Indiana, a stunning state in the middle of America, is home to lakes, rivers, woods, and charming college towns like Notre Dame. Whether you're searching for a romantic break at a five-star resort or a low-key, multigenerational family vacation site, Indiana makes a terrific weekend getaway destination.
For all types of travelers, there are a wide range of hotels and resorts in different pricing ranges. The type of trip you are planning will determine where you stay.
In the hilly area around the Hoosier National Forest known as French Lick, there are two lovely properties: West Baden Springs Hotel and French Lick Springs Hotel, which offer the chance to reconnect with nature in opulent settings from bygone eras and pamper yourself at a few different spas.
And those seeking a water-based getaway might look at accommodations like Fourwinds Lakeside Inn and Marina on Lake Monroe in the Bloomington region, which provides plenty of chances for swimming and fishing as well as the option to play 18 holes of golf on a nearby course.
Another enjoyable vacation destination for families, couples, or groups is Oakwood Resort on serene Lake Wawasee, Indiana's largest natural lake. It's only a short drive from South Bend and Fort Wayne and less than two hours from Chicago and Indianapolis.
With our list of the top resorts in Indiana, you can choose the ideal location for your next trip.
1.Conrad Indianapolis, to start
The Conrad Indianapolis, located in the heart of the state capital, is the only five-star hotel in Indiana. The hotel offers 241 rooms and suites and is housed in a 23-story tower. All of these are stylish and modern, with big windows and top-notch bedding. Bathrooms have glass-enclosed showers and separate soaking tubs and are decorated with Italian marble and granite. Twenty corner suites with stunning city views are available.
The hotel emphasizes art and offers exhibits in the on-site Long-Sharp Gallery as well as in all of the common areas. Book the 18th-floor Gallery Suite, which has its own in-room collection, to fully immerse oneself.
The Conrad Spa, which offers a full range of services from massages to body wraps, occupies the entire sixth level. A cutting-edge workout facility, heated indoor pool, and hot tub are also available. There are two restaurants in The Conrad, one of which specializes in fine dining. Kids stay free if you are going with them. Dogs are also allowed at the accommodation.
2. French Lick's West Baden Springs Hotel
The West Baden Springs Hotel, which is a four-diamond facility and a part of the French Lick Resort, has been around for more than a century and is a National Historic Landmark. The 200-foot-long circular atrium of this building is a magnificent example of early regional architecture.
In the slopes of the Hoosier National Forest, the resort sits in a stunning natural setting. It provides visitors with a variety of recreational opportunities, including horseback riding, hiking, and the hybrid sport of FootGolf.
There is also KidsFest, which is their equivalent of a children's club with loads of planned activities, if you are going with children.
Adults can unwind and treat themselves to a massage or treatment at one of the two spas.
The 243 contemporary and inviting rooms and suites are ideal for families or couples on a romantic break. Formal gardens, boutiques, multiple swimming pools, a hot tub, a fitness facility, and a few different dining options are among the additional on-site attractions.
3. The French Lick Springs Hotel
The French Lick Springs Hotel, another four-diamond luxury establishment in the high hills of the Hoosier National Forest, is a component of the French Lick Resort as well. Parts of the hotel's structure, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, date back to 1845.
The hotel's 443 modern American-style rooms and suites, which come in a range of sizes and forms and are clean and have comfy mattresses, are family-friendly and available. Outside of the rooms, there are both indoor and outdoor pools, a hot tub, a 24-hour gym, kid-focused activities, and options for golf, spa treatments, horseback riding, and hiking.
There are more than a dozen distinct eateries on the land between French Lick and its sibling West Baden Springs. These include upscale establishments like 1875: The Steakhouse and Sinclair's Restaurant as well as more laid-back places like Pluto's Pizzeria.
4. Graduate from Bloomington, Indiana
The Graduate Hotel is a boutique hotel with quirky, enjoyable interior design located on Bloomington's renowned Kirkland Avenue, just 1.5 miles from the Indiana University campus. It is also close to several eateries and stores on the famed Courthouse Square.
All of the pleasant, large rooms and suites come with refrigerators and lounge areas. Certain have balconies. The living and eating areas are separated, there are sofa beds, and some suites even have themes. Families can also take use of rooms with connecting doors.
A diner-style eatery, free guest loaner bikes, a fitness center, and meeting and event spaces are available as amenities. The hotel welcomes dogs, so bring your dog along if you're staying there.
5. Bloomington's Four Winds Lakeside Inn and Marina
Four Winds Lakeside Inn and Marina is in a prime site fronting Lake Monroe in the Fairfax State Recreation Area in the Bloomington region, roughly one hour from Indianapolis. From here, you may go biking and hiking as well as have adventures on the lake.
Families, couples, or groups of friends can stay in the stylishly decorated rooms and suites, which also come with cozy mattresses and complimentary Wi-Fi. Additionally, they include coffee makers, mini-fridges, microwaves, and, in the case of suites, a real kitchenette as well as frequently fireplaces.
A restaurant with spectacular lakefront views from its floor to ceiling windows is located apart from the rooms, as is another wood-paneled eating area that serves breakfast in addition to dinner. There are also indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a private lakeside beach, a fishing dock, and a gym on the property.
