Southern Indiana is stunningly scenic and loaded with budget-friendly family fun things to do. Here are twelve exciting attractions that cost $10 or less. Many are FREE!
Vintage Fire Museum, Jeffersonville (EST)
Bring your fire truck fans and firefighter wanna-bes to see this collection of historic fire engines and vintage fire-fighting artifacts. You’ll see everything from hand-carried and horse-drawn fire brigade wagons to shiny red fire truck classics. This collection is world-renowned and contains items dating back to 1756. Some rustic. Some restored. You’ll be amazed at what you see.
Admission: Adults $7. Kids 3-15 $4. Children 2 & under, FREE.
Indiana’s Original Capitol, Corydon (EST)
You may not know the first Indiana State Capitol was located in Corydon, Indiana in Harrison County, right on the Ohio River. Originally a territorial outpost, 43 delegates met in Corydon in 1816 to draft the first Indiana state constitution. During your visit, see “Constitution Elm”, under which the state constitution was written, and tour the first state house.
Admission: Adults $7. Kids 3-17 $4. Children 2 and under, FREE.
Hoosier National Forest, Tell City (CST)
Spanning over 60,000 acres just in Perry County alone, the Hoosier National Forest includes lakes, sandy beaches, boat launches, fishing, hiking, biking, equestrian trails, kayaking, camping, and just about every outdoor recreation adventure you can imagine. Open every day, year-round, some activities like fishing, horseback riding, and mountain bike riding require a license or permit. Daily entry passes are required for some campgrounds.
Gate admission: FREE
Spring Mill State Park, Mitchell (EST)
This Indiana state park has a long list of unique offerings. The park is filled with trails, nature preserves, ponds, rivers, and more. Due to the limestone terrain, several caves are inside the park, and two are connected by an underground river. Guided tours are available and should be booked in advance for $3 per person. The Pioneer Village is an actual early 1800s village that has been restored. Open May through October, twenty buildings comprise the village with a 3-story limestone gristmill as its dramatic centerpiece. Also on site is the Grissom Memorial museum that honors Mitchell native, Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts. Open year round, there are hundreds of space program artifacts on display, including the Gemini III Molly Brown spacecraft. The Spring Mill Inn is currently being renovated and reopens Spring, 2024.
Admission: $7 per in-state noncommercial vehicle. $9 per out-of-state vehicle. Admission includes all occupants of the vehicle. Admission to Pioneer Village and Grissom Memorial are FREE with park admission.
French Lick West Baden Museum, downtown French Lick (EST)
Explore the unique turn of the century history of this town once known for the healing powers of the local sulfur springs. A museum highlight is the room-sized miniature Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus diorama. Based in West Baden, the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus was the second largest circus in America in the early 1900s. You’ll also learn about the origin of Pluto Water, the notorious local gambling history, and about the rich and famous who visited the French Lick and West Baden Resorts.
Admission: Adults $10. Kids 6-12 $6. Children 5 and under, FREE.
Huntingburg League Stadium, Huntingburg (EST)
League Stadium was featured in the 1992 hit movie, A League of Their Own, and served as the home field for the Rockford Peaches in the movie. The movie Soul of the Game showcased this same field in 1996. Every summer, see top collegiate baseball players from all over the Midwest compete with other teams in the Ohio Valley League. Cheer for the local team, The DC (Dubois County) Bombers, and touch base with a little bit of Hollywood. These games are an exciting way to see talented, up-and-coming players fighting for the chance to go pro. And remember, “There’s no crying in baseball!”
Admission: is as low as $6 per person.
Holiday Drive-In Movie Theater, Rockport (CST)
Step back in time and experience a carload of nostalgia at The Holiday Drive-In Movie Theater, just outside of Santa Claus, Indiana. Each admission includes a dynamic double-feature on six screens! Over the years, the old hanging speakers have been replaced with high-fidelity, stereo sound broadcasted right through your car radio. Bring your own snacks, or buy freshly prepared popcorn, hamburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, candy, and drinks at the concession stand. Watch from your car or bring lawn chairs. It is a magical slice of Americana, so load the car with your favorite people, and come to the drive-in! Open seasonally.
Admission: Adults $12. Kids 4-11 $6. Children 3 and under, FREE.
(Average family of 4, per person cost, is $9.)
The Daviess County Historical Society & Museum, Washington (EST)
Explore local history from the prehistoric era through 1930. The extensive display of artifacts includes historic school desks and equipment, military uniforms and supplies, pioneer lifestyle pieces including wagons and buggies, various eras of fashion, fossils, and prehistoric bones. Built in 1869, the building itself is historic, too.
Admission: FREE
Museum of the Coal Industry, Lynnville (CST)
The coal industry has impacted the Warrick County community in many ways. Built on land previously mined for coal, you’ll quicky see how land can be restored after mining and reclamation. This museum explores the history of coal mining in Indiana and demonstrates the importance of coal in daily life.
Admission: FREE. Donations welcome.
Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy, Vincennes (EST)
This museum celebrates the life and legacy of a Vincennes native and one of America’s greatest comedians. Through colorful displays and entertaining films, this vibrant, fully interactive museum focuses on Red Skelton’s life and characters. Expect a whole lot of fun and laughs for the whole family.
Admission: Adults $8. Students K-college $5. Children under 5 FREE.
Lyles Station Historic School & Museum, Princeton (CST)
Recognized as one of the last remaining African American settlements in Indiana, Lyles Station Historic School and Museum tells the history of how free African Americans built a thriving farming community beginning in 1849 in a restricted and segregated era. Today, the school features a museum and a living history classroom that lets students experience a day in the life of school children in the early 1900s. Several historic artifacts from the community are also on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture.
Admission: Adults $5. Children under 17, $3.
Mickey’s Kingdom Park, Evansville (CST)
This playground is unique and worth the drive! Built for children of ALL abilities, this 21,000 sq. ft. park has structures made from recycled milk jugs and features a rubber surface, for safety. Ramps, the Liberty Swing and other features make this park wheelchair accessible. See the world’s tallest solar CommuniTree while you are there. With so many unique pieces of playing equipment you have probably never seen before, your kids will happily explore, and have fun for hours. Come and play for a heartwarming and inclusive day.
Admission: FREE
Bring your family to Down Home Southern Indiana for days and days of family fun. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to explore, create lasting memories, and have a great time.
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