Indianapolis

Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and the home of the Indy 500, held each late May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Go for the racing, a downtown you can walk, and museums such as the Children's Museum.

Find a room in Indianapolis Start with the essentials Plan a trip to Indianapolis

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Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana, in the central part of the state. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts the Indy 500 in late May, and that race is the reason many visitors plan a trip here. Downtown is small enough to walk, and the Cultural Trail connects neighborhoods, museums and public spaces with a path for walking and cycling. Massachusetts Avenue, usually called Mass Ave, has restaurants, bars and arts venues within a short walk of downtown hotels. The Children's Museum of Indianapolis ranks among the largest children's museums in the world.

Plan two to three days for the speedway, downtown and one or two museums at a relaxed pace. A long weekend or a sports trip suits the city best, and it fits well on a longer Midwest route. Louisville, Kentucky, is about two hours away by car. Spring and early fall are the most comfortable seasons for walking the trail. Indy 500 weekend draws large crowds, so book rooms early if you plan to attend.

Indianapolis in five

Book race and event weekends months aheadThe Indy 500 runs on Memorial Day weekend, and other big events fill downtown. Check the date you want against the race, convention and sports calendar before you book.
Walk or bike the Cultural TrailAn 8-mile paved loop links downtown, Mass Ave and Fountain Square. It replaces a car for most downtown trips.
Visit the Speedway outside race weekIndianapolis Motor Speedway and its museum are about 20 minutes from downtown by car. Check the official site for hours and tour options.
Put the Children's Museum on a family tripIt is one of the largest children's museums in the world and can fill most of a day. Check the official site for current tickets and hours.
Pair with Louisville or ChicagoLouisville is under 2 hours south by car, and Chicago about 3 hours north.Louisville

Things to do in Indianapolis

See all attractions in Indianapolis

a bridge over a river with a city in the background

Park · IndianapolisWhite River State Park

Museum · IndianapolisEiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art

Race cars speed around a track during an indy 500

Landmark · IndianapolisIndianapolis Motor SpeedwayBuy tickets in advance, especially for race day.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to IndianapolisPut the places you like in Indianapolis on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Indianapolis International (IND), about 20–25 min to downtown
Getting there: Drive from Chicago (3 h), Louisville (about 2 h) or Cincinnati (about 2 h)
Getting around: Walk downtown; Cultural Trail; IndyGo buses; car for the Speedway
Best base: Downtown, near Mass Ave and the Cultural Trail
Time needed: 2–3 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh2°Low-5°Cold, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh6°Low-3°Cold, indoor events
MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh11°Low2°Thaw, variable
AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Spring, mild
MayRain15 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Indy 500 weekend
JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh27°Low18°Warm, long days
JulyRain13 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh29°Low20°Hot, humid
AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Hot, events
SeptemberClear8 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Mild, clear
OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Autumn color
NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh11°Low2°Cool, quiet
DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low-2°Cold, holiday lights

Average daily high and low in Indianapolis, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Indianapolis

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 13°
Humidity: 80%
Wind: 17 km/h
Chance of rain: 11%

Indianapolis

05:37 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today16°14°11%Monday: Drizzle. High 16°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 11%.
Tue23°15°24%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 24%.
Wed21°14°88%Wednesday: Rain. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 88%.
Thu16°10°10%Thursday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 10%.
Fri14°8°11%Friday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 11%.
Sat14°7°1%Saturday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 1%.
Sun13°8°17%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 17%.

Updated 01:18 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Indianapolis

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Day trips by train

Before you go to Indianapolis

Car for the Speedway and day tripsUseful beyond downtownCompare cars

Downtown hotelsWalk to the Cultural TrailCheck availability

eSIM for the USAData on landing, no SIM swapRead the guide

Travel insurance for the USAMedical cover for visitors to the USRead the guide

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Rules for Indianapolis, checked

Most visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries need an approved ESTA before flying to the US. Check eligibility on the official CBP ESTA site.Source
Other visitors need a US visa unless their country has a waiver. Check the visa category and wait times on travel.state.gov before you book.
Declare all food, plant and animal products on your CBP declaration at arrival. Check what you may bring in on cbp.gov.Source
Domestic flights need an ID the TSA accepts, and REAL ID rules apply. Check accepted documents on tsa.gov before you leave home.Source
Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in the US.

Plan around Indianapolis

All of the USA

Parks, cities and trip planning for visitors

Read the guide Louisville

Bourbon, baseball bats and Churchill Downs, under 2 hours south

Read the guide Chicago

The big Midwest city, about 3 hours north

Read the guide Cincinnati

Riverfront and neighborhoods, about 2 hours southeast

Read the guide ESTA explained

Who needs it, the fee and how to apply

Read the guide Money in the USA

Cards, cash and tipping for visitors

Read the guide

Indianapolis FAQ

How many days do you need in Indianapolis?

Two days covers downtown, the Cultural Trail and a museum. Add a day for the Motor Speedway or a day trip to Louisville or Cincinnati.

Is Indianapolis worth visiting?

Yes, for sports, motor racing history and walkable museums. It is a good value compared with bigger cities, especially outside race and event weeks.

When is the best time to visit Indianapolis?

May for the Indy 500 buildup, and September and October for mild weather. Summers are hot and humid, and winters are cold with limited outdoor options.

Do you need a car in Indianapolis?

Not downtown, where hotels, stadiums and the Cultural Trail are close together. You need a car or rideshare for the Motor Speedway and for day trips.

What is Indianapolis known for?

Auto racing, led by the Indy 500, plus professional sports, a large children's museum and a compact downtown connected by the Cultural Trail.