Five fun things to do in Madison, Indiana–the perfect day trip or vacation from Cincinnati and Louisville

Looking for somewhere fun to go that is less than a two hour drive from Louisville or Cincinnati? Step back in time and visit Madison, Indiana. Often referred to as the “hidden jewel” of the banks of the Ohio River, Madison Indiana is a fascinating and affordable place for Louisville or Cincinnati residents to visit, whether traveling as a couple, as a family, or going solo.

Madison, Indiana is an historical river town about halfway between Cincinnati and Louisville on the Ohio River. Its architecture, art and music scene, natural beauty, and unique restaurants, wineries, and breweries offer someone for everyone. Be careful, though, once you visit you may not want to leave!

There are endless reasons to visit, but we’ve narrowed it down to a short list. Come and see for yourself! By the time you leave, we are sure your list of favorites will be much longer.

1. Shopping in Madison’s downtown historic district

Madison, Indiana has one of the largest contiguous historical districts in the United States, including almost all of its downtown. If you enjoy historic structures and details, you’ll truly enjoy the architectural eye candy while you shop for treasures in one of downtown Madison’s many shops offering antiques, books, clothing, shoes, toys, gifts and more. Explore places to shop in Madison at this link.

While you’re shopping, take a break to enjoy Madison’s restaurants, bars, and restaurants. We have fabulous places to eat and drink both downtown and uptown. Whether you’re in the mood for pizza, steak, fish tacos, enchiladas, charcuterie, sushi, lo mein, frozen yogurt, fresh sourdough bread, or a glass of local wine or craft beer, you’ll find world-class food and drink in Madison.

Pro tip: Most downtown shops and several restaurants are closed on Mondays, so pick a different day of the week if downtown shopping is a part of your plans.

2. Ghost spotting? There’s a tour for that!

Madison has a fantastic assortment of downtown tours; on foot, by trolley, by horse-drawn carriage, or even by boat! The Ghost Walk Tour, available in September and October, takes brave adventurers to several downtown haunted locations. If group tours aren’t your thing, there are self-guided tour maps available at the downtown visitor’s center. Many of Madison’s historic homes and buildings are open to the public, providing a window to a past rich with history. Learn more about Madison’s tours at this link.

If you just want to explore downtown on your own, you can walk or rent a golf cart and putter around to your heart’s content. While Main Street is off limits for golf carts, there are plenty of streets near the river downtown rich with a wide variety of architecture, colorful gardens, antique iron fences and gates, and unusual historic structures such as stables and ice houses. If you’re on foot, be sure to stop and make a wish at the Broadway fountain, a national historic landmark. This gorgeous fountain is made of bronze, and is adorned with four tritons spouting water from seashells! Read about the history of our Broadway fountain at this link.

3. Enjoying Madison’s developed riverfront

The city of Madison takes great pride in its riverfront, and fundraises annually to continue the development and beautification of the area. Meant to be a gathering place for everyone, the long downtown stretch of the riverfront is perfect for walking, jogging, biking, cruising, or just enjoying the beautiful views. Vaughn Drive, the street along the riverfront, features benches, water fountains, a modern playground for children, a dog park, marinas and boat docks, and more. Visitors can walk for over a mile one-way along a wide brick and pavement walkway.

At the east end of the walkway, visitors can take in even more breathtaking scenery by crossing a beautiful new bridge across the Ohio River to Kentucky, thanks to a separate lane for foot traffic. The Milton-Madison bridge won state and national awards for its innovative design. Watch a really, REALLY cool video of the milestones of our bridge project here.

4. Exploring Clifty Falls State Park

Clifty Falls in Madison, Indiana draws visitors all year round to its over twelve miles of hiking trails, ample campgrounds, nature center, and inn and restaurant. While you’re there, enjoy the tennis courts, swimming pool, and frequent events hosted by the park naturalist and staff such as the popular nighttime “Owl Prowl”. The trails range from easy to rugged and offer spectacular views, especially the canyon and waterfalls that gave the park its name. Explore Clifty Falls State Park at this link.

5. Discovering Madison’s music, art, and cultural events

Madison, Indiana features a wide array of downtown events that draw thousands of visitors year ‘round. The Madison Regatta is the most well-known event. Occurring annually the first weekend in July, it begins with a parade down Main Street on Friday night and goes on all weekend with two nights of live music, Saturday night fireworks on the riverfront, and, of course, lots of hydroplane racing! H1 Unlimited Hydroplanes are the fastest boats in the world, and you haven’t heard anything until you’ve heard them roar down the Ohio river. Read about the Madison Regatta and its history at this link.

The Madison Chautauqua is another popular annual event for residents and tourists alike. This outdoor juried arts and crafts festival features around two hundred artists of various mediums with handcrafted art for sale on exhibit. It happens the last full weekend of every September and offers great food, local beer and wine, and convenient public uptown parking with continuous shuttles. It also runs concurrently with Fall Old Court Days, an antique and crafts sidewalk sale that stretches around and near the courthouse. Read about the Madison Chautauqua at this link.

If art or boat racing don’t interest you, how about one of Madison’s other events? There are car shows, concerts and musical festivals, food festivals, holiday parades, weekly farmers markets, an air show, and a candlelight tour of historic private homes in late November. There truly is something for everyone in Madison! This link provides dates and information about Madison’s events.

One more reason: to visit us at Chandler Chevrolet!

We had to add a sixth reason because we’re so proud of our dealership! If you’re considering a brand new Chevrolet or a new-to-you vehicle of any make or model, we would love to show you why so many folks drive from hours away (some even fly in!) to come to our little dealership. We have something that most big city dealerships do not—small town customer service, the kind you get when you’re with friends and neighbors. We’re famous for locally-sourced, high quality pre-owned trucks of all makes, but we also stock up on luxury vehicles, gas savers, and sporty cars and SUVs.

We’re locally owned and family operated, and we proudly support our community’s events, riverfront development, and local clubs and organizations that work hard to make Madison a fun, family-friendly, stellar destination for visitors. With so much to do and see in Madison, buying a vehicle at Chandler Chevrolet can be a great excuse to stay for a few days! See our hours and directions here.

We hope you’ll come visit Madison, Indiana, the place we call home!

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