Car rental Indiana

Indiana is a well-connected state. Collect your rental car in Indianapolis and you’ll find several Interstates linking the city to surrounding destinations. You can follow the I-65 north towards Lafayette and Gary, or south towards Louisville, Kentucky.

If you’re looking to explore outside the state capital Indianapolis, take the I-69, which leads northeast towards Fort Wayne, and southwest towards Bloomington.

To reach the heart of Indianapolis and beyond, take the I-70, which runs right through the city, approaching from Columbus, Ohio in the east and continuing west to St Louis, Missouri.

You can also follow I-74 southeast towards The Queen City; Cincinnati, Ohio – a place packed with glorious architecture and beautiful skylines.

As well as hitting the big cities, with car rental in Indiana you can also enjoy scenic rural drives. Head for the Historic National Road, commissioned by Thomas Jefferson over 200 years ago as the first federal highway linking Maryland to Illinois. Or try Parke County, in the west of Indiana, to drink in some beautiful scenery and the famous covered bridges.

The maximum speed limit on rural Interstates in Indiana is 70mph (113km/h) and on rural four-lane divided highways the limit is 60mph (97km/h). Cars travelling slower than the rest of the traffic must use the right-hand lane, leaving the left-hand lane free for faster moving vehicles.

There is one toll road in Indiana, a stretch of I-90 which runs for just over 250 kilometres across the north of the state from the Illinois state line to Ohio.

In Indiana, yellow lane markings separate traffic going in opposite directions. You can cross a broken yellow line to pass another vehicle – as long as it’s safe to do so – but you may not cross a solid yellow line unless you are turning.

White lane markings separate lanes of traffic going in the same direction. You may cross a broken white line when it is safe to do so, but you aren’t allowed to cross a solid white line. 

Whether you’re visiting for the Indy 500 or relaxing on the shores of Lake Michigan, car rental in Indiana is the perfect way to get around and enjoy the wonderful array of experiences on offer.

Fast and furious

Without doubt the biggest event on the Indianapolis calendar is the Indy 500, which takes place annually over Memorial Day weekend (the last Monday in May). Billing itself as the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing”, it sees drivers battle it out for 500 miles (800 kilometres) over 200 pulsating laps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway circuit.

Almost half a million fans attend the event every year, but tickets for practice events are slightly less competitive. Even if you don’t manage to secure tickets, it’s definitely worth heading to the museum, where you can learn all about the history of the race and see some of the cars that have helped their drivers to victory in previous years. There’s even a bus that will drive you round the track – at a more leisurely pace than the race itself.

Capital culture

As the state capital, Indianapolis has much more to offer than just the Indy 500. Soak up some culture at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, home to an impressive collection of contemporary art, alongside works by several post-Impressionist artists, including Paul Gauguin – and English Romantics like J. M. W Turner. The site also includes the Virginia B Fairbanks Art and Nature Park and Oldfields, a historic estate and museum.

Take a short drive south and you’ll find the ever popular White River State Park. Enjoy views of the city while relaxing on a boat ride on the Central Canal, or hit one of the bike paths along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. The park also houses Victory Field, a Minor League baseball stadium – catch a game while you’re visiting. The stadium boasts excellent downtown views, as well as the Indiana State Museum.

Going underground

As well as its big cities, Indiana is also home to some spectacular natural treasures. Just over 200 kilometres south of Indianapolis is the Marengo Cave, a US National Natural Landmark, discovered in the 19^th century. Today it’s a popular visitor attraction, offering walking tours where you can see the stalagmites and other rock formations.

Take the Crystal Palace tour, or the slightly longer Dripstone Trail – both routes are suitable for all ages, and kids aged three and under go free. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can take a cave exploring trip, most of which are suitable for ages 10 and over, with no experience necessary.

Lakeside life

Indiana is one of four states that shares the shoreline of Lake Michigan, the only one of the Great Lakes to be located entirely in the US. Its 24-kilometre stretch on the southwest shore, known as Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, is a perfect destination for swimming and sunbathing. There’s a sandy beach and hiking paths where you can enjoy excellent views of the surrounding dunes and lush woodlands.

Camping and fishing are popular ways to relax at the park, along with bird spotting. You can camp overnight, and parking is available. Spaces close to the beach tend to fill up first, so arrive early to get a good spot.

When you rent a car in Indiana you can really make the most of your time in this state of immense natural beauty.