Finding an attraction that will be both entertaining and educational can be challenging but not impossible in Indianapolis. The city has a lot of exciting activities and attractions for different people, including families with children. Here are the most fun things to do with kids in Indianapolis.
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
What is it? The world’s largest museum for kids with many exciting activities and exhibits.
Why should you go? Located in downtown Indianapolis, this museum is a treasure trove if you’re looking for fun things to do in Indianapolis with kids. This is one of the best kid-friendly places in the city, with many thrilling experiences like Carousel Wishes and Dreams, Fireworks of Glass, Dinosphere, Playscape, Beyond Starship Earth, and many others. Outdoor activities are currently on hold and will resume in March 2023.
Recommended ages: 3 to 11 years old Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Cost: Starting from $18.75 for adults and $15.00 for children (3 to 18) Address: 3000 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46208, USA
Indianapolis Zoo
What is it? The largest zoo in Indianapolis is full of fun stuff to do for kids of all ages, located within White River State Park.
Why should you go? One of the most popular tourist destinations in the city for family activities, Indianapolis Zoo is a perfect place for kids that love nature. This place lets you explore varied environments, including forests, deserts, plains, and oceans. Other fun activities include feeding animals, observing birds in Flights of Fancy, riding the Endangered Species Carousel, play area for toddlers, and so on.
Recommended ages: 3 years and older Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Cost: $15.75 for adults, $11.75 for children (2 to 12), and $13.75 for seniors (62+) Address: 1200 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46222, USA
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
What is it? A museum based on the territory of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the town of Speedway near Indianapolis.
Why should you go? Visiting this museum is one of the best things to do in Indianapolis with kids if your kids like racing and cars. Here, you can explore the history of a famous Indianapolis 500 race and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Visitors can examine an impressive collection of winning cars of the Indianapolis 500 and other racing paraphernalia. You can also explore several temporary exhibitions like Second, Traditions, and Sleek: The Art of the Helmet.
Recommended ages: 3 years and older Opening hours: daily, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Cost: $15 for adults, $8 for children (6 to 15), and $14 for seniors (62+) Address: 4750 W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46222, USA
@bonvoyagejg
Related tours:
100 Acres Park at the Indianapolis Museum of Art
What is it? This park, located in Newfields, next to the Indianapolis Museum of Art, has plenty of room for kids to explore and many pieces of art to clamber over.
Why should you go? The beautiful 100 Acres Park, also known as the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park, is a picturesque and captivating place. It combines the beauty of nature with unique art pieces scattered throughout the park’s territory. This park is also home to a serene 35-acre lake, a charming green meadow, and numerous walkways for a perfect outdoor weekend with kids. Visitors don’t need to pay anything to enjoy this park which is a nice bonus.
Recommended ages: 5 years and older Opening hours: daily, 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM Cost: free for all visitors Address: 1850 W 38th St, Indianapolis, IN 46228, USA Related:Free Things to Do in Indianapolis
@bonvoyagejg
Conner Prairie
What is it? This living history museum is in the former house of William Conner in Hamilton County.
Why should you go? This place is the perfect choice for an energetic and exciting outdoor weekend in the countryside. Conner Prairie lets you explore a Lenape Indian Camp, learn more about life in the village of Prairietown, fly on an air balloon, and experience life during the American Civil War. Indoor activities include Discovery Station with a dedicated Craft Corner and Spark!Lab where you can test your inventing and problem-solving skills.
Recommended ages: 3 years and older Opening Hours: Thursday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Cost: $10 for all visitors Address:13400 Allisonville Rd, Fishers, IN 46038, USA Official website: https://www.connerprairie.org/
@connerprairie
Glow Golf and Laser Maze
What is it? This place is a golf and laser maze attraction in Circle Centre Mall in downtown Indianapolis.
Why should you go? In terms of kids activities, Indianapolis has a lot to offer. One of the fun places to visit is Glow Golf and Laser Maze, located on the 4th floor of Circle Centre Mall. Here, you can play golf in the dark and test your reflexes and agility in a laser-filled maze. It’s a perfect place for children who prefer to be more active and energetic. This place is a great alternative if the weather outside isn’t very welcoming.
Recommended ages: 5 years and older Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM Cost: $12 for adults, $10 for children (5 to 12), $8 for children under 4 and seniors Address: 49 W Maryland St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USA
@circlecentre
Indianapolis Art Center
What is it? It’s an art center in Indianapolis with many temporary events and classes that help develop creativity.
Why should you go? Indianapolis Art Center has a generous selection of classes that help develop creativity and entertain children. There are many classes dedicated to working with clay, metals, wood, and glass, as well as classes on drawing, painting, photography, and many other fun activities. Indianapolis Art Center also hosts temporary exhibitions that are free for all visitors.
Recommended ages: 3 years and older Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM Saturday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM Cost: free for all visitors Address: 820 E 67th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220, USA
@indplsartcenter
Action & Atomic Duckpin Bowling
What is it? These two duckpin bowling alleys inside the Fountain Square Theatre Building offer a fun and engaging bowling experience in two distinct locations.
Why should you go? Housed within the Fountain Square Theatre Building, Action & Atomic Duckpin Bowling is a perfect place for children’s activities in Indianapolis. Action Duckpin Bowling features eight lanes for duckpin bowling, a cafe area for 110 guests, and a vintage billiard table. All of it is in a classic 1930s bowling alley aesthetic. Atomic Duckpin Bowling is full of duckpin bowling equipment from the 1950s and 1960s and has eight lanes and a cafe for 98 guests.
