30 Things to Do Near Me Outside | The Best Central Indiana Outdoor Activities

Written by Ashley Toler and Stephanie Greenwald

Indiana has so many outdoor activities and attractions to visit throughout the year. If you’re searching for “things to do near me outside,” you can find options no matter the season. Whether you love visiting farms, historic sites, national parks, or art parks, there’s something here for everyone.

Top Things to Do Near Me Outside in Central Indiana

If you’re stuck in a rut and continue to visit the same places over and over, here is some inspiration for your next outing.

Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience at The Children’s Museum

There is something for every sports enthusiast (and their family) at the Children’s Museum’s Sports Legends Experience! Every skill level will enjoy shooting hoops, racing “Indy” cars, golfing, playing hockey, tennis, and so much more. Young and old will have hours of fun and friendly competition. Game on!

Indianapolis Cultural Trail

This eight-mile urban trail encompasses the city. With no clear starting point, it’s easy to start and stop wherever you like! There are tons of options for traversing this trail — you can run, walk or ride through town. Don’t have a bike to ride the Cultural Trail? No problem. Check out the Pacers Bikeshare Program for an affordable way to see the city. Take time to enjoy landscaping, downtown amenities, and public art exhibits, including the Glick Peace Walk, which includes twelve sculptural gardens created to honor the accomplishments of the featured luminaries.

Strawtown Koteewi Park

With over 800 acres in Hamilton County, you’ll find multiple options to entertain the family at Strawtown Koteewi Park. Challenge yourself to hiking trails on the ground, or attempting the 60 zipline trails through the treetops. Take your shot at archery, cast your line on the lake to see what you catch, tube down the hill at the Koteewi Seasonal Slopes, or step back in time in the “Archaeology Adventure” area. There’s something for everyone.

ArtsPark at Indianapolis Art Center

The Indianapolis Art Center and Sculpture Garden is a sure bet for immersing yourself in nature and art. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped right into a fairytale as you explore the twenty-seven sculptures in this creative collection. This free feature is open to the public from dawn to dusk. Pack a picnic — you’re going to want to stay a while.

Monon Trail

With trailheads in Sheridan and Indianapolis, you are sure to find some outdoor family fun along this 27.1-mile rail trail. The wide asphalt paths are perfect for runners, bikers, and even cross-country skiers when snow covers the ground. Rent some bikes and stop at coffee shops, restaurants, parks, and art districts. The Midtown area in Carmel is a favorite stop, with its splash pad, playground, ping-pong tables, and summertime entertainment.

White Rock Park

Calling all adrenaline junkies! White Rock Park is the spot for you. Enjoy swimming, cliff diving, ziplining, and the rope swing at White Rock Park in St. Paul. There are even opportunities for scuba diving!

Eagle Creek Park & the Treetop Adventure

Go Ape zip line on the city’s Northwest side is an adventure like nothing else. Fly from tree to tree on zip lines or Tarzan swings. Thrill seekers can enjoy the great outdoors from 40 feet off the ground. Not a fan of swinging from branch to branch like Tarzan? Then soak in all the other offerings Eagle Creek has to offer! With more than 1,400 acres of water and 3,900 acres of forest, you can fill an entire day with fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, and bird-watching. They even have a dog park.

Crown Hill Cemetery

Did you know you can schedule a tour of the country’s third-largest cemetery? Stroll the 555 acres of gentile hills, sculptures, and permanent residences of over 200,000 people at Crown Hill Cemetery. Learn the history and see what famous folks you can find. Don’t miss the Gothic gate off 34th St. which was built in 1885! It’s magnificent.

Fossil Park

Located in Bicentennial Park in Richmond, Indiana, this place is a prehistoric delight for any little paleontologist! 445 million years ago, Indiana was covered with shallow sea and the abundant fossil remnants here give clues to what life was like then. Get hands-on and dig through the pile of rocks to find the perfect fossil, then compare it to the informational boards to identify your discovery. You may find the preserved impressions of brachiopods, cephalopods, or bryozoa during your hunt.

