What to Wear in Indianapolis: A Local’s Packing Guide

An Indy local walks you through what to wear in Indianapolis, especially for special events like The Indy 500!

Drinks at Astrea in The InterContinental

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Wondering what to wear in Indianapolis?

Planning a trip to my lovely hometown and wondering what to pack? As an Indy local, I can assure you that you don’t need an elaborate wardrobe for a visit to Indianapolis. It's a fairly casual city, and I'd "worry" more about dressing for the weather and having the "right" items for specific events.

Here in Central Indiana, temperatures can change significantly from one day to the next, particularly during seasonal transitions. I hate to say it, but our summers are hotter than you'd probably expect. Check the Indy weather right before your trip, and be prepared for...humidity.
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Here’s what I’d recommend wearing in Indianapolis throughout the year, plus a few tips for special events that might be drawing you to visit us, such as the Indianapolis 500.

Date night at Restoration Hardware Restaurant, Indianapolis

Check out my recently updated list of the 8+ Best Restaurants on the North side of Indianapolis!

What do people wear in Indianapolis?

Indianapolis is a casual city. An extremely casual city. What you're wearing this moment? You could wear it in Indy. I guarantee it. For sightseeing, basically any restaurant, museums, and sporting events, you’ll be perfectly comfortable in nice jeans or casual pants paired with a sweater, blouse, or T-shirt, depending on the season.

Even if you're grabbing dinner at a nice restaurant, you generally don’t need to dress particularly formally. A casual dress or pants and a sweater will work at most Indianapolis restaurants. Casual dresses are my go-to in the hottest summer months, especially for evening events.

If you’re trying to pack light, stick with pieces you can easily mix and match. As goes my advice for packing for any destination, neutral colors work particularly well, and I’d prioritize comfortable walking shoes and layers over bringing lots of different outfits.
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What to wear in Indianapolis
​by season

Indianapolis proudly boasts all four very distinct seasons, although Indiana weather changes quickly enough that they don’t always arrive exactly when you’d expect them to. Checking the forecast shortly before your trip is much more useful than relying on average temperatures alone. More on this...below!

Spring

Spring in Indianapolis is unpredictable. March can still feel like winter, and I guarantee it will be FRIGID for the Easter egg hunt and 90 by Memorial Day.
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For a spring trip to Indy, I’d pack jeans or casual pants, a few tops, and a sweater or other warm layer. A light trench coat is my go-to. By late spring, you may also want casual dresses or a skirt for warmer days.
Comfortable walking shoes are also important, particularly if you plan to spend much of your trip sightseeing downtown, etc.

Summer

Indianapolis summers are hot and really, really humid, particularly in July and August. If you're coming from outside the Midwest and envisioning lakeside breezes or Minneapolis July, let me set you straight...it's hot. You might as well be in the South.

Lightweight dresses, shorts, skirts, and breathable tops are all good options. In July and August, I live in lightweight dresses whenever I have somewhere to go. They're cooler than jeans or pants, require almost no thought, and work for nearly anything I'm doing around Indianapolis.

For shoes, sandals work well for meals and shorter outings, but I’d bring sneakers if you’ll be doing a lot of walking. You may also want a lightweight sweater or jacket for indoor activities, especially if you're attending something like a conference at The Convention Center, since air conditioning can be surprisingly cold when it's on high for months on end.
If your trip includes outdoor events or activities, be prepared for heat and sun. Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat can all come in handy.
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Fall

Fall is, undoubtedly, my favorite time of year in Indianapolis, and an ideal time to come visit!

September can still be fairly warm, while October usually brings cooler days and classic fall weather. By November, you may need a proper coat.
For an Indianapolis fall trip, I’d pack jeans or trousers, long-sleeved tops, sweaters, and comfortable sneakers or loafers after mid-September. My own fall uniform is usually some version of jeans or casual pants, a blouse or sweater, a jacket, and comfortable sneakers or loafers.

Bring a light jacket for early October, with warmer layers as you get later into the season. By November, I’d check the forecast to see whether you’ll need a heavier coat.
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Looking for fall activities in Indy? Come visit me at The Children's Museum Guild Haunted House (the longest-running house in the country!) or check out my full list of Fall Activities in Indy!

