Late summer has a way of arriving before the family calendar catches up. School may be starting, but there is still time to fit in a beach day, cave tour, train ride or full-day road trip before the season gets away from us.
These Indiana day trips cover everything from water parks and wildlife drives to zip lines and underground boat tours. Some can be planned the night before. Others require reservations, timed tours or a little more driving than anyone wants to admit at 7 a.m.
Before you go: Drive times are approximate from downtown Indianapolis and can vary with traffic. Late-summer schedules often change once schools reopen, so check same-day hours, weather alerts and reservation availability before leaving home, especially after mid-August.
13 Indiana Day Trips for Late Summer
Less Than One Hour from Indianapolis
Natural Valley Ranch in Brownsburg
Address: 6310 E. County Road 350 N., Brownsburg, IN 46112
Drive from Indy: About 30 minutes
Good for: Children who want to try horseback riding
Cost: $30 for a 30-minute trail ride, $45 for a 60-minute trail ride, $5 for a pony ride
Natural Valley Ranch covers 78 acres along White Lick Creek and gives Indianapolis families a nearby option for a guided trail ride. Riders must be at least 4 years old, weigh no more than 275 pounds and wear closed-toe shoes.
Trail rides are available year-round, weather permitting, but reservations are required. Groups are limited to six riders, which keeps the experience more manageable for beginners. Younger children can take a pony ride, but families should call before visiting to confirm availability and current driving directions.
Uranus Indiana Fudge Factory in Anderson
Address: 1423 W. 53rd St., Anderson, IN 46013
Drive from Indy: About 45 minutes
Good for: Families who are comfortable with nonstop bathroom humor
Admission: Free to visit; food, fudge, mini golf and other activities cost extra
Uranus Indiana is part candy store, part roadside attraction and part extended joke that children will understand immediately. The general store sells fudge, chocolates, candy, gifts and novelty items, while the Anderson location also includes ice cream, photo stops and an 18-hole miniature golf course.
The general store is open daily from 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Hours for individual attractions may differ, so check the official Anderson location page before building the entire trip around mini golf. Parents should expect humor that lands somewhere between elementary-school silliness and PG-13.
One to Two Hours from Indianapolis
eXplore Brown County Zip Lines
Address: 2620 Valley Branch Road, Nashville, IN 47448
Drive from Indy: About 1 hour
Good for: Older children, teens and adults who meet the weight requirements
Cost: Zip-line tours range from $40–$120 per person
eXplore Brown County operates 15 zip lines across six tour options, so families can choose a shorter introduction or commit several hours to a larger course. Depending on the tour, participants may encounter sky bridges, rappels, side-by-side lines and zips stretching across the wooded property.
There is no formal minimum age, but participants generally must weigh at least 50 pounds. Most tours have a maximum weight of 270 pounds, although the introductory Sneak Peek Tour permits riders up to 300 pounds. Advance reservations and signed waivers are required.
Turkey Run State Park
Address: 8121 E. Park Road, Marshall, IN 47859
Drive from Indy: About 1 hour and 15 minutes
Good for: Active families and children comfortable hiking uneven terrain
Entrance fee: $7 per vehicle with Indiana plates, $15 per vehicle with out-of-state plates
Turkey Run is known for sandstone ravines, creek beds, cliffs and trails that feel very different from the flatter paths around Indianapolis. The park has 11 trails ranging from easy walks to very rugged routes.
Trail 3 includes ladders and sections that can be difficult for small children or anyone with mobility limitations. Trail 9 remains closed after part of the trail washed out during flooding. Check the park’s alerts before visiting and match the trail to the least enthusiastic hiker in the group, not the most ambitious adult.
Whitewater Valley Railroad
Address: 455 Market St., Connersville, IN 47331
Drive from Indy: About 1.5 hours
Good for: Train fans and families interested in visiting historic Metamora
Admission: Standard Valley Flyer fares are $27 for adults and $16 for children ages 2–12
Whitewater Valley Railroad operates passenger excursions between Connersville and Metamora on selected weekends from spring through fall. The standard Valley Flyer departs at 12:01 p.m. and takes about five hours round trip, including a two-hour stop in Metamora.
This is not a quick train ride around a park, so families should plan for most of the afternoon. Special themed excursions also appear throughout the season. Check the current schedule and reserve tickets before driving to Connersville.
Bluespring Caverns Park
Address: 1459 Blue Spring Caverns Road, Bedford, IN 47421
Drive from Indy: About 1.5 hours
Good for: Families looking for an underground adventure and a break from the heat
Admission: $26 for adults, $14 for ages 15 and younger
The standard Myst’ry River Voyage at Bluespring Caverns is an hour-long guided boat tour through an underground river system. The cave remains around 53 degrees, making it one of the few August outings where bringing a light jacket is reasonable advice.
Bluespring Caverns is open daily from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. through Oct. 31. Reservations are not accepted for the standard boat tour, and visitors are served in the order they arrive. Children younger than 4 are not recommended for the tour. Heavy rain and high underground water levels can interrupt operations, so check conditions before leaving Indianapolis.
