The Best Vacation Rentals to Book in Indiana

This charming cottage is just a few minutes’ walk from Sheridan Beach, and a short drive from enjoyable sites such as Indiana Dunes National Park, Washington Park Zoo and the Friendship Botanic Gardens. Softly decorated throughout, the 14-sleeper property features five bedrooms (including a bunk bed) and three bathrooms, so bring along family and friends. The fully equipped kitchen, sun deck and beachside hammock are everything you could need for a relaxed Indiana beach vacation. You may never want to leave.

If you’re one of the more than 250,000 people who descend on Indianapolis for the Indy 500 each year, then you’ll want to book this spotlessly clean and compact bungalow. It’s within easy walking distance to the Speedway, where the iconic race and many others are held, as well as a museum that charts the city’s passionate relationship with motor racing. Owners Brett and Kim are considerate hosts, too.

This Indianapolis home might look a bit small from the outside, like some kind of quaint Scandi structure, but when you walk in – wow. It opens up to reveal a chic home away from home, featuring luxe furnishings, modern lighting and a brand new kitchen, complete with marble surfaces and a giant fridge. The sociable, open-plan living area has a cozy corner sofa and a flatscreen TV. There’s a deck with a barbecue out back, plus a games room with foosball and pool tables tucked away in the garage.

From its red-brick exterior and picture-perfect porch to its cheerily decorated interiors, complete with striped armchairs, this Indianapolis house is simply gorgeous. On the first floor, large windows flood the living area with light, and on hot summer evenings you can dine out on the garden patio. Upstairs, you’ll find five bedrooms and two bathrooms – there’s even a freestanding bath for that touch of glamour. As the name suggests, you’ll be walking distance from Fountain Square, so it’s close to the city’s main sights, but far enough away from the action to ensure a good night’s sleep.

Indiana is famous for its farmland, and you can experience the best of its rural charm with a stay at one of this farm’s wooden cottages. Choose from four rustic accommodations, sleeping from two to six, complete with barbecues and picnic areas as well as self-catering facilities inside. Sitting on 50 acres (20ha) in Greene County, around two hours southwest of Indianapolis, this is the perfect vacation spot for keen anglers, hikers, bikers and birdwatchers, as well as those who want to experience silent nights and starry unpolluted skies.

Located halfway between Indianapolis and Chicago, Lake Shafer is a sleepy reservoir, created for pleasure cruises in the 1920s. Today, it’s home to the tourist center of Monticello, the Indiana Beach amusement resort and these compact, colorful chalets. Within the accommodation complex, there’s an outdoor pool, barbecue grills and a picnic area plus free wifi and parking; and you’re just one minute from the lake for fishing, boating and water sports galore.

If you’re traveling around Indiana, you may want to take a detour to Louisville, Kentucky – home of Muhammad Ali, Kentucky Fried Chicken and the world-famous Derby. Although the city itself is just over the state line, the city’s northern suburbs are technically in Indiana, and Sellersburg is home to this cute ranch house that sleeps 10 folks. It’s particularly good for families, with memory foam mattresses, plus a big yard and outdoor/indoor dining tables. As well as Louisville itself (a 20-minute drive), you can explore Clark State Forest, Deam Lake and fruit-picking farms nearby.

New Albany is technically another Louisville suburb, but it wasn’t always in Kentucky. New Albany was actually the largest city in Indiana from 1816 until 1860, so it has a rich hoosier history of its own, such as at the Town Clock Church, a stop on the Underground Railroad. Stop for souvenirs at the Odd Shop, grab freakshakes at Boomtown Creamery and enjoy free summer concerts at the Riverfront Amphitheater. This rental is a chilled-out base for exploring the area’s cultural offerings, and you’ll feel like an old-timey person in the luxurious living room armchair.