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Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway, IN

Photo: tpsdave, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory Buff

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

4790 W 16th St · Speedway, IN

Why you should go…

Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened in 1909 and has run the Indianapolis 500 since 1911. The oval is 2.5 miles around, and a three-foot strip of the original brick surface still marks the start-finish line. The IMS Museum sits inside the oval between Turns 1 and 2, where the Indianapolis 500 Winner's Gallery shows race cars alongside the Borg-Warner Trophy. Museum visitors can add a track tour, and the grounds also hold the Brickyard Crossing golf course.

  • #indy 500
  • #race track
  • #racing museum
  • #track tour

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Rainy-Day Pick

    Newfields

    Under $25

    Tour the Indianapolis Museum of Art's galleries, then wander gardens, a historic estate and a 100-acre art and nature park.

    3.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Indianapolis Zoo

    $25–$50

    Watch dolphins, orangutans, chimpanzees and sharks across themed biomes, then stroll the flower beds of White River Gardens.

    3.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Museums
    Rainy-Day Pick

    Indiana State Museum

    Under $25

    Explore Indiana's natural and cultural history, from Fred the mastodon to Lincoln artifacts, plus an IMAX theater.

    3.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Rainy-Day Pick

    Eiteljorg Museum

    Under $25

    See Native American art and Western paintings and bronzes in a museum building in White River State Park.

    4.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

    $25–$50

    Explore five floors of hands-on exhibits, from the dinosaur fossils of Dinosphere to a historic carousel and outdoor sports areas.

    4.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Indiana War Memorial

    Under $25

    Climb the steps of a limestone memorial to see military artifacts and the 110-foot Shrine Room with its red marble columns.

    4.4 mi awayMore like this