The most fun double date in Central Indiana that we’ve ever done! If you’re looking for things to do with your friends near Indianapolis, you have to check out the Twilight Railbike Ride at Nickel Plate Express in Noblesville, Indiana. Below, I will tell you all the need-to-know details, or you can check out a video guide here and the Nickel Plate Express website here. This is one of the most fun things to do near Indianapolis, so you’re going to want to check this out!
This post is sponsored by Nickel Plate Express, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Everything You Should Know About Nickel Plate Express Railbike Rides
What is a Railbike? I’m so glad you asked, Dear Reader, because I was wondering the same thing. If you’re searching for things to do in Noblesville, Indiana, I can’t wait to introduce you to my new favorite date night activity. The Railbike Rides at Nickel Plate Express are four-person bikes that you pedal along a railroad track. There are three different railbike rides offered at Nickel Plate Express, which I have detailed below:
Forest Park Rail Adventure
- 2 Hours
- All Ages
- 7 Miles
- Starting at $40
White River Family Cruise
- 1.5 Hours
- All Ages
- Bike 15-20 minutes then enjoy a 1-hour layover in Downtown Noblesville.
- Starting at $30
Twilight Rail Ride
- 3 Hours
- All Ages
- 7 Miles
- S’mores: graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate included!
- Starting at $60
- This is the one we did, and I highly recommend it!
The Nickel Plate Express is located in Noblesville, Indiana just about 30 minutes north of Indy making this the perfect summer activity near Indianapolis to take your friends and family to!
Why the Twilight Railbike Ride is a Perfect Double Date Near Indianapolis
My husband and I recently took my sister and brother-in-law on a double date to the Nickel Plate Express to do their Twilight Railbike Ride. The whole time we were riding, we kept talking about all the people we’d want to bring there next time! We had an absolute blast from beginning to end (and especially in the middle). We chose the Twilight Ride to get beautiful sunset views and cooler weather. But the real highlight of the Twilight Ride was the turnaround point.
The Twilight Ride is a 7-mile, 3-hour journey (including the 1-hour stop at the turnaround). Once you get halfway through the ride, you get to sit by bonfires and roast s’mores to truly make this the perfect Indiana summer night.
The Twilight Rides are running through the fall, so check for available dates here.
What to Bring on a Nickel Plate Express Railbike Ride
There are two small baskets on either side of the railbikes, so you can definitely bring along some “road trip” goodies for your ride! We brought water bottles, snacks, cookies, and sweaters. But, if I were to do this again, I would bring everything I mentioned above AND hot dogs, buns, and ketchup packets. That way, you can also roast hot dogs on the turnaround point along with the s’mores they provide you. This only applies to the Twilight Railbike rides since they have the bonfires at the turnaround point, but for any other railbike ride at Nickel Plate Express, here is what you should definitely bring:
- Water bottles and drinks
- Snacks – Beef jerky, crackers, cookies, and anything else that you like to munch on!
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Sweaters or sweatshirts
The baskets aren’t huge, but they were the perfect size for our small travel cooler.
Would You Try a Railbike Ride at Nickel Plate Express?
I can’t recommend this double date idea near Indy enough. We are still talking about it! However, if you’re not the double-date type, this activity in Noblesville, Indiana is also perfect for girls trips, family outings, and friend groups. There was even a bachelorette party on my ride! If you have more than four people, you can also attach two railbikes together. The family in front of us did that so they could all still chat while riding.
Next time you are looking for unique things to do near Indianapolis or fun date night ideas in Central Indiana, check out the Nickel Plate Express!
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