Indiana has quite an interesting honor to its name, especially if you're a fan of old and unique historic places. For instance, there are nearly 100 covered bridges (98, to be exact) in the Hoosier State. Once upon a time, this number was significantly higher, being somewhere between 400 and 500. Unfortunately, history and time always take their toll, and usually, things like covered bridges just don't last.

Many of the Parke County covered bridges have stood the test of time. Therefore, if you're wondering, "Where can I find covered bridges near me," how about embarking upon a short day trip to admire them? For your convenience, we went ahead and created a blueprint of some of the most beautiful covered bridges in Indiana. So, read on to learn more about what you'll explore on this fun outing.

Parke County, Indiana, is quite literally famous for being the "Covered Bridge Capital of the World." To get started on your adventure, take a look at our Parke County covered bridges map which will take you to some highlights in this part of Indiana.

1. Cox Ford Covered Bridge

We'll begin our tour of Parke County covered bridges at the Cox Ford Covered Bridge. This historical structure was built in 1913 by Joseph A. Britton and resides over Sugar Creek on the western edge of Turkey Run State Park. Interestingly, it was built from arches used on the Armiesburg Covered Bridge, which had been washed out earlier that year in the flood of 1913. It's a burr arch truss bridge that spans 176 feet in length.

2. Beeson Covered Bridge

Just a few short minutes up the road is our second stop along your tour of Indiana covered bridges - the Beeson Covered Bridge. Once upon a time, this bridge crossed Roaring Creek on County Road 216 in Washington Township, but in 1979, it was moved to its current location in Billie Creek Village. It was built in 1906 and is considerably smaller than the Cox Ford Covered Bridge, coming in at just 55 feet in length. It was originally going to be called the Marshall Covered Bridge, but there was already another nearby that had this name - so it was simply named after the local Beeson family instead.

3. Crooks Covered Bridge

Our third stop is at the old Crooks Covered Bridge. This stop on the Parke County covered bridges map crosses over Little Raccoon Creek and was built in 1855/56 by a man named Henry Wolf. It was moved from its original location at some point in or around 1863, though the exact reason for this is unknown. It is an impressive 154 feet in length, and to this day, it's open to traffic.

4. McAllisters Covered Bridge

Our fourth stop on this road trip of covered bridges in Indiana is the famed McAllisters Covered Bridge. This historical structure was built by Joseph A. Britton and his son in 1914. It's 144 feet long and absolutely beautiful, expertly crafted from local wood and appreciated by residents for well over a century now. Like all of these old bridges, McAllister Covered Bridge is quite the sight to behold - which earned it its place on this delightful day trip.

5. Neet Covered Bridge

The old Neet Covered Bridge was built in 1904 directly over Little Raccoon Creek. It is 144 feet long, expertly constructed, and has been a staple of life in Parke County since its inception in the early 20th century. This gorgeous Indiana covered bridge is only open to foot traffic. Therefore, we recommend that you plan accordingly.

6. Conley’s Ford Covered Bridge

Last, but certainly not least, is the longest bridge of the day: Conley’s Ford Covered Bridge. This special Indiana covered bridge spans an impressive 212 feet in length. This one crosses over Big Raccoon Creek and is still open to traffic, so you may cross in your car. As with all the bridges on this journey, be sure to bring a camera - it's outrageously photogenic, and we can't get enough of it.

There you have it: a fascinating, scenic day trip to six of the most intriguing covered bridges in Indiana. You now know that the next time you're in Indiana and wondering, "Where to find covered bridges near me," head to Parke County.

To help you have a memorable experience, feel free to also check out our ultimate road trip packing list. In this valuable resource, you'll find useful tips and tricks that'll help you have a wonderful outing. If you'd to explore more, take a look at our top road trips in Indiana too.