10 Best Things To Do Alone In Indianapolis, Indiana

things to do alone in indianapolis
Aarti
Aarti 
Updated
| 5 min read

Overpowered and overshadowed by bigger cities like New York and Chicago, Indianapolis, also known as Indy, takes a backseat and isn’t necessarily the first place that springs into people’s minds as a must-visit place. But Indy can surprise you in over one way. Indianapolis opens its arms to tourists, travelers, backpackers, and others alike, and it is home to a plethora of attractions which can leave you spellbound and completely in love with the Midwestern charm of the city. And if you are traveling solo, it might be an overwhelming feeling to explore the vast city. But there’s no need to fret! Exploring the city solo comes with a lot of its own perks. Meeting new people, finding tables at a popular bar gets easy, no sharing, and there’s no need to compromise on any plans. The list is never-ending. Take a weekend off to Indianapolis and prepare to surprise yourself with everything the beauty of the city has to offer. Here’s a list of the best things to do alone in Indianapolis, Indiana.

1. Bask in nature at Fort Harrison State Park

Fort Ben - bike entrance
Source: Photo by user Mingusboodle used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Need to clear your head? Need some fresh air? Need some solitude? Fort Harrison State Park is the place to be. Situated on the northeast side of town, this park offers many trails one can enjoy: Schoen Creek trail, Horse trail, Camp Glenn trail, Lawrence Creek trail, Harrison Trace, Camp Creek trail, and the east side of the fall creek trail. For the best trail to take the edge off so as to listen to only the sounds of nature, try the Fall Creek trail. The trail loops about 2.5 miles (4.02 km) and it goes around Delaware Lake. So, either take a stroll around the lake, hike up on any of the trails, or you could just set a solo picnic with your favorite book, and soak up the serene nature.

Fort Harrison State Park

Address: 6000 N Post Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46216, USA

Website: Fort Harrison State Park

Opening hours: 7am - 8pm (daily)

Price: 2 USD

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2. Shop your heart out at Mass Ave

Indianapolis Cultural Trail Duratherm crosswalk
Source: Photo by user Richie Diesterheft used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Located on Massachusetts Avenue, people of Indiana refer to this retail site ‘Mass Ave’ with affection. Mass Ave offers many shopping destinations for the shopaholic in you to splurge. From eclectic boutiques to independent stores, art galleries to theaters, take a couple of hours and walk around this funky shopping town. And the best part of shopping alone is that you get pure freedom to explore every store, every site in this shopping town, at your own pace.

Mass Ave.

Address: Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN, USA

Website: Mass Ave.

Opening hours: Always open

Price: 2 USD

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3. Laugh out loud at UA Circle Centre 9

Centre-Mall
Source: Photo by user Drm310 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Ever experienced watching a comedy show all by yourself? Well, this is your chance! All you have to do is purchase a ticket for one and just go see a comedy show. There is literally nothing weird about going to watch a show alone. Whoever is going to the show, is going for the same purpose as you are; to get tickled on their funny bone. So, enjoy a good comedy show and if time allows you, go watch a ridiculously bad movie, too. Because, why not?

UA Circle Centre 9

Address: 49 W Maryland St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USA

Website: UA Circle Centre 9

Opening hours: Depends on the show

Price: 10 USD

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4. Explore history at the Indianapolis Museum of Art

Indy-Art-Museum-Szmurlo
Source: Photo by user Cszmurlo used under CC BY 3.0

Indianapolis Museum of Art is located 15 minutes north of Monument Circle and it is famously known to be the nation’s oldest and also the largest general art museums. Get up close with over 50,000 masterpiece collections dating back to 100s of years, including Rembrandt and Turner, Cezanne and Picasso, LeWitt and Sherman, and many more. If that is not all, you can also explore the grounds of the museum by taking a tour to Oldfields estate or even walk around the gardens and contemporary sculpture parks, and take a tour of the planet.

Indianapolis Museum of Art

Address: 4000 N Michigan Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46208, USA

Website: Indianapolis Museum of Art

Opening hours: Sun, Tue & Wed: 11am - 5pm; Thur - Sat: 11am - 8pm (closed on Mon)

Price: 18 USD

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5. Enjoy a paddle and a stroll at The Canal and White River State Park

C4241-Indianapolis-Canal
Source: Photo by user Vmenkov used under CC BY-SA 3.0

The Canal District of the modern American city of Indianapolis will remind everyone of a little Amsterdam. Surrounded by a canal system, NCAA Hall of Fame and White River State Park, you can explore and enjoy splendid views of downtown by renting a paddle boat. If you want to take an Instagram shot, you can pose with the #LoveIndy sign where you can stand like the “I” and get a funny or an awkward picture taken. After exploring the canals, you can make your way to the White River State Park and stroll through the lanes to witness one of the most beautiful sunsets.

