can get an underwater view of dolphins at an underwater viewing dome, touch sharks in a pool, or see a rare red panda. Guests can also reserve a Dolphin In-Water Adventure to play with the animals in a pool. Wild cat lovers will appreciate the zoo's cheetahs, lions and tigers. The zoo also has a few rides, such as the Kombo Coaster and a Carousel, for a full day of fun.

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari (2 hours, 38-minute drive from Indianapolis)

Holiday World is one of two major attractions in the area around Santa Claus, Indiana, and it's certainly worth the drive. This family-owned amusement park has both thrilling rides and good offers such as free soft drinks and sunscreen. It is particularly well known for its wooden rollercoasters, the Raven, The Legend, and the Voyage, which draw in thrill seekers from around the world. There are multiple pools and water slides in the Splashin' Safari. Just outside of the park is the Santa Claus Museum & Village, which features multiple historic buildings, a statue of Santa Claus, and a historic post office where children can send letters to Santa.

Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home ( 2 hours, 41-minute drive from Indianapolis)

Located a few minutes away from Holiday World is the boyhood home of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. It was here that the president spent his formative years before moving to Illinois to begin his career as a lawyer and politician. At the Memorial Visitor Center, visitors can see artifacts from Abraham Lincoln's youth and learn about critical moments in his life. At the park, there are also reconstructed cabins and hiking trails that connect to an old Pioneer Cemetery and a Living Historical Farm, where reenactors can teach visitors about what life was like for Lincoln and other pioneers living in the Midwest. This lesser-known park is a must-visit for history buffs.

Charlestown State Park (1 hour, 50-minute drive from Indianapolis)

Nestled by the Ohio River, Charlestown State Park sits at the site of the former Indiana Army Ammunition Plant and goes by several scenic points in the Fourteenmile Creek Valey. The park hides a unique site in the state, Rose Island. This peninsula on the Ohio River used to be an amusement park during the 1920s until it went out of business after the 1937 Flood. By crossing the Portersville Bridge within the park, visitors can see the remains of Rose Island and learn about its history. The park also has several picturesque trails, such as Trail 6, which goes by a waterfall, and the Charlestown Landing site, where residents shipped goods across the Ohio River.

Turkey Run State Park (1 hour, 11-minute drive from Indianapolis)

Northwest of Indianapolis is the Turkey Run State Park, which sees more than 1 million visitors every year for its canyons, historic buildings and hiking challenges. By crossing a suspension bridge, visitors will arrive in the Rocky Hollow-Falls Canyon Nature Preserve, which has some of oldest forests in Indiana with sycamores and black walnut trees. In addition, guests can take a ladder trail that goes up the walls of Rocky and Bear Hollows. Turkey Run State Park also hides several historic buildings such as the 1848 Lieber Cabin, one of the oldest in Indiana, along with the 1871 Log Church, which still holds church services to this day.

Hoosier National Forest (1 hour, 57-minute drive from Indianapolis)

The Hoosier National Forest is a massive 204,000-acre park covering nine counties in south-central Indiana, making it a must-visit for all nature lovers traveling through Indiana. Due to its size, there are many places to visit in the forest and bountiful habitats to experience. One such habitat is Indiana's official wilderness, the Charles C Deam Wilderness, which has 25 campsites and trails crisscrossing through Bloomington and Brown County. There are a few waterfalls to see in Hemlock Cliffs and Buzzard Roost Trail along the Ohio River. Spelunkers will appreciate the many caves hiding in the forest, such as Patton Cave, which is open to anyone wishing to explore. There are also plenty of opportunities for boating within Tucker Lake, Celina Lake, and others.

Studebaker National Museum, South Bend (within the city)

Located within South Bend itself is an intriguing museum that catalogs the history of the car and manufacturing industry in Northern Indiana. It is specifically focused on transportation, including several historic pre-war carriages. These are the carriage Abraham Lincoln rode to Ford's Theater, where he would be assassinated and a carriage that the Marquis de Lafayette used during his tour of the United States in 1824. In fact, the museum has the largest collection of Presidential carriages, such as Ulysses S. Grant's Brewster Landau and William McKinley's Studebaker Phaeton. There are also multiple historic cars throughout the museum going back to the earliest days of the automobile.

By traveling the Crossroads of America, visitors can have an unforgettable road trip all within a few hours of international airports. They can see the homes and carriages of U.S. presidents, visit the former shoreline of Lake Michigan, traverse an abandoned amusement park, or enjoy a thrilling roller coaster. These 11-day trips are definitely worth the gas mileage.