It’s HOT, y’all. It seems that this Indiana summer is finally kicking in and if you’re looking for ways to get out and cool off, I’m here to help. Check out this list of the best things to do this summer in Indianapolis and Central Indiana!
The following list includes free summer things to do in Indianapolis, family friendly activities in Central Indiana, date ideas, patio dining spots and more. So, save this list and come back to check things off your Indiana summer bucket list!
Float down a river at Sugar Valley in Marshall, Indiana
Personally, my perfect summer day in Indiana starts with a river float under a covered bridge and ends with a “gas station” ice cream cone. If you’re anything like me, PLEASE, rent tubes at Sugar Valley and have lunch after at Up The Creek Boat-ique in Marshall, Indiana! You are going to love this Indiana summer activity just an hour west of Indianapolis. A family-friendly and fun activity to try in Indiana before summer is over! Pro tip: call ahead to make reservations and check the weather beforehand!
Sugar Valley Canoe Trip Ltd 📍 1313 IN-47, Marshall, Indiana
Up the Creek Boat-ique 📍 1165 IN-47, Marshall, Indiana
Video Guide to Sugar Valley tubing trips and Up The Creek Boat-ique.
Swing through the trees at GoApe Adventures in Eagle Creek Park
Go Ape Indianapolis is a zipline and ropes adventure course located in the beautiful Eagle Creek Park on the west side of Indianapolis. Here, you can swing through the trees with Tarzan swings, ziplines, and ropes courses.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
Ages 10+
Gloves are required (they have some you can buy!)
Bring Bug Spray
Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get dirty
$8 Entry fee per car to Eagle Creek Park
Ages 16+ $59.95 | Ages 10–15 $54.95
Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park 📍 5855 Delong Rd, Indianapolis, Indiana
Video Guide to GoApe Indianapolis
Bike or walk the Monon trail
The Monon trail connects Downtown Indianapolis to Broad Ripple, Carmel, Westfield, and Sheridan. It is a free, paved trail with several restaurants, playgrounds, and shops along the way. Grab your bikes and take a family ride along the trail. I recommend stopping for lunch at Big Lug or Bub’s Burgers. Bonus: This is a FREE summer activity in Indianapolis.
You can pretty much hop on the trail anywhere along the route, but here is the trail map from Indy Parks & Recreation.
Root for the Home Team at an Indianapolis Indians Baseball Game
A summer tradition in Indianapolis. Going to an Indianapolis Indians baseball game on warm summer nights is what summer is all about! Tickets start around $15, but AAA members get free tickets to Monday – Thursday games! On Tuesdays they have $1 concessions, so you can really make it a cheap date! Thursdays are also a good day to go and get $3 beers. Fridays are fireworks nights!
Victory Field 📍 501 W Maryland St, Indianapolis, Indiana
Video guide to an Indianapolis Indians baseball game
Visit a local Indy park (with a summer concert series!)
Holliday Park is my new favorite park in Indianapolis. Aside from the many walking trails, nature center, and the brand new playground, this Indianapolis park is also hiding something very special. Visitors to Holliday Park in Indianapolis can visit real ruins, and even attend events like Rock the Ruins, a summer concert series that brings in several bands and performers every year. Bonus: This is a FREE summer activity in Indianapolis.
Holliday Park 📍 6363 Spring Mill Rd, Indianapolis, Indiana
HIGHLIGHTS:
🥾 Trails
🛝 Playground (brand new and SO COOL!!)
🏛️ Ruins
🌳 Nature Center
🎸 Programs + Events (like Rock the Ruins – a summer concert series!)
🎟️ FREE & Open daily from dawn to dusk
Video Guide to Holliday Park in Indianapolis, Indiana
Dine al fresco at one of these Indianapolis Restaurants with Patios
There are two seasons I love most in Indiana, and patio season is definitely one of them (the other is apple cider slushy season, but we’ll get to that later). Patio season in Indiana has officially commenced, and I have compiled a list of the best patio dining spots in Indianapolis and Central Indiana for your outdoor-eating pleasure. These are all spots I have personally tried or that are on my list for the 2026 patio season.
This guide is organized by geographic regions of Central Indiana. So whether you’re looking for a downtown Indianapolis rooftop to enjoy a cocktail with a city skyline view, or a quaint small-town eatery in the suburbs of Indianapolis, you’re in the right place.
Full list of recommended restaurants with patios in Indianapolis and Central Indiana
Tour Downtown Indianapolis with The Hangar Indy
If you spend time in downtown Indianapolis, you have definitely seen the handle bar tours pedaling through the city, bumping music, and having a ball. Well, I’m here to tell you that they are just as fun as they look. Not only do you get to drink on a bike with your friends, but you also get some of the best views of Indianapolis. This is one of the most fun ways to see our capital city!
