The 5 Most Colorful Places You Can Find in Indiana

From time to time, we all need a splash of color in our lives, a break from reality, a dose of whimsy, or just a reason to smile and celebrate the beauty hiding in plain sight. Hey, maybe you just like rainbows and seek them out wherever you go. No matter the reason, you’re sure to be delighted with a road trip to the most colorful places in Indiana.

1. Colorful Pipes - Columbus

Columbus, Indiana, is well known for its quirky mix of heritage architecture and public art displays. And truthfully, seeing a row of exhaust pipes on the exterior of a building randomly painted in rainbow colors isn’t too out of the ordinary. Although not exactly an Indiana hidden gem, the colourful pipes aren’t a tourist attraction either. You can’t go inside the building or schedule a tour, but you can easily find them downtown at the Telephone Building, which allows outdoor public access. It’s best to visit after the rain or during the afternoon golden hour for the best light and vibrant colors.

2. Big Four Pedestrian Bridge - Jeffersonville

A brilliant bridge spanning the Ohio River invites pedestrians to walk across state lines between Indiana and Kentucky. And it’s best to do it after dark, when the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge is alight with a rainbow of colors reflecting over the inky water. The former railroad bridge is one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world at 2,525 feet, and it's arguably one of the most colorful places to visit in Indiana, too. 

3. Colorful Tulips - Fort Wayne

Spring is undoubtedly one of the most colorful times of year to explore Indiana, and one of the prettiest places to see the spring bloom is in Fort Wayne. The first blooms typically start opening in early April, reaching peak bloom two weeks later, and peaking during the last week of April, sometimes trickling into the next month. Many urban areas are filled with tulip planters, and some of the best spots to see tulips in downtown Fort Wayne include Headwater Park, Promenade Park, and the areas surrounding Parkview Field.

4. Bold Murals - Indianapolis

When it comes to visiting the most colorful places in Indiana, Indianapolis simply cannot be left off the list. It’s impossible to describe the metro without using the words vibrant and artistic. There are an estimated 70 murals, spread across 19 city murals (many in Fountain Square, Broad Ripple, and Mass Ave), plus 46 more along The Cultural Trail. The public artwork offers inspiring, motivational swaths of color in every season. 

5. Colorful Covered Bridges - Parke County

Speaking of all seasons, there’s nothing like a burst of red to brighten the scenery any time of year. Indiana’s historic covered bridges shine in every possible landscape from crisp wintery hues, to soft spring pastels, to the verdant greens of summer, and against the vibrant fall foliage, too.  Throughout the state, you can see a whopping 86 covered bridges, with the bulk of them in Parke County, the Covered Bridge Capitol of the World.

Looking for more colorful places in the Midwest? Find more with Only In Your State's AI-powered itinerary planner!