Clifty Falls State Park

It’s best to visit Clifty Falls State Park park after a good rain. That’s when the 22 Indiana waterfalls featured here really shine. You can hike the path of the railroad originally planned to cut through the park. Notice the 600-foot-long tunnel that’s been excavated through the shale and limestone. The park is also a great location for fossil hunting and geocaching. Swimming, hiking, camping, and a staffed nature center also complement the park.

Cataract Falls

Cataract Falls is the largest waterfall in Indiana by volume. The falls consist of an upper fall, measuring a 45-foot drop, and a lower fall, measuring a 30-foot drop. The falls are separated by about one mile and are situated in the Lieber State Recreation Area. There’s also a gorge and a covered bridge to explore.

Hunter’s Honey Farm

Oh, honey! There are several options to tour this working honey farm, including getting up close and personal with working hives and their occupants. Grab a bottle of honey from the gift shop or see about bottling your own at Hunter’s Honey Farm!

Flat Fork Creek

Flat Fork Creek is not your average playground and splash pad park. This park has none of the features of a traditional park and yet it’s one of our favorites. The entire family will have a blast discovering the sixty-acre park. Flat Fort Creek has lakes for fishing, treehouses for climbing, a creek to stomp in, and some of the coolest off-road bike paths around with various ramps and technical features. Flat Fork Creek Park has an incredible hill perfect for climbing and rolling down in the summer and sledding down in the winter.

Cheeney Creek Natural Area

This incredible nature area is located in the heart of Fishers. Cheeney Creek Natural Area has a dirt path that will take you to a quiet fishing pond or you can follow the runners and bikers along the paved path. Make your way down to the creek and see what you discover under the tunnel. Pack a lunch and admire the tallest trees in Fishers.

Brown County State Park

Known as the “Little Smokies” for the breathtaking views similar to those of the Great Smoky Mountains, Brown County is the largest state park in Indiana. Experience a multitude of outdoorsy options including camping, swimming, hiking, and horseback riding. Nearby Valley Branch Retreat also boasts the longest, fastest, and tallest ziplines in Indiana, with 15 different options to choose from. You can also take an ATV or a Hill Climb Buggy on an off-road tour, go mountain biking, paintballing, or play arrow tag here.

McCormick’s Creek State Park

The oldest state park in Indiana, McCormick’s Creek, has a bit of everything! Located in Spencer, Indiana, McCormicks Creek is home to Wolf Cave, naturally occurring stone arches known as Twin Bridges, and a waterfall. The park also offers a variety of camping options. Grab your hiking boots and take in these incredible sights!

Fort Harrison Park

The historical destination in Lawrence has picnic shelters, playgrounds, a fishing pond, a creek perfect for stomping, a great sledding hill in the winter, and a horse and pony barn where you can ride through the wooded trails and through the creek. At Fort Harrison State Park, naturalists are available for tours and the wildlife viewing is unbelievable. This is also a popular destination for outdoor family photos as the backdrops are stunning in any season.

Summit Lake State Park

This park in New Castle offers picnic shelters, camping, hiking trails, naturalist services, and a beach. The lake here is perfect for fishing, swimming, canoeing, paddle-boarding, or row boating.  Summit Lake State Park is a haven for birdwatchers, who love spotting the 250+ species of birds, including rare bald eagles, black terns, sandhill cranes, and ospreys, to name a few. In the winter, enjoy cross-country skiing and ice fishing.

Geist Park and Reservoir

Head to the northeast of Indy, where Geist Park and Geist Reservoir are just a few miles away from each other. Geist Park has excellent climbing and sliding playground equipment and a short trail along Fall Creek with plenty of opportunities to catch wildlife in action. Kayak and boat rentals are available at Geist Reservoir. Plan for a day on the water, pull up to the docks and grab some food at one of the restaurants, or park in the middle of the lake and watch the sunset. Head south to Daniels Vineyard for outdoor, family-friendly fare.

Nina Mason Pulliam Eco Lab (Marian University)

There is so much to explore at the Marian EcoLab, and exploration is definitely encouraged at this outdoor nature park! Where else can you do beaver watching and birding, check out bee houses and bat houses, plus get hands-on learning, all for free?

