Indiana’s “Little Smokies” and the artist town of Nashville.
Race-week road trip guide
Indianapolis 500
The 111th running of the greatest spectacle in racing fills Indianapolis — and the Hoosier state hides Brown County’s hills, the country’s densest cluster of covered bridges, and the French Lick resort.
Part of the Indy 500 series - see every year →When to book
290 days out- Plan6–12 mo out
- Book3–6 mo out
- Lock infinal 6–10 wk
- On the groundevent week
You’ve got time. Start with the scenic route in and vote the IN gems worth a slack day — the lodging pressure comes later.
Straight talk: “book now or it’s gone” gets overstated. We flag both surge risk and the cooldown deals when a market runs soft.
Host-state Gem Hunt
Help decide the detours fans should not miss.
Why this trip works
Built around real travel intent.
Race fans in Indianapolis who want a Hoosier detour on Memorial Day weekend around the 500.
Parke County’s famous spans west of the city.
A historic resort and springs to the south.
Worth the slack day
Indy 500 side quests.
Vote the Indiana gems near Indy and build a hills-and-bridges day around race week.
Brown County State Park
rolling hills and an artist town south
Parke County covered bridges
the country’s densest covered-bridge cluster
French Lick
historic springs resort for a slower day
Where to eat
Restaurants around Indy 500.
Race week: the Speedway classics by the track, St. Elmo and the downtown steakhouses, and the Mass Ave neighborhood picks.
Venue focus: The Speedway, downtown, and Mass Ave
Northside$$
AbyssiniaLongtime spot for traditional injera-and-wot feasts.
Order: Vegetarian combo
Fletcher Place$$$
Arlene'sThe acclaimed brunch diner formerly Milktooth, inventive scratch cooking.
Order: Dutch baby pancake
Fletcher Place$$$
BluebeardJames Beard-recognized farm-to-table spot with an in-house bakery.
Order: Wood-fired dishes
Downtown$$
BODHITop-rated modern Thai kitchen with boldly spiced dishes.
Order: Drunken noodles
Indianapolis$$
Bru Burger BarMass Ave mainstay for craft burgers in a former auto showroom.
Order: Bru Burger
Broad Ripple$$
Half Liter BBQTexas-style smoked-meat hall with a lively beer garden.
Order: Brisket
Downtown$$$
Harry & Izzy'sThe more casual sibling of St. Elmo with the same iconic cocktail sauce.
Order: Shrimp cocktail
Northeast Side$$
His Place EateryBeloved soul-food destination for Southern comfort classics.
Order: Chicken and waffles
Downtown$$
Iaria's Italian RestaurantFourth-generation red-sauce institution on the same corner since 1913.
Order: Housemade ravioli
Northwest Side$
King Ribs Bar-B-QIndy staple for smoky, saucy ribs and no-frills BBQ plates.
Order: Rib tip dinner
Indianapolis$$
La MargaritaFamily-owned Fountain Square staple for over 30 years.
Order: Chile relleno
Indianapolis$$$
LiveryBuzzy two-story Mass Ave hangout with Latin small plates and a rooftop.
Order: Empanadas
Meridian-Kessler$$
NapoleseArtisan stone-hearth pizzeria from James Beard semifinalist Martha Hoover.
Order: Wood-fired pizza
Indianapolis$$
Saffron CafeWarm downtown Indian kitchen spanning curries and tandoori.
Order: Butter chicken
Downtown$$
Slippery Noodle BluesHistoric blues bar and grill with catfish and live music.
Order: Fried catfish
Downtown$$
Slippery Noodle InnIndiana's oldest bar, pairing pub fare with live blues nightly.
Order: Fried catfish
Downtown$$$$
St. Elmo Steak HouseIndianapolis landmark since 1902, famous for old-school steaks.
Order: World-famous shrimp cocktail
Indianapolis$$
The EagleLively Mass Ave spot for craveable fried chicken and sides.
Order: Fried chicken with honey
Downtown$$$$
VidaChef-driven tasting menus from James Beard semifinalist Thomas Melvin.
Order: Tasting menu
Near West Side$
Workingman's FriendZero-frills 1918 tavern beloved for crispy-edged smashburgers.
Order: Double cheeseburger
Mass Ave$
YatsCult-favorite counter-serve Cajun spot with a rotating chalkboard.
Order: Chili cheese étouffée
Speedway$$
Big Woods SpeedwayMinutes from the track, an Indiana craft brewery with a pub menu.
Order: Craft beer and burgers
Speedway$
Charlie Brown's Pancake & Steak HouseRace-fan breakfast staple across from the Speedway since 1975.
Order: Pancakes and eggs
Speedway$$
Dawson's on MainOne block from the track, a go-to for steaks and the local tenderloin.
Order: Hoosier pork tenderloin
Speedway$
Mug-n-BunRetro carhop drive-in serving the west side for nearly 50 years.
Order: Root beer & pork tenderloin
Updated 2026-07-02. Measured venue distances appear only for checked restaurant pins; drive-time ranking comes after the broader precise-location pass.
Plan the logistics
Where to stay, and what to know.
Where to stay
Indy 500 week spikes lodging around Indianapolis, Indiana. When rooms by the venue are gone or overpriced, the smarter play is to base an hour out and drive in along a scenic route - Roamward matches the stay to the drive. Lodging links below search stays around the event — the iOS beta adds the on-road companion.
Know before you go
Event week brings road closures, shuttle-only zones, and timed entry. We surface the passes, reservations, and closures that matter - and point you to the official source for tickets and schedules.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway →Where to stay
Find a place to stay near Indianapolis, Indiana.
Hotels, cabins, and rentals close to the action — compare and book for your trip.
We may earn a commission from bookings made through this link — at no extra cost to you.
Event-trip guides
Roamward turns the trip around the event into the trip you remember.
Use the event and route guides on the web now, then open the external iOS beta for verified stops, shared trips, and poster-style trip cards.
Built for the shotgun seat: games, check-ins, and the next great stop — while the driver drives.
Build a trip around an event like this.
Save catalog-backed stops to My Trips on the web now. The iOS beta is testing the on-road companion: verified check-ins, badges, shared trips, and your growing map of America.