Take a European road trip to these five fun places in Indiana that will make you feel like you've left the country. From restaurants to hotels, this list has it all. Scroll on for more details.
Though seemingly old, this castle was built in the past 20 years and is a hotel as well as a popular place for events. There are five guestrooms at this fairytale-style getaway. Learn more about this spot here.
The themed rooms at this lovely getaway will take you away to different parts of the world. Whether it's Sweden, Italy, or France, this beautiful place will take you there. Additional information is available here.
Surrounded by gorgeous gardens, this excellent Hoosier B&B is fitted with five luxury suites that all feature modern amenities. This wonderful place is located near all kinds of great state parks and other fun things to do. Click here for more details.
This casual, family German restaurant is known for its schnitzels, rouladen, spaetzle, and other classic eats. It is cozy and colorful inside, and there is often live music to enjoy. Learn more about this spot here.
In business since 1998, this Polish restaurant is known for its pierogis that come in a wide variety of styles. Other authentic dishes include stuffed cabbage, potato pancakes, and more. Additional details are available here.
If you've ever been on this European road trip, we'd love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments.
Some states just lend themselves to amazing road trips, and Indiana is one of them. The Hoosier State has so many fantastic places to see and explore, from natural wonders to foodie destinations to charming small towns. If you are looking for the best road trips in Indiana, this is the place. We have put together 11 unforgettable road adventures to inspire you. The only question now is, which one will you go on first?
If you have just one day for a quintessential Indiana road trip, we suggest this scenic drive full of Indiana history. This covered bridge loop trail takes you to nine of the state’s characteristic old bridges. You will see an 1840 bridge over the White Water River, the historic 130-foot-long West Port bridge, and an unusual two-lane bridge in Nashville. Walk across the longest and oldest covered bridge in Vallonia and be sure to get a photo of Indiana’s most famous bridge known as Bean Blossom, an idyllic site you may recognize from paintings. With less than five hours of driving time, you can visit all of these bridges, stopping at each to drink in the scenery and snap some photos all in a day. Pack a lunch and pick your favorite bridge area for a picturesque picnic! Quick road trips in Indiana offer as much excitement as long ones, so enjoy this trip to the fullest.
Route: Turkey Run State Park > Shades State Park > Brown County State Park
Distance: 107 Miles
Trip Time: 2.5 hours driving time
On each leg of this one-of-a-kind three-day weekend road trip, you will visit one of Indiana’s epic state parks and spend the day exploring its unique features. Hike through the forests and canyons of Turkey Run State Park and kayak down its lazy river to explore the prehistoric-like wonders of Shades State Park, then wander through the unparalleled natural beauty of the massive Brown County State Park. We have selected two charming places to spend the night and recharge for another day of outdoor escapades. This route’s leisurely pace and relatively short driving time allow you to explore at your own pace and really appreciate what makes these parks special. Weekend road trips in Indiana like this one make for an incredible mini-vacation.
Indiana has more than a fair share of spectacular waterfalls. Visit them in spring or summer months when the water is at full volume, in the fall when they are surrounded by vibrant foliage, or in the winter when many of them freeze into extraordinary ice sculptures. This ultimate waterfall road trip focuses on the most stunning falls in Northern Indiana. Begin and end this scenic waterfall loop in Indianapolis, or actually, at any one point on the route. You will visit the wide cascading Thistlewaite Falls, the ravines and gorges of Salamonie River State Forest, the seasonal waterfalls at Kokiwanee Preserve, and the 90-foot plunging Williamsport Falls, along with several others. At each destination, you can choose to take advantage of hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, or even book one of the rustic campsites to spend more time surrounded by nature.
Route: Indianapolis > Cloverdale > Spencer > Mitchell > Union Township > Madison > North Vernon > Harsville > Indianapolis
Distance: 353 Miles
Trip Time: 7 hours driving time
It’s not fair to give all the attention to Northern Indiana, considering all of the stunning waterfalls in this state, right? Like the Northern waterfall loop, this marvelous waterfall road trip starts and ends in Indianapolis, with a loop running through some of the most beautiful and dramatic sites in the south. Visit the cascading wonder, Cataract Falls, McCormick’s Creek Falls in Indiana’s oldest state park, and Hemlock Cliffs Falls with its pristine plunge pool below, and four waterfalls within Clifty Falls State Park, just to name a few. Along the way, you will discover pretty hiking trails, historic sites, lovely canyons and rock formations, and tons of lush foliage. If you are obsessed with waterfalls, and have the time for an extended road trip, you could actually combine the Northern and Southern Indiana waterfall loops for the ultimate waterfall tour!