Shades State Park

Formerly of the more ominous name, Shades of Death State Park, it is much more beautiful and peaceful than its old title suggests. The landscape here features shady ravines, sandstone cliffs, and trails for all, ranging from easy to rugged, to VERY rugged. The features in the park also have the coolest names, such as Devil’s Punchbowl and Lover’s Leap. Plan to walk through stream beds, climb over rocks and logs, and go up and down ladders. Dress accordingly!

Switchyard Park

One of the largest city parks outside of Indianapolis, this Bloomington park is packed with amenities. There are more than 55 acres of activities, including a splash pad, dog park, playground, skate park, plus pickleball, basketball, and bocce ball courts. The park contains over 350,000 square feet of native plant restoration and focuses on being eco-friendly, with electric car-charging stations, a solar-powered event pavilion, a rainwater collection, and a community garden. Admission and amenities are free and accessible from 5 am to 11 pm.

Griffin Bike Park

This 300-acre bike park in Terre Haute was designed to accommodate everyone. Riders of all backgrounds, ages, skills, and abilities are offered a wide range of riding opportunities, from exploring trails, lakes, and ecosystems to progressing their skills on a technical track. The progression-based park has beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert jump lines, as well as professional event space. There are more than 17 miles of single-track trails, a pump track, dirt jumps, and water features, including a floating bridge trail and lake jump ramp.

Bluespring Caverns Park

Located in Bedford, Bluespring is one of the closest cave experiences to the city.  The dark characteristics of this cave make it an ideal home to many rare, albino wildlife wonders. Try to spot one as you tour the cave via a boat on the longest subterranean river in the United States.  Outside the cave, you can prospect for semiprecious stones using the mining sluice or explore a natural trail area that surrounds Indiana’s largest sinkhole.

Agri Park

Spend a morning or afternoon enjoying all of the hands-on activities at this unique urban farm park!  From creating concoctions in the mud kitchen and art in the community barn to harvesting produce grown on-site, you’re guaranteed to be entertained during your entire visit to the Fishers AgriPark.

The Gardens at Newfields & Fairbanks Art Park

The Gardens at Newfields are truly breathtaking any time of year.  They are composed of eight different featured gardens, half a million blooms, and a constantly evolving and masterfully orchestrated landscape, to keep you coming back for more. There is also a beer garden, cafe, and garden shop available here. Admission is included in your Newfields ticket fee, so check out the stunning works of art on your way out.

Located adjacent to Newfield’s property is the 100 Acres Fairbanks Art & Nature Park. This hidden gem is filled with hands-on and interactive sculptures out in nature, including the craziest basketball court you have ever seen and a giant fiberglass skeleton, great for climbing on and leaping from bone to bone. The best part? Admission and parking for 100 Acres is completely free.

Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens

Step inside the Garfield Park Conservatory and you’ll feel like you’re outdoors on a tropical island. With 10,000 square feet of tropical blooms, you won’t want to leave. Register for a Take and Explore-themed kit filled with scavenger hunts, crafts, and activities to explore in the gardens. A peaceful stroll around the Sunken Garden outside the conservatory includes three acres of formal gardens, a children’s garden, pristine flower beds, and fountains.

Conner Prairie

We are surrounded by so much history every day. Take advantage of that by taking the kids to Conner Prairie, for a truly immersive and interactive experience in this innovative outdoor museum. The cast of characters here recreates 19th-century life along the White River and offers historically accurate experiences such as woodworking and metalworking. Did we mention you can ride in a hot air balloon here and explore a four-story treehouse here, too?

Wolf Park

Do you have an animal lover in the family? Make their day by howling with the wolves at Wolf Park. Head to Battle Ground, IN to learn about conservation, wolf behavior, and why predators in the wild are so important to our ecosystem.

Dollie’s Lavender Farm

We have loved checking out all the U-Pick flower farms near Indianapolis. We’ve made flower crowns, bountiful bouquets, and dried lavender and mint leaves for tea with all our goodies!  Dollie’s Farm in Johnson County is a working lavender and fresh-cut farm. You will find fields of fresh lavender, a variety of mint patches, and rows of beautiful buds, ready for you to cut and take home. Grab your flower bucket and shears, and you’re ready to go!

Central Indiana has so many amazing playgrounds and parks, we can’t include them all here! Check out our 12 favorites.

Need a place to play inside? We have some ideas for you.

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