There are many places to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend in the US. However, one of the best states to visit is Indiana, which is home to plenty of beautiful towns, and where there are so many amazing things to do and natural attractions to witness. However, there's one city particularly worth visiting in Indiana on the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend, which has Indianapolis getting revved up for the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. If booking a trip to Indy around this single-day road race, know that there’s a lot more to see and do in the "Racing Capital of The World."

Attending The Indy 500

Race Day is the name of the day when the Indianapolis 500 happens; tickets can be purchased online here. There are two types of admission available. The Reserved Seat ticket provides not only a reserved numbered seat but also admission to the grounds and viewing mounds at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The second option is a General Admission ticket, which gives ticket holders access to the Speedway’s infield viewing mounds to watch from different vantage points.

There are corresponding events leading up to or held on or after Race Day that require separate tickets. The Indy 500 Snake Pit is an infield EDM concert at the Speedway on the same day as the Indy 500. Its all-star lineup features well-recognized acts within this musical genre, including Kaskade, Subtronics, John Summit, Jauz, and DJ Diesel (aka professional basketball player Shaquille O’Neal).

Related: Did You Know There's A Catacomb Underneath Indianapolis? Here's How You Can Visit

Getting To The Indianapolis Motor Speedway

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is located in the town of Speedway, about a 20-minute drive from Indianapolis. Yet don’t assume that a parking spot right at Speedway is a given. All lot parking at the Speedway for the Indianapolis 500 Race Day is validated by buying a parking pass in advance. Forgive the pun, but they go pretty fast.

However, there's another transportation option. The advance purchase of a Race Day Shuttle Pass permits a pickup between either the Indianapolis International Airport or downtown Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway also lists details on road closures on Race Day and other information online. Their mobile app features interactive maps and news alerts and can access digital tickets.

Dos And Don'ts Of Attending The Indy 500

Indianapolis Motor Speedway's website has a list of items you can and can’t bring inside. No selfie sticks, please. Glass containers aren’t permitted, either. Coolers can come in, but their size must not exceed 18 inches by 14 inches by 14 inches. Outside food and drinks can be brought in. Carts and wagons can come in on Race Day as well, but they have to be collapsible. Trained service animals are allowed, but the family pet isn’t.

It’s best for Reserved Seat ticket holders to get to the gate nearest to their seating location by 10 a.m. Gates open at 6 a.m. and then close at 4 p.m.; the famous green flag waves at 12:45 p.m.

Be sure to check the local weather report. If it is sunny and hot, lather on the sunscreen and be sure to stay hydrated.

If you decide not to see the Indy 500 in person, don’t plan on watching the race in real time on local TV. It gets blocked out on local media–the ban was lifted in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic and in 2016 because tickets completely sold out–while it's happening. However, the race is aired later that day.

Before or after Race Day, set aside some time to cruise near or around Indianapolis. There are many suggested stops to make.

Related: This Secret Pennsylvania Tunnel Is Used For Race Car Testing

Here Are The Things To Do During Indy 500 Weekend In Indianapolis

During the Indy 500 Weekend in Indianapolis, a plethora of engaging experiences await visitors. From thrilling races to captivating events, the city comes alive with excitement, creating an unforgettable atmosphere for all who partake in this legendary celebration.

Visit The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

Located at the Speedway, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum preserves and promotes the legacy of auto racing and the speedway itself. More than 25 Indy 500-winning cars are on view amid displays of photographs, fine art, trophies, and other racing artifacts.

A theater presents an eight-minute-long film on the speedway’s history or pay for a photo op in the driver’s seat of a vintage race car. The museum also schedules a number of tours, with one providing a behind-the-scenes look at the speedway and another heading into the museum’s basement repository.

Take Youngsters To The Children’s Museum Of Indianapolis

Inspired by its founder’s visit to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, this Indy children's museum has grown since in its start in 1925 to become known as the biggest children’s museum in the world. Indoor and outdoor exhibits introduce various-themed and playful environments involving history, science, sports and pop culture. Their event calendar is packed with live theater shows and daily programming. Children can have their time on the racetrack through the museum’s Indianapolis Motor Speedway Pedal Car Racetrack Experience.

Go For A Meal At The Garage Food Hall

In Indy’s Bottleworks District, occupying what was once the garage buildings for a Coca-Cola bottling plant, this marketplace features an eclectic food and beverage vendor line-up. Among them, Poke Guru puts an Asian fusion twist on this Hawaiian dish, Panadas prepares Venezuelan dishes, and Alex’s Garage Tap’s beers can be paired with orders.

There are also retailers and a business space set aside for pop-ups. Its nearby neighbor is the Bottleworks Hotel, an Art Deco building turned boutique property.

Find Food And Fun In Fountain Square

A mile southeast of downtown Indy, the neighborhood of Fountain Square is a creatively cool district. It is full of restaurants, galleries, shops, and amusement venues coinciding with a vibrant arts scene. Its centerpiece is the Fountain Square Theatre Building, a circa 1928 venue that started as a place of entertainment then and still serving as one now. Its current tenants extend to duckpin bowling and retro duckpin bowling alleys, a lobby bar and game room, and a rooftop bar.

Dining options within Fountain Square can extend to Three Carrots Fountain Square, which prepares vegan and vegetarian versions of Midwestern eats; Revolucion, a hip Mexican cantina with patio seating; and Yaso Jamaican Grill, a cozy venue that's big on Jerk chicken, curried goat, ackee and salt fish and other Jamaican specialties.

Go On An Indiana History Walk & Talk

Indianapolis is full of multi-faceted histories. Local guide and Indiana native Sampson Levingston tells about them through his platform, Through2Eyes. Levingston leads what he refers to as “Walk & Talk” history tours. One of them brings attendees to Indiana Avenue, a Black cultural and commercial hub in its prime and linked to notable figures, including entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker.

“Walk & Talk” highlights can include the "Indiana Avenue Jazz Masters" mural depicting Indianapolis-associated jazz legends from the 1950s and 1960s. Painted on a wall at Musicians Repair & Sales, a music store, the mural features David Young, Jimmy Coe, David Baker, JJ Johnson, Slide Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Larry Ridley, and Wes Montgomery.​

Dine In At St. Elmo SteakHouse

Around 1902, this downtown Indy landmark stays pretty busy but even more so during the Indy 500 weekend. As the oldest Indianapolis steakhouse in its original location, St. Elmo Steak House retains its old-school vibes with black vested, white-shirted, and black bow-tied wait staff and a fine selection of steaks and other prime cuts of meat.

However, their jumbo shrimp cocktail in their spicy signature cocktail sauce is a showstopper. Or order one within their 1933 Lounge By St. Elmo, a speakeasy-style space on the second floor. Note: the restaurant is closed on Memorial Day; reservations are strongly recommended.

Have Dessert At A Storybook Bakery

Ordering a sweet treat from The Cake Bake Shop is like stepping into a fairytale. The author of this true story is the shop's founder and owner, Gwendolyn Rogers, who drew upon her childhood love of baking to open a small business in Broad Ripple Village. Inside a former cottage, the transformative space is captivated by French doors, white marbled tables, and sparkling chandeliers. A display case looks magical with scratch-made cakes, pies, cookies, cheesecakes, and French pastries. Bringing some baking magic home is encouraged, as a gift shop carries sprinkles, cake toppers, cookware, and extracts.

Start with a slice of Gwendolyn's Famous Earl's Court Chocolate Cake. This decadent dessert has gotten high marks from celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey. It is three layers of French Valrhona chocolate cake, with a Callebaut Belgian chocolate ganache and a chocolate malted cream. The shop has a second location in Indy's Carmel City Center.