Route: South Bend > New Paris > Kokomo > Bowling Green > Richmond
Distance: 373 Miles
Trip Time: 7 hours driving time
Spring is an enchanting time of year, when the days gently warm up and the rain and snow give way to colorful flowers and greenery. What better time than spring to take this magical fairytale road trip? The route for this delightful trip can actually be started from any of three spots. However you choose to adventure, you will feel like royalty as you eat and sleep in stunning and whimsical castles that feel like they are straight out of a storybook. Along the way, you will discover charming gardens and hidden gems that will only add to this fun overnight experience.
Route: Trine State Recreation Area > Tippecanoe River State Park > Shades State Park > Charlestown State Park > O’Bannon Woods State Park > Harmonie State Park
Distance: 555 Miles
Trip Time: 10 hours driving time
Summer is the most popular travel season for several reasons, including school vacations, warm weather, etc. During these months, common attractions, destinations, and state parks are often full of visitors, so we think this little tour of Indiana’s least-visited state parks is a brilliant idea for a summer getaway without the crowds. This epic trip takes you through the entire state, from the northern border, south through Louisville, along part of the Ohio River, and on to the west. Along the way, you will visit serene natural parks with scenic lakes, lush green foliage, vibrant wildlife, waterfalls, cliffs, and even caves. Take your time and let the stresses and chaos of the everyday melt away as you explore these shockingly under-the-radar parks on one of the best Indiana road trips.
Are you like us in the sense that you may or may not be a covered bridge enthusiast? When it comes to covered bridges in Indiana, there is definitely no shortage! Parke County, Indiana, is otherwise known as the covered bridge capital of the world! It’s got 31 covered bridges in total, but for today, we’ll pay a visit to eight of our favorites. If you’d like to see the Indiana covered bridges map with directions, you can do so on Google Maps.
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Parke County is very unique; there are no other counties in Indiana with nearly as many epic, historic covered bridges.
In total, Parke County is the proud home of 31 covered bridges. Some of them date as far back as the 1850s! We'll begin our journey in the town of Rockville, where it won't take terribly long to reach our first bridge.
McAllister's Bridge is a fantastic testament to the ingenuity of the Hoosier State.
McAllister's Covered Bridge was built in 1914 and extends over Little Raccoon Creek. It's 126 feet long and absolutely gorgeous! From here, head south on Bridgeton Road to find the next bridge on our adventure.
take a look at the McAllister Covered Bridge in this aerial footage of the historic bridge from Jake Crippin:
Neet Bridge was built in 1904 and, like McAllister's Bridge, it was constructed over Little Raccoon Creek. It's 126 feet long and a lively red color. Once you've had your fill, continue on Bridgeton Road.
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Soon enough, you'll come across Bridgeton Bridge, which makes sense, considering you're traveling on Bridgeton Road.
Bridgeton Bridge is the newest bridge we'll see on our journey; it was built in 2006 and is 245 feet in length. It goes over Big Raccoon Creek - not to be confused with Little Raccoon Creek.
The beautiful Roseville Bridge is next on our trip.
During the warmer months, the landscape surrounding this bridge is covered in wildflowers. Roseville Bridge was built in 1910 and extends 263 feet, making it the longest bridge on this list. Once you've soaked in the majesty, head to Wabash Street.
Enjoy some footage of the historic Roseville Bridge, another one of our favorite covered bridges near Mecca, Indiana, in this video from takowaleful:
Take Wabash until it turns into Raccoon Street. You'll find Mecca Bridge on Arabia Road nearby.
Mecca Bridge was built in 1873, which means it's the oldest bridge on this list. Like other bridges throughout Parke County, it goes over Big Raccoon Creek. We're beginning to notice a trend in terms of where these bridges are located! Our next bridge is a little different, though. Heading north on Arabia Road, you'll run into...
This rickety old bridge in Parke County was constructed in 1909. It's not about that Big Raccoon Creek life - this bridge rests over Big Pond Creek. It's 43 feet long and the shortest bridge of our trip, but don't let its relatively small size fool you - it's beautiful!
Our next stop is the lovely Sim Smith Bridge, which you'll find by following the W 40 N.
Sim Smith is another super-old bridge that made the list, having been built in 1883. It was built over Leatherwood Creek and extends 84 feet in length.
Finally, we reach our last bridge - Melcher Bridge.
Don't let its position on this list fool you - Melcher Bridge is a treasure. It is one of several covered bridges near Montezuma, IN in Park County. It was built in 1896 and seems like a sibling of the Sim Smith Covered Bridge. Both go over Leatherwood Creek, and Melcher Covered Bridge is just one foot shorter, at 83 feet long.
Here is an update about the Melcher Bridge and the plans to restore the bridge so it can be enjoyed for years to come:
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The good news is that if you’re not quite satisfied by stopping at just eight bridges, no worries – there are 23 more you can check out! There are so many covered bridges in Indiana that it’s quite difficult to choose just a few to visit at any given time, especially for those of us who just really, really love these rustic, historic monuments. The Google Map linked above is editable, so you can add or remove any Indiana covered bridges that you’d like to.
