The best road trip stops on the Indianapolis to Pittsburgh drive are Dayton, Columbus and the West Virginia Penitentiary. The distance from Indianapolis to Pittsburgh by car is 359 miles, with a 5h33m driving time.
Planning an Indianapolis to Pittsburgh road trip itinerary
The Indianapolis to Pittsburgh drive takes you from the capital of Indiana to a massively underrated city in western Pennsylvania.
The capital of Indiana marries big city energy with country charm.
Top attractions in Indianapolis include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
Worthwhile Indianapolis experiences include a Fountain Square food tour and a walking tour around the city’s highlights.
5 great Pittsburgh experiences worth booking
- 🏙️ Take an incredibly well-reviewed private Pittsburgh highlights tour.
- 🍽️ Go on a downtown food tour, with 6 fantastic food and drink stops.
- 👻 Hear spooky tales in the evening on a Pittsburgh ghost tour.
- 🥃 Discover Pittsburgh’s whiskey-soaked history – with two cocktails thrown in.
- 🛴 Visit Pittsburgh’s top photo stops – on a fun-packed Segway tour.
Pittsburgh is surprisingly beautiful – take a ride up the Duquesne Incline for the best views out over the city, Point State Park and Fort Pitt. After that, check out the Warhol Museum, National Aviary or the Nationality Rooms in the gigantic Cathedral of Learning.
Pittsburgh experiences include guided whiskey-themed walks and craft beer sampling on a multi-brewery tour.
For Pittsburgh hotels with great reviews, try the Italian villa-style Priory Hotel or the often good value Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown.
Indianapolis to Pittsburgh distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Indianapolis to Pittsburgh is 359 miles. You can expect a driving time of around five hours and 33 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-70.
The best stops to add to an Indianapolis to Pittsburgh road trip itinerary are Dayton, Columbus and the West Virginia Penitentiary.
Best stops between Indianapolis and Pittsburgh: Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio, isn’t a massive city, but it has more than played its part in history. It was here that Orville and Wilbur Wright created the first plane capable of manned, sustained flight. The original Wright Cycle Company Shop that still stands is not where the Wright Flyer was made – that was a future incarnation of the company HQ – but it was home to their bicycle business.
In Dayton, you can also visit the SunWatch Indian Village, a recreated Native American village, and the National Museum of the US Air Force.
Indianapolis to Pittsburgh road trip attractions: Columbus, Ohio.
Columbus is the capital of Ohio, and has a series of worthy attractions. None are top tier must-sees, but several are pretty darned good.
In Columbus, a three day attractions pass covers most of the top sights. These include the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. For other Columbus experiences, try scavenger hunts, a town tour aboard the Trolley Pub and the Legoland Discovery Center.
Indianapolis to Pittsburgh drive: West Virginia Penitentiary
Take a short detour south at Wheeling and you can visit the West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, West Virginia.
This atmospheric, Gothic former prison is now home to a variety of prison tours. If it’s the architecture and the mood you’re into, go for the photography tour. To learn more about prison life, plump for the guided day tour. And for chills, brave the twilight tour or guided paranormal walk.
There’s also an escape room within the prison, should you fancy playing.
More Pennsylvania travel
Other Pennsylvania travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Getting to Pittsburgh from elsewhere in Pennsylvania: Where to stop on the Allentown to Pittsburgh drive and Harrisburg to Pittsburgh drive.
- Getting to Pittsburgh from interstate: The best stops on the Chicago to Pittsburgh drive and Washington DC to Pittsburgh drive.
- Road trips from Pittsburgh: The best stops on the Pittsburgh to Cleveland drive, Pittsburgh to Cincinnati drive, Pittsburgh to Louisville drive and Pittsburgh to Nashville drive.
- Visitor tips for the Heinz History Center, Phipps Conservatory and Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh.
- What to expect at the Gettysburg Heritage Center, Seminary Ridge Museum and Jennie Wade House in Gettysburg.
