Indianapolis to Key West Road Trip Guide

With life-size dinosaurs tearing out of the building, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis will grab your attention from the time you pull into the parking lot. It is the world’s largest children’s museum and it has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. This is the perfect first stop on your trip, as it will wear the kids out enough that they’ll sleep for a lot of the drive and you’ll get to think about everything you learned during your visit.

There are rotating exhibits that allow local visitors to see something new every time they come. You may want to check online before visiting to see what’s in store for you and your family during your trip. If you need to get some shut-eye before the next stop, you can park your rental trailer or RV at the KOA Indianapolis Holiday.

After a day at the Children’s Museum, make your way to Louisville. There you will have the opportunity to stop at the local zoo. With over 130-acres to explore, this zoo will easily take an entire afternoon to walk through. The kids will love to see familiar animals like giraffes, lions, monkeys, and bears. There are also monthly events that you can attend and you can see what’s going on by looking at the calendar online.

Take a break during your stay and watch one of the entertaining sea lion shows! Each area of the Louisville Zoo is categorized by exhibit. This makes it easy to get in to see your favorite animals if you’re short on time! The Herp Aquarium is a unique exhibit that is home to giant snakes, bats, reptiles, and even a gila monster!

Believe it or not, you don’t have to be a country music fan to enjoy a stop at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1961, this iconic building has seen some of the most amazing performers in the past several decades. It is one of the largest museums in the state. It was originally created as a research center that is dedicated to making sure American vernacular music is kept alive.

Inside the museum, you’ll be able to see one of the largest collections of music in the entire world! Whether you’re a casual fan of Reba McEntire or you consider yourself Elvis Presley’s biggest supporter, you’ll enjoy visiting this iconic museum. There are several places where you can park for the night to get some rest. The Nashville Koa Holiday, Two Rivers Campground, and Anderson Road Campground are some of the closest options.

Continuing on the long journey to Key West, Florida, you’ll get the option to stop at a breathtaking tourist attraction unlike any place you’ve stopped before. Ruby Falls is located near Chattanooga, Tennessee and is one of the most popular places visitors like to stop. There you will find several cascading waterfalls. What’s so special about them? They’re underground! Each has beautiful lights around them providing a cool hue to the water as in streams down.

The waterfalls total 145 feet and can be found within Lookout Mountain. These waterfalls were accidentally discovered in the early 1900s and have been a tourist hot spot ever since. There are affordable guided tours every day that teach you a bit of the history behind the area as well. Stay the night at Williams Island Primitive Campsite to get some rest before heading to Georgia.

The Georgia Aquarium is one of the coolest places along your journey. It’s the perfect place to stretch your legs, entertain your mind, and get a break from staring at the road for hours on end. You’ll easily be able to kill a few hours and get the kids worn out for the next part of the drive. There are thousands of animals that call this aquarium home. The tanks are realistic and contain over 10 million gallons of saltwater.

For several years the Georgia Aquarium was the largest aquarium in the world and it still is quite jaw-dropping. Whether you’re hoping to see fish, whales, polar bears, or even stingrays, you’ll be able to see all that and more at this pit stop.Atlanta Marietta RV Resort Park is a great place to stay after spending all day looking at all of the animals.

You’d be surprised how many small towns have amazing tourist attractions. Located in Valdosta, Georgia, Wild Adventures will be a stop the whole family can enjoy. It’s a zoological theme park that is owned by the Herschend Family Entertainment group. Not only are there animals to see as you would at a zoo, but there are towering roller coasters that will get your adrenaline pumping.

There is an area of the theme park that’s dedicated to young kids where the rides are much tamer and there are fun carnival-like activities. Wild Adventures also hosts events like concerts. You can see what’s going on at the zoo during your visit by checking out their website. River Park RV Park and Lake Park Campground are two places nearby where you can crash for the night.

After days filled with busy tourist attractions full of other people, it’s time to break away from the crowd. One of the best stops on this road trip from Indianapolis to Key West is a ways after you enter Florida. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is the perfect place to stretch your legs and spend some much needed time in nature.

Visitors there get to enjoy a number of outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, and climbing. You can even catch your own dinner by casting a reel while fishing. During the off-season, you’ll be able to go geocaching as well as relax around a campfire. You’re able to park the RV for the night at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, but it’s important to note that there is an equestrian campground nearby if needed.

Another beautiful stop outdoors is Mounts Botanical Garden. Visiting here will have you feeling like you just walked out of the Secret Garden. It can be found in West Palm Beach, Florida and is a hidden gem of the city. It’s the entire county's oldest and largest public garden. While visiting, you’ll be able to see over 2,000 unique species of tropical and subtropical plants.

These plants come from six out of the seven continents and you’re sure to see something you never have before, whether that’s a classic palm tree, tropical fruit, or special herb plants. There are stunning hand-carved statues throughout the garden as well. Palm Beach RV Park and Peanut Island Park are spots where you can park for the night before reaching your final destination.