Hendricks County IN Provides BIG Adventures in Small Towns
Located west of Indianapolis, Hendricks County IN offers many family-friendly activities in its small towns.
From a historical jail-turned museum to a water park and pig sanctuary, there is plenty of things to do here.
Add some shopping and locally owned restaurants, and you can easily schedule a weekend getaway with some amazing activities in central Indiana.
Where is Hendricks County IN?
Hendricks County is ten miles west of Indianapolis.
While composed of many small towns, the county is often referred to by its five regions: Brownsburg, Danville, Avon, Plainfield, and West Hendricks County.
| Travel time to Hendricks County IN | |
|---|---|
| Chicago IL | 3.5 hours (180 miles) |
| Kalamazoo MI | 4 hours (240 miles) |
| Grand Rapids MI | 4.5 hours (275 miles) |
6 Favorite Things to Do in Hendricks County IN
1 – Splash and Swim at Splash Island Waterpark
651 Vestal Dr, Plainfield, IN 46168
(317) 839-7665
Tickets
With giant slides, dumping bucket and toddler areas, Splash Island Waterpark in Plainfield is worth the trip.
This waterpark is open seasonally, from Memorial Day through Labor Day (weekends only, starting in August). Visiting in the winter? Try the indoor pool.
Splash Island Highlights:
- Baby/Toddler Pool and splash areas safe for littles
- Lap pool and two diving boards
- Three BIG waterslides (for visitors over 48 inches)
- Lazy river
- Volleyball and basketball pool areas
- Snack stand
- Lifeguarded facility and life jackets are available for all ages and sizes
- Multiple bathrooms, showers and changing rooms
Caribbean Crossing
Visitors must be at least 48 inches tall to cross the lily pads at Splash Island.
Lazy River
Discover many spots to get sprayed by water or water dumped on you from coconuts hanging above your heads.
2 – Experience Andy Griffith Nostalgia at the Mayberry Cafe
78 W Main St, Danville, IN 46122
(317) 745-4067
Menu
Grab a meal at the Mayberry Cafe and immerse yourself in some Andy Griffith memorabilia.
Visitors will find a large menu with many items named after characters from the famous show and a replica police car outside.
We recommend the breaded tenderloin and Huckleberry lemonade. Kids under 10 receive a token to exchange for a prize when you leave.
Breaded Tenderloin
A staple in Indiana, and a very tasty option at Mayberry Cafe.
Cafe Prizes
Diners under 10 can pick a prize when they leave.
3 – Pet a Pig at Oinking Acres Farm & Pet Sanctuary
8420 N County Rd 650 East, Brownsburg, IN 46112
You’ll find over 90 pigs in the care of Oinking Acres, a nonprofit rescue and sanctuary in Brownsburg. Oinking Acres was started by 19-year-old Olivia, who opened her family farm’s doors to rescuing pigs.
During your visit, take a tour with Olivia and meet all of the residents. The pigs here live in luxury with beds, blankets, TVs, radios and custom houses.
Visitor Tip: Tours are only available by appointment. Make sure you call ahead to schedule.
If you’re looking for some pig companionship, some of them are available to adopt. You’ll also find bunnies, goats, a donkey and a miniature horse here.
Bring your own food to feed the animals or purchase food on site.
Oinking Acres runs on donations ($10 per tour per person) and adoptions.
4 – Get Your Game On at Press Play Gaming Lounge
1004 E Main St, Brownsburg, IN 46112
(317) 939-2987
Tickets
Located in Brownsburg, Press Play hits the marks for all ages with a variety of high-tech VR games to traditional arcade play.
Attractions:
- Virtual Reality gaming
- Foam Wars (think laser tag, but with Nerf weapons instead)
- 3-point challenge basketball
- BEAM Room (interactive kids games)
- Billiards
- Arcade games
- Full bar and food available for purchase
Enjoy an all-day pass or pay-by activity; arcade games are $1 each.
5 – Transport into 1950 with the Oasis Diner
405 W Main St, Plainfield, IN 46168
(317) 837-7777
Menu
The Oasis Diner will take you back in time to the 1950s, complete with retro bar stools, chocolate cake, and sodas made in-house. Favorite flavors: chocolate cola, butterscotch rootbeer and cherry vanilla cream soda.
They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner here and are open seven days per week (close early on Sundays).
In addition to their soda, they are known for their beignets and breaded tenderloins.
Visitor Tip: This restaurant only serves breakfast and lunch on Sundays.
6 – Tour the Hendricks County Historical Museum
170 S Washington St, Danville, IN 46122
(317) 718-6158
Visit a former jail from 1866 and sheriff’s residence turned into the Hendricks County Historical Museum in Danville, complete with artifacts to commemorate different eras from the 1800s and 1900s.
Inside the museum, the rooms are staged for different time periods; you will find clothing, dollhouses, appliances, decor and other artifacts.
They also have a military room featuring donated war items, including helmets, weapons, wheelchairs and old uniforms.
Visitor Tip: This museum is only open from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, March through December.
Where to Stay
Hendricks County IN offers a large variety of hotel options for your stay with varying price points and amenities to fit your needs.
More to Explore