The Canal and White River State Park

Address: 801 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USA

Website: The Canal and White River State Park

Opening hours: 5am - 11pm (daily)

Price: 17 USD

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6. Seek your thrill at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall of Fame Museum

IMS HOF Museum
Source: Photo by user Rdsmith4 used under CC BY-SA 2.5

Adrenalin junkie? This museum is your perfect answer! Uniquely located inside a 2.5-mile (4.02 km) oval track, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum dedicates itself solely to automobiles and auto racing. The museum hosts many reputable collections ranging from classic and antique to racing cars, including over 30 cars displayed that have won at Indianapolis 500. You even get an opportunity to take a tour of the oval track, Pagoda, victory platform, and also stand and kiss on the famous “yard of bricks” as the winning teams and drivers did.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall of Fame Museum

Address: 4750 W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46222, USA

Website: Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Hall of Fame Museum

Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)

Price: 10 USD

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7. Unleash your artistic side at Indianapolis Art Center


Get deeply in touch with your creative roots in art class, workshops, and camps at Indianapolis Art Center. Located alongside White River, this art center features fine-art classes, exhibitions, studios, a library being home to 5000 titles, and art parks. Make art, or whatever you call art, engage with your creativity, and take home your work of art and hang it on your wall. There’s absolutely no better way to spend your solo trip by doing something meaningful and letting your canvas act as a souvenir.

Indianapolis Art Center

Address: 820 E 67th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220, USA

Website: Indianapolis Art Center

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 10pm; Sat: 9am - 6pm; Sun: 12pm - 6pm

Price: 18 USD

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8. Treat your eyes at GRT Glass Design

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Eternal Treasures. tm by GRT Hot Glass Studio. Makes a huge difference in people's lives.

Posted by GRT Glass Design on Friday, March 27, 2020

Get ready to be mind-blown! The moment you step inside GRT Glass Design, you get to witness a simple project coming to life, with finely crafted pieces displayed all over the place. The goal of GRT Glass Design is they provide architectural masterpieces made solely of glass, which creates a lasting impression to everyone who gets to witness the craftwork. If you feel inspired, you can get a tiny masterpiece yourself that can act as a memorable souvenir.

GRT Glass Design

Address: 6400 S Brookville Rd d, Indianapolis, IN 46219, USA

Website: GRT Glass Design

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8:15am - 4:30pm; (Closed on Sat and Sun)

Price: 35 USD for art class

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9. Walk through history at Lockerbie Square Historic District

James Whitcomb Riley House in Indianapolis, front and western side
Source: Photo by user Nyttend used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

One of the oldest surviving neighborhoods of Indianapolis, Lockerbie Square Historic District is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and it is well-known for its architectural style of Federal, Italianate, and Queen Anne. You can walk and explore around the area, which is home to 25 historic residences that were built between 1855 and 1930, and also newer residences of the North Vermont Street. You could also take a tour of James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home, where a famous poet dwelled for over 23 years and the home also features elegant Victorian architecture and furnishings.

Lockerbie Square Historic District

Address: Lockerbie SquareIndianapolis, IN, USA

Website: Lockerbie Square Historic District

Opening hours: Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 3:30pm; Sunday: 12pm - 3:30pm

Price: Free of cost

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10. Let off steam at Bad Axe Throwing (20 USD)

A sneak peek of limited edition run shirts & hoodies we're going to produce for the summer. This line is called the...

Posted by Bad Axe Throwing on Wednesday, 10 April 2019

How about releasing all your tension, stress, and frustration by throwing an axe on the bull’s-eye? Or at least practice to do the same. Axe throwing is one of the hottest forms of entertainment that Indy provides. Once you get to the center, you will not be alone on this fun activity. You will get to meet many people letting off steam in an adrenalin-filled fun way and also enjoy playing the part by dressing up for the axe throwing. There’s definitely no better way to end the trip than this.

Bad Axe Throwing

Address: 235 S Meridian St #211, Indianapolis, IN 46225, USA

Website:

Opening hours: Mon - Thur: 5pm - 9pm; Fri & Sat: 6pm - 11pm; Sun: 12pm - 8:30pm

Price: 20 USD

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Something for everyone at Indy

If Indianapolis wasn’t in your bucket list, after reading this, it should definitely be in one. Being the underdog, Indy has a lot to offer. You will fall in love with this charming city and will keep making you come back for more. This is one such city that will not satiate your tourist appetite.

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Born in Mumbai and brought up in Bangalore, India, Aarti is a full-time freelance writer by profession. She is a lover of everything the ‘blue dot’ offers—world cultures, off-the-beaten tracks,...Read more

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