Indianapolis to Pittsburgh drive: Distance, time & best stops
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.
This guide picks out the best three stops on an Indianapolis to Pittsburgh road trip. However, the journey can be broken down into three sections: The Indianapolis to Dayton drive, the Dayton to Columbus drive and the Columbus to Pittsburgh drive. Click through on those three guides for more ideas of what to see and do.
Things to do in Indianapolis and Pittsburgh
Worthwhile Indianapolis experiences include a Fountain Square food tour and a walking tour around the city’s highlights.
Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania is a monstrously underrated city, with a series of stellar attractions. Get great views from the top of the Duquesne Incline, enjoy the globally-themed rooms at the unmissable Cathedral of Learning and become immersed in pop art at the Warhol Museum.
You can explore Pittsburgh with a hop-on, hop-off bus pass. Pittsburgh experiences include bike tours full of stories, 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.
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 Indianapolis road trips
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More Pittsburgh road trips
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