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
- Bring your own beer/wine or prepackaged beverages under 9% ABV
- Optional To-Go Drinks for purchase (Frozen Margaritas, Beers, To Go Cocktails)
- Starting at: $30/person
- Riders: 1-16
- Length: 2 Hours
The Hangar Indy 📍 501 Madison Ave Apt 106, Indianapolis, Indiana
Video Guide to The Hangar in Downtown Indianapolis
Cool off at Splash Island in Plainfield, Indiana
Located in the Richard A. Carlucci Recreation and Aquatic Center in Plainfield, Indiana, Splash Island is an outdoor waterpark with six waterslides, a splash pad, lazy river, whirlpools, and concessions. This was my childhood SPOT! We loved Splash Island as kids, but as an adult it’s just as fun. Plus, they’ve added a couple more waterslides since I was last there.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
Adult Pass $15 (Plainfield Resident) $22 (Non-Resident)
Youth Pass $12 (Plainfield Resident) $18 (Non-Resident)
Open Memorial Day through Labor Day: 12pm – 8pm
Splash Island 📍 651 Vestal Rd, Plainfield, Indiana
Eat a funnel cake at the Indiana State Fair (or visit your local county fairs!)
Here are some things to know before you go to the Indiana State Fair:
🎡 Gate ENTRY is August 7-23 from 8am – 8pm (closed on Mondays) You can stay at the fairgrounds until 10/11pm depending on the day.
🎸 The Free Stage is going to have some big names this year like The Beach Boys, Busta Rhymes, Trace Adkins, and Gene Simmons! Most shows start at 7/7:30pm
🚗 Parking is $10 at the fairgrounds
Indiana State Fairgrounds 📍 1202 E 38th St, Indianapolis, Indiana
Planning your trip ahead of time is key to making the most of your State Fair experience! Check out their lineup of shows, food, and exhibitions before going.
Video Guide to the Indiana State Fair (Note that this was the 2025 Indiana State Fair guide. I will update with new details when I have them)
Check out an Indiana Farmers Market
Ah, farmers markets. Always a classic summer activity in Indiana, and there are so many summer farmers markets in Indianapolis and Central Indiana to find fresh produce, eggs, baked goods, and more. Here are just a few summer farmers markets happening around Indy:
Broad Ripple Farmers Market: Saturdays 8am – 12pm | 6001 N. Rural Street, Indianapolis, Indiana
Plainfield Farmers Market: Wednesdays 4 – 7pm | 105 S East St, Plainfield, Indiana
Avon Farmers Market: Tuesdays 4 – 7pm | 8244 E US Hwy 36, Avon, Indiana
Brownsburg Farmers Market: Thursdays 4 – 7pm | 61 N Green St, Brownsburg, Indiana
Carmel Farmers Market: Saturdays 8 – 11:30am | 2 Carter Green, Carmel, Indiana
Westfield Farmers Market: Thursdays 5 – 8pm | 225 S Union St, Westfield, Indiana
Zionsville Farmers Market: Saturdays 8 – 11:30am | 340 S Main St, Zionsville, Indiana
Fishers Farmers Market: Saturdays 8 – 12pm | 6 Municipal Dr, Fishers, Indiana
Irvington Farmers Market: Sundays 12 – 3pm | 802 Ellenberger Pkwy W Dr, Indianapolis, Indiana
Greenwood Farmers Market: Saturdays 8 – 12pm | 525 N Madison Ave, Greenwood, Indiana
Stroll through the cutest Central Indiana towns
After a busy spring, I always need some time to unwind, and these small towns in Indiana are perfect for self-care, great food, and peaceful strolls. If you’re in the same boat, follow these itineraries and enjoy exploring Central Indiana:
Guide to Boone County, Indiana
Take a Twilight Railbike ride with Nickel Plate Express
The most fun double date in Central Indiana that we’ve ever done! If you’re looking for things to do with your three closest friends near Indianapolis this summer, you have to check out the Twilight Railbike Ride at Nickel Plate Express in Noblesville, Indiana. Below, I will link all the need-to-know details, or you can check out a video guide here and the Nickel Plate Express website here.
Nickel Plate Express 📍 825 Forest Park Dr, Noblesville, Indiana
All the details for the Twilight Railbike Rides at Nickel Plate Express in Noblesville, Indiana
Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie in Fishers, Indiana
I maintain that this was the best thing we did in Summer 2025. Kroger Symphony on the Prairie is a concert series at Conner Prairie in Fishers, Indiana put on by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. We bought lawn tickets to the Taylor Swift tribute band, so we were able to bring lawn chairs, picnic blankets, homemade charcuterie boards, and bottles of wine. It was truly one of my favorite nights… EVER! We are going back this year of course. 😉
Conner Prairie 📍 13400 Allisonville Rd, Fishers, Indiana
Video Guide to Symphony on the Prairie
Sip and stroll through a local Indiana Winery
I love a little summer wine tasting, and these Indiana wineries should definitely be on your list to visit! Here are just a few of my favorite Indiana wineries to visit in the summer. Make sure to check out their websites to see special deals, events, happy hours, live music, and other fun things they have going on.
Oliver Winery 📍 200 E Winery Rd, Bloomington, Indiana
Daniel’s Vineyard 📍 9061 N 700 W, McCordsville, Indiana
Urban Vines 📍 303 E 161st St, Westfield, Indiana
Clearly, there is no shortage of amazing things to do this summer in Indianapolis and Central Indiana. If you have a suggestion on what Indy summer activity I should try next, leave a comment on this post or send me a message on Instagram.
Whatever it is you’re looking for, Where Is Sondra has tons of local guides and lists, so you never have to spend hours searching for the perfect things to do in Indy.
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