Heading to Indianapolis for the NHRA US Nationals and would like some advice about where to stay. I'm thinking it fits the forum due it's been held for 69 years and hot rods have been racing and hoodlums have attended over that span. If this is out of bounds the mods can delete the post. I am looking for recommendations on where to stay. Way past the rowdy party all night stage I'm looking for a quiet hotel in a safe area. Don't travel much and keep to myself and just want a place to sleep. Cost not a concern and if it's within 45 minutes to a hour away that's ok. Close would be nice but it has to meet the quiet/safe specs. Looking forward to recommendations.
Been to Indy for Goodguys and we stayed in a motel across town, northeast side somewhere but can't remember where exactly, it was awhile ago. Just a suggestion to maybe edit the title of the thread to include "Indy area HAMB members" or something like that, there's gotta be some folks in the area who can fill you in. Sorry, not much help but at least here's a bump for ya....
You might want to look around a bit in the Broad Ripple or Fountain Square areas of Indianapolis. Maybe a little spendy? A little ways to IRP but you can get there fairly directly if you take 10th St. west across Indy. This will let you enter the backside of IRP and avoid some of the traffic on Crawfordsville Rd thru Clermont. Or at least it used to. Avon is a nice area but close enough to the track that you may have trouble booking a room this late.
I live northeast of Indy, lots of construction on the north and southeast side of the 465 loop. I see your from Minnesota so I assume you'll be coming down I65 from the Chicago area. You might look around Whitestown/ Zionsville area. That's just northwest of the city. From there you can get to 136/Clermont taking 65S to 465S or drop down st rd 267 to the I74 Brownsburg area. Either way is about a 30 minute drive to IRP/Lucas Oil on a non natioal event day. If you end up in Whitestown you gotta try the LA Cafe for food and if you have someone with you that needs a diversion Zionsville has a nice little, walkable, downtown with some good eateries and quaint shopping.
Starting the trip by heading to Davenport Iowa for the motorcycle swapmeet then on to Indy. Most likely going through Bloominton IL to avoid Chicago so the northwest area is a great location. I will look into Whitestown. A 30 minute drive is easy.
We are staying at The Courtyard at 6315 Crawfordsville in Speedway. I don't know if they have any rooms or not, its 5 miles from the track.
Definitely great advice to stay away from the east side from I 69 north to 465 south nothing but construction. Have a great time sounds like your living the good life enjoy.
I74 from Bloomington Ill to IRP/Lucas Oil is about 4 hours. Traveled to and from south central Iowa down I74 many times. I74 will bring you through Brownsburg IN, about 5 miles from the track, but like Kelly Burns said check, for rooms. Allot of the race shops are based in the Brownsburg/Clermont area. I74 has an exit just a couple of miles from the front gate at the track before you get to the Indy 465 loop. I always let google maps be my friend and get a feel for the area before I hit the road. If you decide on the Whitestown/Zionville area for a room, as you are looking at a map, you might take state road 32 east from Crawfordsville. Coming down I74 you will cross 32 on your way towards Indy. 32 east will take you directly into Lebanon In, which also has some hotels and is only 5-10 minutes north of the Whitestown/Zionsville I65 interchange. Wishing you safe travels ras
I won't be much help. My last Indy was 60 years ago. Actually 59, went '64 & '65. We camped either at the track or the drive-in next door. '64 was a crazy year both in the stands and after the track shut down for the day. Lee
I used to stay in the Plainfield area on the west side. Several motels and not too far from the track.
What day will you be at Davenport? I’ll be there later this year because Little Truckdoctor starts High School and I can’t pull him out for three days like we used to. We will be there starting on Friday. I’ll be the guy on the green Kawasaki Mule wearing a “Staff” shirt hauling parts for people.
The plan is to be there Friday. I’ll keep a eye out for you which may be tough if the swap is as big as I’ve heard it is.
We hired an Air B&B for three nights. It was a very comfortable garage conversion attached to the house in the Indy suburbs. We only needed a bed and bathroom but it also had a lounge and simple kitchen. Good value too because they had no idea about the drag racing nearby.