6. Hilton Garden Inn Chesterton,
The well-known Indiana Dunes State Park and the adjacent Indiana Dunes National Park are both only a five-minute drive from the Hilton Garden Inn Chesterton. The region is a well-liked summer vacation spot because it has hiking paths through dunes, marshes, and forestland and hugs 15 miles of Lake Michigan beachfront.
There are 120 rooms and suites at the four-star establishment, which welcomes families. These have refrigerators, coffee makers, and microwaves. The suites have sleeping sofas and separate living areas.
The Great American Grill restaurant in the hotel serves breakfast, lunch, and supper. The evenings also feature room service. On-site amenities include a fitness center, hot tub, sauna, and indoor swimming pool. Free parking is available.
7. Notre Dame's Morris Inn
Parents and alumni that visit the University of Notre Dame frequently stay at the Morris Inn, which is situated immediately on the campus. The hotel is contemporary in design and offers large, spotless rooms with views of the campus, comfortable beds, and glassed-in showers and bathtubs.
They've actually got Indiana and Auburn playing in a hotel conference room pic.twitter.com/0B5YmlPzrE
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 26, 2022
They also provide extras like mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, and iPads in the rooms. Families should choose the suites since they offer additional living space, pullout couches, and occasionally deep soaking tubs.
There are two restaurants on-site, one for exquisite seafood dining and the other serving more casual fare. There is a gym, a business center, and laundry facilities available on-site as well.
8. Oakwood Hotel, Syracuse
Another tranquil lakeside vacation destination for families, couples, or groups is Oakwood Resort, which is located on the shores of Lake Wawasee, Indiana's largest natural lake. The property is only two hours from Chicago and Indianapolis and less than an hour from South Bend and Fort Wayne.
With complimentary Wi-Fi, coffee makers, and flat-screen TVs, the rooms are roomy, cozy, and stylishly modern. Suites are more opulent since they have kitchens as well as living and dining areas. A casual restaurant with seating on a patio overlooking the lake is located outside the room. On weekdays, the restaurant also serves an included continental breakfast.
https://utravelo.com/en/activities-in-indianapolis-indiana
Additionally, there are a kids' arcade and playground, a sand beach, a fishing pier, a boat dock, kayak and pontoon boat rentals, a spa, and a salon on the property. There is golf close as well.
9. Swan Lake Resort, Plymouth,
Swan Lake is a golf resort that is situated on 500 acres of picturesque countryside in Plymouth, in the northern part of the state, and provides a getaway from the stress of everyday life. The 36 holes of links golf on the property are renowned for having a distinctive private club feel without the fees.
The resort offers a variety of clean, comfortable housing alternatives, including hotel rooms as well as cottages, cabins, and contemporary villa accommodations.
Two restaurants and many pools are also on-site. Both restaurants feature American cuisine; a well-liked lunch location is Putter's Grille, which is situated at the golf course's Clubhouse. They offer a wide selection of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and wraps. The staff is helpful and quick.
10. The New Harmony Inn Resort and Conference Center
Visit New Harmony Inn Resort to get away from the city. It is situated in a rural region near New Harmony, just a short distance from Harmonie State Park, less than a mile from the Wabash River, and a few blocks off Highway 66.
It provides a variety of lodging options, from cozy rooms in the main building that occasionally include fireplaces or balconies to larger quarters in three separate guesthouses that have full kitchens and private gardens.
Free continental breakfast, loaner bikes, a heated outdoor pool, tennis courts, and a fitness center are available as amenities. Additionally, there is a quiet eatery providing American cuisine.
11. Angola's Potawatomi Inn and Conference Center
Another outstanding lakefront property is the Potawatomi Inn and Conference Center near Angola. It is a laid-back hotel with a variety of tidy, comfortable rooms and suites in its main structure as well as rustic cabin housing, located on the beaches of Lake James in a state park.
A beach on the lake, bike and boat rentals, an indoor pool, a Jacuzzi, and a sauna are available on-site. On the property, there is a restaurant, laundry facilities, and a fitness center. The Country Meadows Golf Course is only slightly more than three miles away if you want to play golf.
12. The inn at Lighthouse Lodge
The Lighthouse Lodge B&B in Monticello is a welcoming place for families to stay. This is a relaxed, reasonable home with quick access to the lake's small swimming beaches. On the park-like grounds, there is even a historic stone lighthouse from the 1930s.
Rentable cottages or rooms are available here. Ceramic tile floors, cozy beds with therapeutic foam mattress toppers, premium linens, and kitchenettes are all features of the rooms. Additionally, they have roomy bathrooms with walk-in showers. Families might consider the two-bedroom cabins, which feature full kitchens and balconies with lake views.
Every morning includes a hearty breakfast. A sizable sundeck, a game area with card tables, bumper pool tables, and even darts are additional features. Additionally, visitors have access to two outdoor fire pits and barbecue amenities.
Despite the absence of an on-site dining establishment, Jimmy O's, one of the town's busiest restaurants, is a short stroll from the resort.