Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is a midsize airport with 135 daily flights throughout the U.S. and Canada. Its two terminals boast a full compliment of shops, restaurants, lounges, special services and travelers aid. Its recently opened Midfield passenger terminal is airy and inviting.  IND AIRPORT TERMINAL MAP

 

IND Airport Midfield Terminal

 

Car Rentals: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty service the airport. The airport is 10-15 minutes southwest of Downtown. Taxis:  Catch a taxi at the lower terminal and from Downtown hotels. Minimum metered fare is $6.50. When traveling from airport to Downtown, consider the $10 Share-A-Ride Limousine for the 10-minute ride. Otherwise, anticipate paying $14-$20, with higher fares during commute hours.

 

Amtrak service is hosted at 350 South Illinois Street in the underutilized neo-Gothic Union Station located in downtown. A Greyhound bus station is next to it.

 

Amtrak Cardinal: Chicago-Indianapolis-Cincinnati-Washington (3 times a week)

Amtrak Hoosier State: Chicago-Indianapolis (once daily)

This is not a town for Light Rail or Streetcars, but Indianapolis-Marion County Bus system does have a cheap ride from IND Airport to downtown.

Heritage Tourism Corridor
Tour begins at Historic Ransom Place; 31-stop walking tour includes Madame Walker Theatre Center, Crispus Attacks Museum, Indiana War Memorial (Black Soldiers exhibit), Heritage Learning Center Museum, Lockefield Gardens, Bethel AME Church; reservations required

PHONE: 317-632-2340

X-Pression Tours
Donna Lucas has over 10 years of Black Indy tour guide and experience; you can chartered tour buses for groups 2 to 55 people; visit signature sites from an African American heritage perspective and the Underground Railroad sites in Indiana; $20-25 depending on group size; box lunches available for additional fee; appt required at 1075 Broad Ripple Ave, #165

PHONE: 317-264-1866

First Friday Art Gallery Tour
Hosted by 26 art gallery members of the Indianapolis Downtown Artist and Dealers Association, though the starting venue varies, this self-guided tour usually begins Downtown and extends up Massachusetts Avenue; FREE to the public; an after-party site usually follows the tour

PHONE: 317-634-3114

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Grounds Tour
The 1.5 hour narrated tour of this historic race palace lets racing fans visit the Hall of Fame Museum, oval track, media center, scoring room, victory garage area, and stand on the famous "Yard of Bricks" at the start/finish line

ADDRESS: 4790 West 16th Street, Indianapolis

PHONE: Tickets 317-492-6747

Haunted Indianapolis Ghost Walk
Discover haunted theatres, residences and businesses around town; reservations required. Cost: adults $13 and $7 seniors; at 7:30 pm

ADDRESS: meet at north side of Soldiers and Sailors Monument

PHONE: 317-840-6456

 

Indianapolis Freeway Network: With Chicago to its northeast, St. Louis to its west, Cincinnati to its southeast, Columbus to its east and Detroit to its northeast, 7 interstate freeway spokes meet at Indianapolis, which bills itself as “The Crossroads of America.”  This auto-centric metro area also features wide boulevards, splintering from its notable, efficient freeway network:

  65   Interstate between East Chicago, Indy and Louisville
  69   Interstate to Michigan
  70   Interstate between St. Louis, Indy and Columbus
  74   Interstate to Cincinnati
465   Beltway around Indianapolis