Here Are 7 Of The Most Beautiful Indiana Covered Bridges To Explore This Fall
If you’re in the mood to see some changing leaves and ridiculously gorgeous scenes like something straight out of a Thomas Kinkade painting, you ought to take a trip out to your nearest covered bridge (or maybe a road trip to ones a little further away). These seven covered bridges in Indiana are among our favorite suggestions for where to go to see the best autumn views in the state. When it comes to blending history and color, this is perfect. If you’re a fan of road trips and vintage charm, visiting a covered bridge or two (or three, or ten – there’s only 98 in the entire state, after all) is the perfect journey for this time of year. Let’s take a look:
1. Smith Covered Bridge
Smith Covered Bridge, E 150 N, Rushville, IN 46173, USA
Built in 1877 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, this very historic and well-kept bridge is a sight to see any time of year but it is especially charming when the trees surrounding it are changing during fall. The bridge is also known as the Offutt Covered Bridge and spans 124 feet over Big Flat Rock Creek in southern Indiana. Discover more about it on Bridgehunter!
It took about four years in the mid-1800s to construct this massive, 182-foot-long bridge, which is more than 20 feet wide. It spans the East Fork of the White River in southern Indiana and is a wonderful place to capture excellent photos of the fall foliage this time of year. Read more about it here.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, this wonderful fall covered bridge was built in 1904. It is a classic, simple Hoosier covered bridge built in the single span Burr Arch style. Click here to learn more!
4. Bridgeton Bridge
Bridgeton Bridge, 8132 Bridgeton Rd, Bridgeton, IN 47836, USA
Also a Burr Arch style bridge, this one is much bigger and was built in 1868 from sandstone blocks and wood. Though it was previously destroyed by a fire, the bridge was reconstructed in 2006. Read more about Bridgeton here.
Built in 1876 to cross the White River in northwest Indiana, this bridge rests on limestone and is more than 365 feet long. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016 to keep it preserved. Read more about this gorgeous little slice of history here.
This west-central Indiana bridge is lovely any time of year but autumn really makes for a gorgeous adventure you won't want to miss. Crossing the Sugar Creek, this classic fall covered bridge is 160 feet long and 16 feet wide with a height of 13 feet. It was built in 1913 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Click here to learn more!
This southern Indiana bridge is quintessential to the charm that these sorts of vintage structures bring to the state. Built in 1880, it is known as the oldest covered bridge in Indiana, and it is definitely fun to see in the fall. Check out the page on Bridgehunter!
Where else do you enjoy looking at fall-themed covered bridges? Share your favorites with us in the comments.
Address: Smith Covered Bridge, E 150 N, Rushville, IN 46173, USA
Address: Carl Miske Drive, Columbus, IN 47201, USA
Address: 3806 W 900 N, Wawaka, IN 46794, USA
Address: Bridgeton Bridge, 8132 Bridgeton Rd, Bridgeton, IN 47836, USA
Address: 1917 E County Rd 200 N, Seymour, IN 47274, USA
Address: 8203 Cox Ford Rd, Bloomingdale, IN 47832, USA
Address: 4619 Covered Bridge Rd, Nashville, IN 47448, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Covered Bridges in Indiana
October 03, 2021
Tori Jane
How many covered bridges in Indiana are there?
Fans of covered bridges have good reason to be excited to visit Indiana – it’s home to a TON of amazing, historic covered bridges, each with its own interesting history (and, in some cases, tragedy). In total, the Hoosier State harbors 98 different covered bridges, most especially in Parke County. Parke County has been called “the covered bridge capital of the world”, and we can see why; that single county has 31 bridges scattered all over! That’s about a third of all the bridges in the state! The Jackson Covered Bridge holds the title of the longest single-span bridge in the entire state, and honestly, it’s a strange thing to be proud of, but we sure are proud anyway!
What are some of the best places to see fall color in Indiana?
Well, one thing is for sure: those covered bridges all over the Hoosier State are seriously only made better with the added magic of fall color. Indiana is a great state for leaf-peepers; year after year, it treats us to incredibly colorful, vivid landscapes that are truly unforgettable. Some of our favorite places to check out the amazing fall color every autumn include Brown County (which is often called the most beautiful area of the state and fall just makes it EXTRA incredible) and even lesser-thought-of spots like the campus of Indiana University. Speaking of colleges, the University of Notre Dame is another excellent place for fall color. If you’d like more information about these spots and then some, you might want to check out this list of the best places to see fall color in Indiana.
Address: Smith Covered Bridge, E 150 N, Rushville, IN 46173, USA
Address: Carl Miske Drive, Columbus, IN 47201, USA
Address: 3806 W 900 N, Wawaka, IN 46794, USA
Address: Bridgeton Bridge, 8132 Bridgeton Rd, Bridgeton, IN 47836, USA
Address: 1917 E County Rd 200 N, Seymour, IN 47274, USA
Address: 8203 Cox Ford Rd, Bloomingdale, IN 47832, USA
Address: 4619 Covered Bridge Rd, Nashville, IN 47448, USA
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
