Looking to get out and enjoy the great outdoors while the weather is nice? Check out our list below for some of the best parks in the Indy area as well as a few of our favorite destination parks within the state. What is your favorite park to visit in our beautiful state?
Indianapolis Area Parks
Location: 7840 W. 56th St, Indianapolis
This park is the largest Indianapolis city park and has something for everyone! The park includes 3,900 acres of land and 1,400 acres of water. It is a hikers dream with five trails ranging in length from just over a mile to almost 7 miles. Click here to view a map of the trail options available within the park. Eagle Creek Reservoir welcomes fishermen, sailors, and offers rental boats including canoes, kayaks, sailboats, pontoons, and pedal boats. Another great option that is unique to the park is Go Ape! Treetop Adventure which offers a ropes course and ziplining 50 feet above ground!
Location: 801 W Washington St, Indianapolis
If you don’t want to venture far from Downtown Indianapolis, but are looking for some green space and lots of attractions, White River State Park might be just what you are looking for! This park offers over 250 acres of green space with a backdrop of the Indianapolis skyline as well many attractions if you feel like ducking inside for a bit. Attractions in the within the park include the Indianapolis Zoo, Eiteljorg Museum, NCAA Hall of Champions, Indiana State Museum, and the home of the Indianapolis Indians, Victory Field. If you want to casually explore the park, bikes and Segway scooters are available for rental.
Location: 6000 N Post Road, Lawrence
This park located on the northeast side of Indianapolis offers 1,700 acres of trails, picnic sites, fishing, a fishing, golf and historical buildings. There are few better places in Indianapolis to view the leaves changing than from the hilly trails. Pro tip – when the first snow falls, you can visit the park for it’s famous sledding hill!
Location: 1235 Central Park Dr E, Carmel
If you’re looking for a suburban park that has a little something for everyone, the jewel of Carmel’s park system, Central Park, might be exactly what you are looking for. The park runs along 111th Street between College Avenue and Westfield Boulevard and features a waterpark, playground, the Monon Center (indoor gym/natatorium), nature trails along a beautiful lagoon, and picnic areas.
Location: 701 Cicero Road, Noblesville
Head north to beautiful Noblesville to visit Forest Park. This 125 year old park boasts several attractions and amenities including shelters, playgrounds, a skate park, the “Little Beauty” carousel, a putt-putt course, aquatic center, 9 hole golf course and the Indiana Transportation Museum (great for little ones who love trains!).
Central Indiana Destination Parks
Location: 1810 State Road 46 East, Nashville, IN 47448
Indiana’s largest state park is one of the best places in the state to catch the changing fall leaves, with nearly 20 miles of tree-lined roads and many scenic overlooks with awesome views of the surrouning hills and forests. Brown County has been nicknamed the “Little Smokies” because of it’s resemblance to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. The park’s lodge offers hotel rooms, cabins, dining options and an indoor water park. Other amenities in this great park include large campgrounds, hiking and mountain biking trails, and a saddle barn for guided horse rides.
Location:8121 Park Rd, Marshall, IN 47859
Located just over an hour west of Indianapolis is Turkey Run State Park. You’ll be wowed when you get a look at the natural beauty of this park’s ravines, forests and Sugar Creek views as you hike along its famous trails. Make sure to visit the Colonel Richard Lieber Cabin, which commemorates the contributions of the father of Indiana’s state park system.