Am planning to spend three days in Indianapolis doing some sightseeing and would like some feasibility feedback on a tentative itinerary. Will not have a car and will either walk to sights or take the bus. Am staying almost immediately east of the RCA Dome.
Day 1:
-Morning arrival. Check in.
-Tour Capitol building.
-38 Bus out to Indianapolis Museum of Art (open in the evening). 38 Bus back to capitol.
Day 2:
-17 Bus to Morris-Butler House for tour. 17 Bus back to capitol.
-25 Bus to Indianapolis Motor Speedway to see track and museum. 17 Bus back to capitol.
Day 3:
-Check out, leave bags at hotel.
-Indiana State Museum.
-Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art.
-Return to hotel for bags. Evening departure.
Any sights I'm glaringly omitting? Am not interested in the Children's Museum or the Zoo, and don't expect the Connor Prairie Pioneer Settlement can be done without a car.
Also, any thoughts on how long it would take to reasonably see the Speedway complex, the State Museum, and the two art museums?
Many thanks.
Indianapolis itinerary -- feedback welcome
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I live in Indianapolis and am embarrassed to say I haven't done most of the things you talk about so I don't have much feedback on where you will be goin. One comment I will make for you is that our bus system is not efficient - in any sense of the word - so be prepared to spend a lot of time waiting for buses or have an alternate plan.
I would strongly recommend renting a car if at all possible.
One other thing to do or look at downtown is our "new" Central library. It is walkable from downtown and it is quite something (people have varying opinions - I personally really like it!)
I've been to the Eiteljorg; it's pretty solid. Didn't do a whole lot else in Indianapolis.
Thanks for the feedback. How bad is the bus in Indy? Does it pretty much not stick to its timetable (but still maintain some semblance of off kilter schedule), or does it just not show up for long stretches of time even when it's supposed to?
You are organized!!
We used to live an hour north of Indy and drove there often. I really do not remember seeing many buses, of course I wasn't looking for them. However, driving in Indianapolis is not hard, if a car rental would be an option for you, I think you would be satisfied with your ability to come and go as you wish without losing a lot of valuable time.
While at the Speedway, be sure and take the tour around the track that they offer.
Just an aside but unless there is something going on downtown (such as a ballgame) most everything shuts down at 5/6 pm. Best of luck. Indys' downtown is not something I would describe as 'vibrant'.
I spent a day in Indianapolis, and noticed too that it isn't exactly "vibrant." I was surprised at how few people were around.
Anyway, yeah, driving in Indy was very easy, no problems doing anything or getting anywhere or parking. Agreed with the other posters...if you're able to rent a car, don't be afraid to do so. Unless there's some sort of game or event.
I've been to Indy twice. Agree with other that it's easy to drive around so consider renting a car rather than take the bus. It will save you lots of time.
You can drive to the Speedway from downtown in about 15 minutes. Allow about 45 minutes to an hour to tour the museum. There are lots of interesting cars and other racing memorobilia. The track itself is huge but once you see the timing pergoda and the start/finish line and the garages at Gasoline Alley you'll have a pretty good feel for it's size.
Enjoy your trip.
The buses in Indy are lovely, if you are familiar with the schedules and the general "bus atmosphere".
Don't let people addicted to their cars scare you away from public transit!
I'm definitely not "addicted" to my car - its just every time I look at Indy's bus schedule it would take you 3 to 4 times as long (literally) to get there on the bus as it would in a car and the service is sketchy at best.
I would actually say that Indy's downtown is pretty fun in the evening - but its not Chicago or NY by any means.
I've used the Indy bus system many times especially the 38 out Michigan Rd. The buses run to the schedule and I've never had one not show. I'm sure it does happen upon rare occasion if for no other reason than an accident or mechanical breakdown but that can happen in a rental car too.
I don’t find the amount of time it takes them to get somewhere all that outlandish either. Especially if you’ve never been to the area and might make a wrong turn here or there adding to your rental car drive time.
On Day 1 unless you’re into every nook and cranny of the capitol and go over every work of art in the art museum with a magnifying glass you may have some extra time. You can walk the couple of blocks east on Market St to see the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The Civil War museum in the basement is free and interesting. I like to ride the elevator up the monument and walk down looking for “antique” graffiti.
Day 2 it’s too bad the Benjamin Harrison Home won’t be open (June and July only but you might call just in case.) It’s 4 or 5 blocks from the Butler-Morris house. I find it a lot more interesting.
On the way back from Butler-Morris I suggest you get off at 10th street and walk out the diagonal Massachusetts Ave. (Mass. Ave to the locals) for lunch. There are funky shops, nice lunch places and such in the area. It’s been developed as an arts area. The Rathskellar is an old German theater and restaurant with a great selection of beers and German food.
Day 3 make sure you pop out the “back side” of the Indiana State Museum or Eiteljorg to see the steam powered clock and the Congressional Medal of Honor recipients’ display across the canal.
By the way the “Dome” is no longer a dome. It’s now deflated. There will be an implosion of part of the structure on Dec. 20th to help the demolition along.