Paradise Rental Boats at Fourwinds Marina
Address: 9301 S. Fairfax Road, Bloomington, IN 47401
Drive from Indy: About 1.5 hours
Good for: Families who want a full day on Monroe Lake
Cost: Rental prices vary by boat, date and rental length; state property entrance is $7 for Indiana vehicles and $15 for out-of-state vehicles
Paradise Rental Boats at Fourwinds Marina rents pontoons, double-deck boats and personal watercraft by the hour or day. The person responsible for the rental must be at least 25 years old, have a valid driver’s license and complete the required safety information before departure.
A $500 security deposit is required for rentals. Review the capacity, cancellation policy and fuel charges before choosing a boat, especially when planning for a larger group.
Before you go: High water is affecting some Monroe Lake recreation facilities. Check the Indiana DNR alerts page and confirm marina operations before leaving home.
Fair Oaks Farms
Address: 856 N. 600 E., Fair Oaks, IN 47943
Drive from Indy: About 1 hour and 45 minutes northwest
Good for: Families who want indoor exhibits, farm tours and outdoor play in one stop
Admission: $25 for One-Day Adventures with Mooville, $5 for Mooville only, free for ages 2 and younger
Fair Oaks Farms combines the Dairy Adventure, Pig Adventure and Crop Adventure with guided farm tours, indoor exhibits and the seasonal Mooville outdoor play area. Mooville includes a train ride, climbing structures, a jumping pillow and activities for younger children.
The Adventures and Mooville are open from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday. Mooville is open daily through Labor Day, then weekends through October. Fair Oaks operates on Central Time.
Families hoping to complete several Adventures should arrive in the morning. Each major Adventure can take two to three hours. Visitors will see live farm animals, but the property follows biosecurity practices and does not permit standard petting or direct animal interaction.
Pine Lake Water Park and Beach
Address: 4640 W. State Road 218, Berne, IN 46711
Drive from Indy: About 2 hours northeast
Good for: Families who want a beach and water park in one stop
Admission: $12 for ages 10 and older, $10 for ages 4–9, free for ages 3 and younger
Pine Lake combines a sandy swimming beach with water slides, splash areas, a cable ride and deep-water attractions. It works well for families with children at different stages because younger kids can stay near shore while confident swimmers head toward the larger features.
The park is open from 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon–8 p.m. Sunday through Aug. 16. It then moves to weekends through Labor Day. Everyone entering must have a signed waiver, and a parent or legal guardian must complete the waiver for minors. Some deep-water attractions and concessions begin closing around 6 p.m., so this is not a destination to save entirely for the evening.
Wilstem Wildlife Park
Address: 4229 US 150 W., Paoli, IN 47454
Drive from Indy: About 2 hours
Good for: Children who want to see animals without walking through a large zoo
Admission: $25 for adults, $19 for ages 3–12, free for ages 2 and younger
Wilstem’s drive-through safari features more than 40 animal species along a route families explore in their own vehicle. Admission also includes access to the seasonal dinosaur safari.
The drive-through is open daily, with arrival permitted from 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission is charged per person rather than per vehicle, and reservations are not required for the drive-through. Dogs and open-air vehicles are not permitted.
Worth the Longer Drive
Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari
Address: 452 E. Christmas Blvd., Santa Claus, IN 47579
Drive from Indy: About 2.5 hours south
Good for: Families who want amusement park rides and a water park in one day
Admission: Prices vary by date; regular one-day gate admission is $76.99, and children ages 3 and younger are free
One admission covers both Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari, making the drive to southern Indiana easier to justify. The parks include family rides, roller coasters, children’s play areas, water slides, wave pools and two large water coasters.
Parking, soft drinks and sunscreen are included with admission. Online date-specific tickets can cost less than the regular gate price, so buying before arrival usually makes sense. Holiday World operates on Central Time, and the theme park and water park may have different closing times. Check the operating calendar for the exact date before making the drive.
Indiana Dunes National Park
Visitor center: 1215 N. State Road 49, Porter, IN 46304
Drive from Indy: About 2.5 hours north
Good for: Families who want a Lake Michigan beach day with hiking options
Entrance fee: $25 for a seven-day private vehicle pass
Indiana Dunes National Park covers more than 16,000 acres and includes 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and more than 50 miles of trails. Families can spend the day swimming and playing on the beach or combine the lake with trails through dunes, wetlands, prairies and forests.
Most beaches are open from 6 a.m.–11 p.m., although West Beach and Porter Beach close at 9 p.m. Lifeguards are stationed at West Beach from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. through Labor Day. Parking lots can fill on warm weekends, so arriving earlier in the morning is worth the lost hour of sleep.
Related article: 6 Best National Parks in the Midwest for Families
Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden
Address: 1545 Mesker Park Drive, Evansville, IN 47720
Drive from Indy: About 3 hours southwest
Good for: Zoo fans ready for a longer Indiana road trip
Admission: $11 for ages 13 and older, $10 for ages 3–12, free for ages 2 and younger
Mesker Park Zoo covers 45 acres and is home to hundreds of animals. Major areas include Amazonia, which recreates a South American rainforest environment, and the Children’s Enchanted Forest, with animal exhibits and play areas geared toward younger visitors.
The zoo is open daily from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Evansville is one of the longer drives on this list, so it makes the most sense as part of a full-day outing or an overnight trip rather than a spontaneous afternoon escape.
For more ideas, browse our guides to Indiana day trips and summer activities around Indianapolis.
