RV Rentals Carmel, Indiana

Popular RV Rentals Near Carmel, Indiana for Any Budget

Grab a Carmel, IN RV rental, and explore the city and the surrounding area. The most popular rental type near Carmel is the travel trailer, which usually sleeps eight to 10 people and averages $120 a night to rent. You may also find Class C motorhomes for rent in the area, which usually sleep eight people, and average $200 a night. 

RVshare’s Top Vacation Destinations Near Carmel, Indiana No Matter the Duration

Fishers, Indiana is 15 minutes southeast of Carmel and home to Conner Prairie, a 200-plus acre educational attraction that features interactive exhibits on 19th-century rural life. While you're in town, you can also check out Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park, which has indoor trampolines with regular fitness classes. If you're around for an extra day or two, also be sure to visit the area-famous Pinheads, a bowling alley and state-of-the-art arcade, and take time to relax at Roy G. Holland Memorial Park, which has walking trails and picnic areas. 

Noblesville, 18 minutes northeast of Carmel, features the Ruoff Music Center, a concert venue that hosts big-name acts weekly. You can also see a play by local professional actors at the Hamilton County Theatre Guild and take an afternoon to shop at Hamilton Town Center, which has chain stores like Designer Shoe Warehouse and restaurants like Chuy's. 

When you want to explore the outdoors near Carmel, consider stopping by Westfield, Indiana. Westfield, which is only seven minutes north of Carmel, is home to multiple city parks, including Freedom Trail Park, Quaker Park, and Osborne Park. You can also get a taste of local history by checking out the Westfield Washington Historical Society & Museum.

Explore Carmel, Indiana in an RVshare RV Rental

Carmel was founded by Quaker settlers in 1837 and was originally named Bethlehem. The town was renamed Carmel, however, in 1874 since another town in Indiana was already incorporated with a post office named Bethlehem. Today, visitors to Carmel can see the origins of the town with a dedicated clock tower downtown at the intersection of Rangeline Road and Main Street.

When you visit Carmel, be sure to check out the Carmel Arts & Design District to support local small businesses and artisans. This district includes the Hamilton County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau and Welcome Center and the Carmel Clay Public Library, both of which are open to non-residents, so they can learn more about the history of Carmel and Hamilton County. Art galleries, boutiques, cafes, and unique local restaurants are also located in this district, and you can enjoy the Carmel International Arts Festival in September, which features artwork displays from around the world as well as street concerts and children’s activities. Any time of year, you can check out the Museum of Miniature Houses in the area, which has housed exhibits of mini, fully furnished dollhouses since 1993. 

When you want to check out a local performance art show, be sure to get tickets to an upcoming one at The Palladium, a 1,600-seat concert hall. This hall is also located in the heart of Carmel City Center, a shopping and dining center that is made for walking around in the warmer months, so you can check out more local businesses before and after your show. 

Discover Nearby Towns and Cities

Indianapolis, Indiana – Indianapolis, which is a half-hour south of Carmel, is the capital city of Indiana and home to the Indianapolis Pacers NBA team and Indianapolis Colts NFL team. 

• 100+ Restaurants
• 100+ Gas Stations
• 2 Campgrounds
• 20+ Museums
• 13 City Parks

Terre Haute, Indiana – An hour and a half southwest of Carmel, Terre Haute has plenty of city parks for campers to check out and is home to Indiana State University. 

• 40+ Restaurants
• 50+ Gas Stations
• 3 Campgrounds
• 15 Museums
• 20 City Parks

Bloomington, Indiana – In famous Brown County, Indiana lies Bloomington, a city that's an hour and 24 minutes southwest of Carmel and full of beautiful orange leaves in autumn.

• 60+ Restaurants
• 50+ Gas Stations
• 5+ Nearby Campgrounds
• 10 Museums
• 20 City Parks

Best National Parks Near Carmel, Indiana

Made up of over 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and two hours and 20 minutes northwest of Carmel, Indiana Sand Dunes National Park was upgraded from Indiana State Park to a national lakeshore, and then eventually to a national park in 2019. Visitors to this park can enjoy the beaches and sand dunes near Gary, Indiana and take to the trails in the 20-square-mile countryside also found inside the park. 

Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, three and a half hours south of Carmel, is the destination for those who want to hike in a unique setting. Here, visitors can take tours of the longest-known cave system in the entire world, and both wheelchair-accessible and bicycle-based tours are offered by park rangers.

Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, Missouri is about four hours southwest of Carmel and is another fairly new national park full of historic monuments and museums. Making this park unique is its vast 91 acres of grassy, open spaces as well as the historic buildings near the 630-foot-tall white arch. 

Popular State Parks Near Carmel, Indiana

Mounds State Park, located 40 minutes northeast of Carmel, is home to multiple burial mounds that were built by ancient native people over 2,000 years ago. You can walk the grounds of these hills and learn about the wildlife that now live here by checking out the park's nature center. If you choose to camp at the park, you will also be able to go fishing in a river right by your campsite.

When you want to enjoy some water sports, check out Summit Lake State Park, which is an hour east of Carmel. This park is made up of 800 acres and includes access to Summit Lake with a public boat launch and beach area. There also is the Zeigler Woods Nature Preserve, a beautiful place for birdwatching, which is the only preserve in Henry County.

Near Crawfordsville, about an hour and 13 minutes west of Carmel, is Shades State Park, which is full of sandstone cliffs that overlook Sugar Creek. Also onsite is Pine Hills Nature Preserve which has lengthy, challenging hiking trails with spectacular views of waterfalls along the creek.

Must-See Monuments and Landmarks Near Carmel, Indiana

Whenever you're near Indianapolis, be sure to check out the famous Soldiers & Sailors Monument downtown. This limestone statue features an observation deck that lets you see the city of Indy, and you can visit a Civil War museum there as well. 

On the outskirts of Indianapolis, you can find two 60-foot-tall torches that were built to commemorate the bicentennial of Indiana in 2016. These torches are located along State Road 67 in the entrance and exit areas of Mooresville and have 9.5-foot-long illuminated "flames" on their tops, making them most visible at night. 

If you'd like to check out a landmark local to downtown Carmel, swing by the shopping area on Clay Terrace Boulevard to spot the famous "Googly Eyes" on the hill of a local's yard. This landmark is a giant-sized pair of eyes that a Carmel citizen created just to make drivers smile when passing by. 

Upcoming Events Near Carmel, Indiana

• Carmel Farmer's Market – Every Saturday morning from May through September, the city of Carmel hosts a market to connect small businesses, local farmers, and artisans with the public downtown.
• Christkindlmarkt – In Carmel annually from November to December, the city puts on a monthlong festival to honor the traditions of Germany with shopping, food, drinks, and ice skating.
• Days of Remembrance (Holocaust Ceremony) – Every year in April, Carmel holds a ceremony in remembrance of the Holocaust at the Center for the Performing Arts, usually with guest speakers and proclamations by the city's mayor.

Popular POI Activities Near Carmel, Indiana

• Cool Creek Park Nature Center – Considered a natural-science center, the Cool Creek Park Nature Center includes paved hiking trails and seasonal exhibits focused on preserving the local environment.
• Hagan-Burke Trail – The Hagan-Burke Trail is a hiking and biking trail that is paved and extends 1.4 miles.
• Monon Greenway – The Monon Greenway is another paved hiking and biking trail that extends all the way from Westfield to downtown Indianapolis.

RVshare’s Top Picks for Nearby RV Parks and Campgrounds

When it comes to camping options near Carmel, one choice you have is the Indianapolis KOA Holiday, which is 25 minutes southeast of Carmel and has over 150 RV-friendly campsites with full hookups, Wi-Fi, cable, and access to a swimming pool. You may also like Heartland RV Resort in Greenfield, a half-hour southeast of Carmel, which has onsite golf courses and is located fairly close to Shades State Park. Or you may enjoy Lake Haven Retreat, which offers year-round RV camping options 37 minutes southwest of Carmel. 

Best RV Dump Stations Near Carmel, Indiana

When you need to stop to dump your RV tanks near Carmel, consider stopping at one of the many Flying J Travel Plazas in Indianapolis, where you can use a dump station for a $10 fee. You can also use the dump station at Ouabache (Wabash) Trails Park for the same fee, or you can try dumping at any campground in the Indy area by calling ahead to see if non-guests are allowed to use the dump services.

Popular RV Storage Facilities Near Carmel, Indiana

If you need to store your RV for long periods, you can easily find an RV storage facility near the Carmel-Indianapolis area. One place you can check out is Bentley’s Boat & RV Storage Facility, a storage facility that has gate-protected lots and security cameras. A dump station is also located here for customers to use for free. Alternatively, you can consider Arlington Self Storage, a facility that has indoor heated RV storage spaces to minimize the risk of bursting pipes in the winter.