Day 1: Chicago IL to Indianapolis IN
Postcard from Indianapolis, Indiana.
I left a beautifully sunny Chicago later than expected – due to the car rental agency, well, momentarily not having any cars available to rent – driving slightly north from downtown to catch Lake Shore Drive at its most iconic stretch, right between Lincoln Park and Oak Street Beach, determined to drive as close to the lakeside as possible until reaching the Ogden Dunes.
From there, it was an almost straight drive south through rural Indiana. Maybe not be the most interesting place on Earth, but the drive was smooth, the traffic nonexistent, and everything looks prettier when it’s sunny, right?
A total of 223 miles, unhealthily ended with what I was told is the unofficial “Hoosier” obsession: a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich. Not the simplest thing to digest after a six hours drive, but nothing one or two well-deserved local IPAs can’t wash down. Make it three.
Also: driving with the sunroof open and getting sunburnt on day one: done.
Driving from Chicago to Indianapolis Cheat Sheet
Accommodation in Indianapolis
- Tru By Hilton Indianapolis Downtown, IN, 601 Russell Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46225. The hotel was clean, parking was safe and easy, and the location was pretty good—just a quick walk from downtown bars and restaurants.
Where to eat and what to see in Indianapolis
- Aristocrat Pub & Restaurant, 5212 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220. The location is pretty nice, and parking is super easy. I had the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich with a pint of a local hazy IPA, which was pretty good. It was all I needed after the first day of driving.
- Whistle Stop, 375 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225, After walking around downtown a bit, I decided to have a couple of beers in this dive bar a couple of blocks from the hotel. It’s unpretentious, cheap, and fun.
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 4790 W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46222. Being born in Monza, where the Italian F1 GP is held, I had to pay my tribute to this sports venue. Although it was closed, you can still get a good view from the outside.
- Ogden Dunes Beach, 156 Shore Dr, Ogden Dunes, IN 46368. I don’t really get the hype about these dunes, but it was sunny, and the lake was super blue. It was a nice place to rest for a few minutes.
Driving from Chicago to Indianapolis FAQ
How many miles are there from Chicago to Indianapolis? The shortest route is 181 miles. However, I drove for 223 miles because I first went to the Indiana Dunes, and in general, I tried to stay off the highway as much as possible.
Taking the highway, it takes about 3 hours. Avoiding the highway, it would take at least 5 hours..
Driving on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago is pretty cool and iconic, with the lake right on your left and the skyscrapers on the other side. Aside from that, there isn’t much to do, really.
In Chicago, obviously, you have tons of attractions. Leaving the city and following my itinerary, the only major point of interest is the Indiana Dunes National Park. Once you get to Indianapolis, aside from the Speedway, there isn’t really much to do (that I am aware of – please comment if I’m wrong).
Any car would make it. It’s a pretty straightforward drive, whether you take the highway or not.
Photos taken from Chicago and Indianapolis
My two weeks itinerary on a Chicago to New Orleans road trip
- Chicago to New Orleans – main article
- Day 1: Chicago to Indianapolis
- Day 2: Indianapolis to Louisville
- Day 3-4: Louisville to Nashville
- Day 5-6: Nashville to Memphis
- Day 7: Memphis to Clarksdale
- Day 8: Clarksdale to Greenville
- Day 9: Greenville to Natchez
- Day 10: Natchez to Lafayette
- Day 11, 12, 13: Lafayette to New Orleans
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