Tripadvisor
1 / 30#30. Columbian Park Zoo
- Rating: 4.5/5 (242 reviews)
- City: Lafayette
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Highest-rated free things to do in Indiana by visitors
Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.
Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Indiana.
From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Indiana using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!
Tripadvisor
2 / 30#29. Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor and Museum
- Rating: 4.3/5 (442 reviews)
- City: Columbus
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
3 / 30#28. Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg
- Rating: 3.4/5 (596 reviews)
- City: Lawrenceburg
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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4 / 30#27. Crown Hill Cemetery
- Rating: 4.6/5 (306 reviews)
- City: Indianapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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5 / 30#26. Monon Trail
- Rating: 4.7/5 (356 reviews)
- City: Carmel Hamilton County
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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6 / 30#25. Circle Centre Mall
- Rating: 3.6/5 (271 reviews)
- City: Indianapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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7 / 30#24. Indiana University Bloomington
- Rating: 4.8/5 (651 reviews)
- City: Bloomington
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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8 / 30#23. Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets
- Rating: 4.1/5 (501 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
9 / 30#22. Huber's Orchard & Winery
- Rating: 4.4/5 (315 reviews)
- City: Starlight
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
10 / 30#21. Purdue University
- Rating: 4.6/5 (287 reviews)
- City: West Lafayette
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
11 / 30#20. Caesars Southern Indiana Casino
- Rating: 3.7/5 (991 reviews)
- City: Elizabeth
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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12 / 30#19. Grotto of Our Lady Lourdes
- Rating: 4.8/5 (347 reviews)
- City: South Bend
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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13 / 30#18. Santa's Candy Castle
- Rating: 4.2/5 (321 reviews)
- City: Santa Claus
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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14 / 30#17. French Lick Casino
- Rating: 3.9/5 (910 reviews)
- City: French Lick
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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15 / 30#16. Oliver Winery
- Rating: 4.7/5 (461 reviews)
- City: Bloomington
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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16 / 30#15. Shipshewana Flea Market
- Rating: 3.8/5 (648 reviews)
- City: Shipshewana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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17 / 30#14. Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino
- Rating: 3.8/5 (3,046 reviews)
- City: Anderson
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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18 / 30#13. Basilica of the Sacred Heart
- Rating: 4.9/5 (702 reviews)
- City: Notre Dame
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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19 / 30#12. Monument Circle
- Rating: 4.6/5 (925 reviews)
- City: Indianapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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20 / 30#11. Indiana Grand Racing & Casino
- Rating: 3.9/5 (4,305 reviews)
- City: Shelbyville
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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21 / 30#10. The Fashion Mall at Keystone
- Rating: 4.4/5 (134 reviews)
- City: Indianapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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22 / 30#9. Hard Truth Distilling Co.
- Rating: 4.6/5 (340 reviews)
- City: Nashville
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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23 / 30#8. Urban Vines Winery & Brewery Co.
- Rating: 4.9/5 (853 reviews)
- City: Westfield Hamilton County
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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24 / 30#7. Indiana War Memorial
- Rating: 4.7/5 (673 reviews)
- City: Indianapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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25 / 30#6. White River State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (485 reviews)
- City: Indianapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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26 / 30#5. University of Notre Dame
- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,077 reviews)
- City: Notre Dame
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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27 / 30#4. Indiana Dunes National Park
- Rating: 4.2/5 (528 reviews)
- City: Porter
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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28 / 30#3. Michael Jackson Family Home
- Rating: 3.8/5 (187 reviews)
- City: Gary
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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29 / 30#2. Horseshoe Hammond
- Rating: 4.0/5 (15,745 reviews)
- City: Hammond
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
30 / 30#1. Central Canal
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,166 reviews)
- City: Indianapolis
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
