Autumn has arrived and is my favorite season of the year for a number of reasons, including that there is so much to do around Central Indiana. If you and your family are looking for reasons to get out and about, here are some fun fall destinations within an hour of Hendricks County, Indiana that you may or may not have thought about.
I'll use Danville, Indiana, as the starting point since it's geographically located in the center of Hendricks County.
Beasley's Orchard 
Our very own Beasley's Orchard in Danville offers a corn maze, pumpkin patch, a number of festivals in October, and much more!
Of particular interest are the Heartland Apple Festival, Dog Daze at the Maze and Halloweekend. Shoot an apple cannon, go on a hay ride, tackle Straw Mountain, enjoy live entertainment and the list goes on and on.
Plus, of course, it's an orchard, so you can secure the freshest produce around -- even straight off the tree or vine!
Beasley's Orchard is definitely a must-visit fall destination.
To learn more about Beasley's Orchard, click here.
Distance from Danville: 0 miles.
McCloud Nature Park 
There are many reasons to check out McCloud Nature Park outside of North Salem year-round, but fall is the optimal time to add this destination to your list. The park bursts into colorful splendor in October and November every year.
Because of the multitude of tree species found within the park, the wide variety of autumn colors results in McCloud Nature Park being voted by the public through Visit Indiana as one of the best places for fall foliage in the state every year. The park was also cited by The Points Guy as one of the best places in the world to see beautiful fall foliage without the crowds.
McCloud is home to a prairie maze annually in the fall that makes for a hike of about 3/4 of a mile when navigated correctly, and it's open from dawn to dusk daily through Oct. 31.
Additionally, the park hosts its annual Fall Colors Festival, which takes place on Saturday, Oct. 21 this year. To learn more about this fun, free, family-friendly fall festival, click here.
Admission to McCloud Nature Park and the McCloud Prairie Maze is always free.
To learn more about McCloud Nature Park, click here.
Distance from Danville: 11.1 miles.
Anderson Orchard 
Anderson Orchard in Mooresville offers a number of attractions and activities for everyone.
Visit their Apple Barn to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, butters and preserves and other products.
Their concession stand, open on weekends in September and October, offers fresh apple cider, hot dogs, caramel apples and other treats. This is also a great place if you like to pick your own apples.
Additionally, Anderson Orchard hosts an annual Apple Festival and Craft Fair.
To learn more about Anderson Orchard, click here.
Distance from Danville: 15.7 miles.
Hogan Farms Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze 
Located in Brownsburg, Hogan Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze is another great destination to enjoy a fall day.
Come get lost in the corn maze, take the kids on a hay ride, pick your own pumpkins and more.
To learn more about Hogan Farms, click here.
Distance from Danville: 20.1 miles.
Eagle Creek Park 
As one of the largest city parks in the nation, Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis offers 1,400 acres of water and 3,900 acres of forest. As you might imagine with that much forest, the fall colors in the park are amazing.
Visitors to Eagle Creek Park can enjoy hiking, fishing, boating, a dog park, nature centers and much more.
How would you like to see the fall colors at eye level? You can do just that on the Go Ape zipline and high ropes course at Eagle Creek Park! The treetop adventure will make this autumn one to remember! To learn more about Go Ape, click here.
To learn more about Eagle Creek Park, click here.
Distance from Danville: 21.3 miles.
Harvest Nights at Newfields 
Ghosts, goblins, and gourds galore fill the foggy forest at Newfields in Indianapolis for Harvest Nights through Oct. 31.
Wander through thousands of glowing jack-o-lanterns shimmering in The Garden moonlight on the Pumpkin Path of Peril. Feel the Ghost Train rumble beneath your feet. See The Three Graces come to life in the party of the century at Mischief Manor projected on the iconic Lilly House facade.
Join the party inside Lilly House where you’ll find spooky, not scary, handmade décor by the Newfields horticulture team.
To learn more about Harvest Nights at Newfields, click here.
Distance from Danville: 23.6 miles.
Covered Bridges in Parke County 
To the west of us, Parke County, Indiana is home to 31 covered bridges. Gather up the family, jump in the car and take a tour of the county as you visit all 31 bridges -- like the one pictured at the top of this post -- in the middle of beautiful fall foliage!
For all things fall, visit Indiana’s largest festival, The Covered Bridge Festival. This 10-day festival always starts on the second Friday in October. In 2023, the festival is Oct. 13-22. This huge event showcases the county’s historic covered bridges and features authentic arts and crafts, fantastic food and beautiful fall foliage.
Each community has a specialty, so you'll definitely want to learn more about the festival by clicking here.
To learn more about the covered bridges in Parke County, click here.
Distance from Danville: 38.3 miles.
Conner Prairie 
Conner Prairie in Fishers always offers a packed schedule of entertaining and educational programs and events.
This fall, don't miss the Headless Horseman Festival and Scarecrow Contest every Thursday through Saturday throughout October!
Take the iconic Haunted Hayride through Conner Prairie’s grounds where you will encounter spooky frights around every corner, including the Headless Horseman himself! Enjoy the Trail of Terror, a path through the corn field filled with elevated frights for those who dare to be scared.
Experience the Magnificent Midway with the Spinning Apples carnival ride, festive games including Cauldron Toss, Zombie Soccer and Monster Mini-Golf, bounce houses and more! To learn more about the Headless Horseman Festival, click here.
To learn more about Conner Prairie, click here.
Distance from Danville: 42.3 miles.
This is, of course, just a very small taste of the fall season in Central Indiana. For even more ideas of things to do and places to experience right here in Hendricks County, be sure to visit our Visit Hendricks County Fall Guide!