Recommended ages: 5 years and older Opening hours: Tuesday – Wednesday: 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM Thursday: 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM Friday – Saturday: 1:00 PM to 12:00 PM Sunday: 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM Cost: $40 per 1 hour on a single lane Address: 1105 Prospect St, Indianapolis, IN 46203, USA
@sterling.expression
Related tours:
Learning Curve at the Central Library
What is it? This space at the Central Library of Indianapolis is an educational and creative environment designed for children of all ages.
Why should you go? The Learning Curve is a space that caters to kids of all ages. It offers many activities, games, and interactive experiences. Among its highlights are the activity wall with many gadgets and puzzles, a theatre, a tech center, early learning stations, and books. A visit to the library may seem like the least exciting of family things to do in Indianapolis, but the Learning Curve is a unique experience that deserves a chance.
Recommended ages: kids of all ages Opening hours: Monday – Tuesday: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Wednesday – Thursday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Friday – Saturday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Cost: free for all visitors Address:40 E St Clair St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USA
Speedway Indoor Karting
What is it? Speedway Indoor Karting is a multi-track karting facility in Speedway, a town close to Indianapolis.
Why should you go? Speedway Indoor Karting is among the cool places to visit in Indianapolis for children and grownups alike. It features two different tracks, high-quality karts, and a perfect opportunity to challenge your reflexes and driving skills. The Road Course is a track on multiple levels with many twists and turns and is the most popular option. The Oval offers a different type of challenge with long straights and sharp turns that require quick reflexes.
Recommended ages: 8 years and older Opening hours: Monday – Thursday, Sunday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM Cost: $10 for a license and $22 for a single race Address:1067 N Main St, Speedway, IN 46224, USA
@sikarting
Holliday Park
What is it? This place is one of the oldest parks in Indianapolis, with many activities and places to explore.
Why should you go? Holliday Park is six miles north of Indianapolis’ downtown. Visitors can explore 94 acres of beautiful nature, play at an excellent playground, hike along one of the many trails, or take a walk through Holliday Park Ruins. Here, you can relax and take a break from the frenzy of city life or recharge after visiting one of the other tourist destinations in the city. Scenic gardens, serene White River, a majestic forest – you can find all this and more at Holliday Park.
Recommended ages: children of all ages Opening hours: daily, dawn to dusk Cost: free for all visitors Address:6363 Spring Mill Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46260, USA
White River State Park
What is it? A large park in downtown Indianapolis with many attractions and points of interest.
Why should you go? This park at the heart of Indianapolis has something for everybody: two museums, a zoo, a hiking trail, a beautiful canal, and so much more. The park regularly hosts various events in the TCU Amphitheater or IMAX Theater, while the Indiana State Museum and the Eiteljorg Museum aim to share their knowledge with their visitors. Victory Field, another point of interest in White River State Park, is the home turf of a local baseball team, the Indianapolis Indians. As you can see, White River State Park is a gift that keeps on giving: you can explore it for a long time, and there will always be something new and exciting just behind the corner.
Recommended ages: 3 years and older Opening hours: daily, 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM Cost: free for all visitors Address:801 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USA
Sky Zone Trampoline Park
What is it? A trampoline park in the southeast of Indianapolis with a large roster of fun activities for visitors of all ages.
Why should you go? Sky Zone Trampoline Park offers many fun and thrilling activities like Freestyle Jump, Skyslam, Ultimate Dodgeball, SkyJoust, Ultimate Volleyball, and many others. This place is a perfect destination if you want to blow off steam and have fun. For some of its smallest visitors, there is a designated Toddler Zone where toddlers and their parents can safely enjoy jumping and playing.
Recommended ages: 3 years and older Opening hours: Tuesday – Thursday: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Sunday: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM Cost: $30 per person (6 years and older), $12 for kids under 5
@sz_southindy
NCAA Hall of Champions
What is it? This museum is a treasure trove of knowledge about college sports with interactive experiences, artifacts, and trivia.
Why should you go? Located on the territory of White River State Park, the NCAA Hall of Champions is a perfect place to learn more about NCAA sports and try your hand at several of them. There are two floors in the NCAA Hall of Champions. The first floor features display cases with trivia and artifacts about all 24 NCAA sports as well as a mascot mash-up that lets you combine different sports mascots. The second floor has a retro gym and multiple simulators that allow you to experience these sports yourself.
Recommended ages: 3 years and older Opening hours: Wednesday – Saturday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM Cost: $5 for adults, $3 for kids (6 to 18), and seniors (60+)
Address:White River State Park, 700 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204, USA
Flat Fork Creek Park
What is it? A beautiful park on the east side of Fishers, a city in the northern suburbs of Indianapolis.
Why should you go? Flat Fork Creek Park is one of the most popular places in Fishers. Covering over 60 acres, this park has a lot to recommend for anybody: a fishing pond, a mountain bike trail, a stunning view of Flat Fork Creek, and plenty of space to relax after a long day. The highlight of this park is a 60-foot sledding hill, which also happens to be the tallest point in Hamilton Country.
Recommended ages: 3 to 11 years old Opening hours: daily, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM Cost: free for all visitors
Address:16141 E 101st St, Fishers, IN 46040, USA
@visithamiltonco
FAQ
1
What can kids do in Indianapolis on a rainy day?
Explore the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
Visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
Jump on trampolines in the Sky Zone Trampoline Park.
Race karts in the Speedway Indoor Karting.
Test their reflexes in Laser Maze or play golf in Glow Golf.
2
What are the must-visit destinations in Indianapolis with kids?
Indianapolis Zoo
White River State Park
100 Acres Park
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Conner Prairie
3
What are free things to do in Indianapolis with kids?
Explore White River State Park.
Relax in 100 Acres Park.
Have fun at the Learning Curve at Central Library.