Columbus is a mid-size city located in the southern part of Indiana, less than a one-hour drive from Indianapolis. Columbus is only the 20th largest city in Indiana, but it is unique for its size. It was named one of America's "10 Most Playful Towns" by "Nick Jr." magazine. It also won the national "America in Bloom" contest, and "GQ" named Columbus one of the "62 Reasons to Love Your Country." To top all of those awards off, "National Geographic" ranked Columbus No. 11 on its list of historic destinations in America.
Columbus is home to a wide range of attractions, including great restaurants, museums, historical artifacts, art galleries, architecture, and numerous outdoor recreational activities. All of these things make it a great place to visit for families and tourists alike. There are also plenty of campgrounds and RV parks in and around Columbus. Because of its proximity to Indianapolis, it is also a great home base if you are coming to visit the most popular city in the state.
Columbus is well-known for its modern architecture. Seven buildings built in the city between 1942 and 1965 are considered National Historic Landmarks, and numerous other buildings are shown as examples of modern American architecture. Visitors can spend time touring and or sightseeing at each of these seven landmarks: First Baptist Church, First Christian Church, Mabel McDowell School, Miller House and Garden, North Christian Church, The Republic Newspaper Office, and Irwin Union Bank.
Campgrounds Near Columbus, Indiana
Lake Monroe Village is less than an hour away and offers great scenery, amenities, and plenty of spacious RV sites with full hookups, as well as an on-site dump station. Lake Monroe sits on 133 acres of land and includes a swimming pool, five hiking trails that start in the campground, and sports and recreation facilities for anyone to enjoy. There is also a wide variety of aquatic activities in the area, including fishing, boating, and swimming.
A little over an hour away is Hickory Hills campground in Quincy, Indiana. Hickory Hills is full of amenities including a swimming pool, a spring-fed lake with a beach, picnic tables, hot showers, mini golf, horseshoes, shuffleboard, and a playground. They also offer RV travelers essential needs like hookups, hot water, a dump station, and clean, heated bathrooms.
Indianapolis KOA Holiday is a little less than an hour north of Columbus and just east of Indianapolis, making it a great place to stay to see both cities. It also features a seasonal water park where you could spend an entire day playing in the summer. Additional amenities include a gem-mining station, two playgrounds, a basketball court, a pool, and a snack bar.
State Parks Near Columbus, Indiana
Clifty Falls State Park is less than an hour away from Columbus and features beautiful waterfalls and other gorgeous scenery. If you come during the winter, it gets so cold that some of the mist and falls turn into what looks like ice sculptures, and it is worth the drive just to see this remarkable phenomenon. The park covers almost 1,500 acres that you can hike, bike, or just sightsee while taking in the picturesque scenery. There are numerous campgrounds and RV sites both in and around the park.
Located in Nashville, Indiana, Brown County State Park is even closer to Columbus than Clifty is. Encompassing more than 16,000 acres of hills, ridges, ravines, and mountain streams, the park is the largest in Indiana. It has garnered the nickname "Little Smokies" because of the area's resemblance to the Great Smoky Mountains. There are miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as great horseback riding areas, all with stunning views throughout the park.
Versailles State Park is in the opposite direction from Brown County and is most known for its historical roots from the Civil War. There is a 230-acre lake in the park perfect for fishing, boating, and swimming. Hiking and walking trails are also available throughout the park. There are numerous campgrounds and RV sites in the park, and with its proximity to Cincinnati, it is a great place to stay when visiting the city.
National Sites Near Columbus, Indiana
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park is just a two-hour drive from Columbus and is worth the ride. Lincoln only spent about two years living at the log cabin here, but he grew up just a stone's throw away at Knob Creek. Lincoln has memorials in both places, and the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park is a great place to learn more about this important president and his humble beginnings.
The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is another national memorial that stands just west of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. It is the site of Lincoln's home from the age of seven. The museums and artifacts offer a rare glimpse into the early life and boyhood stage of one of America's greatest leaders and presidents. The Lincoln Living Historical Farm is located on the original site and continues to depict what pioneer farm life would have been like when Lincoln lived there.
William Howard Taft National Historic Site, about an hour and a half southwest of Columbus in Cincinnati, Ohio, commemorates another U.S. president. This national site is home to the two-story Greek-revival house where Taft was born and spent his childhood. During your visit, you can tour the Taft family house and explore the Taft Education Center to view a film and artifacts related to Taft's life.
National Forests Near Columbus, Indiana
Hoosier National Forest is the closest national forest to Columbus and covers more than 200,000 acres of land. The forest is covered with streams, lakes, and majestic trees that have made a comeback since the lumber industry was forced out of the area. Hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and sightseers can use any of the dozens of multi-use trails inside the park, and there are vast opportunities for fishing and other aquatic activities. The forest skirts the banks of the Ohio River along the Indiana-Kentucky border.
The home of some of the roughest terrain west of the Appalachian Mountains, Daniel Boone National Forest touches 21 counties in eastern Kentucky and covers more than 700,000 acres. With three large lakes, various rivers, and numerous streams running throughout the forest, there are numerous aquatic opportunities. The park is home to wildlife too numerous to count and more than 700 types and species of plants and flowers. The park is mostly known for its treacherous terrain and beautiful scenery, but there are also more than enough campgrounds and RV sites to find a great place to stay while visiting.
The Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area contains more than 170,000 acres near the town of Golden Pond, Kentucky. This unique recreational area is formed by two dams on two different rivers. The Tennessee River and Cumberland River flow between one and nine miles apart, depending on the spot, and are closed on one end by a canal that stretches to both rivers. That canal makes the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area the largest land-locked peninsula in the United States.