Winter

Yes, it gets cold in Indianapolis! Not Chicago cold, but still surprisingly cold after you've just read all of my strictures about how hot the summers are. Just being honest, friends.
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For a winter trip, you’ll generally want a heavy winter coat, sweaters, and other warm layers, jeans or trousers, and closed-toe shoes. If you're visiting in January or February, you'll likely want to have some form of snow boots, as the roads and sidewalks can be slushy for weeks, even if we aren't actively digging out from a storm. Depending on the forecast, you may also want gloves, a scarf, and a hat.

​Looking for a way to get your family out of the house during the holidays? Stop by Newfields for Winterlights!

What to Wear to The Indianapolis 500

If you’re visiting Indianapolis for the Indy 500, what you wear to "The Race" deserves a little more thought than your regular sightseeing clothes. The largest single-day sporting event in the world welcomes 300,000 visitors to our fair city every May, and we love having you!!

Memorial Day weekend in Indianapolis can be hot, sunny, rainy, cool, or some combination of the above. But in the 30+ years I've lived in Indiana, it's generally been HOT. Check the forecast carefully before Race Day. For hot weather, lightweight clothing, sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen are essential. If rain showers are possible, remember to wear shoes that can get...trashed and bring a lightweight rain jacket or poncho.

For the vast majority of attendees, the Indianapolis 500 itself is very casual. Shorts, T-shirts, tank tops, casual skirts or skorts, and sneakers are all completely appropriate.

My biggest recommendation is to wear comfortable SNEAKERS. Not beach flip flops. You will walk FAR MORE than you expect getting to and from your seats at the beginning and end, even to the restroom once you're inside, and you’ll encounter a mixture of pavement, grass, gravel, and dirt. This is not the day for heels, uncomfortable sandals, or shoes you’re worried about getting dirty.

If you're looking for a little more "direction," people often have fun with black and white all month, at Race-inspired watch parties, and at The Race itself. Even if it's a white top and black shorts, it's fun to get in the spirit.
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If you are going to be in a suite or The Pagoda at The 500, or at any pre-Race events, I would make some effort to look a little nicer. It's not the Kentucky Derby and you don't need to wear a dress, but people in those seats are generally dressed slightly more tastefully, wearing make-up, etc.
Be sure to check the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s current rules before packing bags, coolers, or other race-day supplies, since policies tend to be updated each year. Do bring as little as possible. It's a long way to carry literally anything.

What to Wear to Sporting Events in Indianapolis

Indianapolis is a very proud sports city, with one of our main attractions being having our two major sporting venues downtown, in the heart of the city, within walking distance of many great bars and restaurants.

For an Indianapolis Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium, jeans, team gear, sweaters, and sneakers are all good options. Remember that in addition to having to walk a bit to get to Lucas Oil Stadium, it also has a retractable roof. They will make an announcement on social media a few hours before the game to tell fans whether the roof will be open or closed. But September games with the roof open can get pretty toasty if you end up in the sun within the stadium.
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The same general rule applies to Pacers games. Jeans or casual pants with a sweater, casual top, or team gear will fit right in. Less walking is involved, it's generally cooler during basketball season, and obviously the roof doesn't open. People tend to be slightly more "dressed up" at Pacers games, especially in the nicer seats. But, again, it's Indianapolis.

What to Wear for Museums, Restaurants, and Indianapolis Tourism

For museums and family trips, casual clothes and comfortable walking shoes are all you need. Jeans or shorts with a simple top work perfectly well, as do casual dresses in warmer weather. If you're visiting somewhere like The Children's Museum or Newfields, there's no reason to dress up, and you'll probably be doing plenty of walking.

The same goes for exploring downtown or neighborhoods like Mass Ave and Fountain Square. Comfortable shoes are the priority during the day, and it's easy to dress up a little if you're staying out for dinner or drinks.
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Indianapolis restaurants are still casual. You can certainly dress up if you enjoy doing so, but most don't require anything particularly formal. A dress, skirt, nice pants, blouse, sweater, or jacket will take you almost anywhere you’re likely to go. If anything, the "risk" would only ever be of being "over dressed," which isn't...really much of a risk. I often am. We had dinner last night at Capital Grille and I'd say most people were in jeans.

Drinks at Capital Grille, downtown Indy

Casual walking shoes for Indy

Unless I have something specific planned, I would generally pack two pairs of shoes for a trip to Indianapolis.

First, bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes. Sneakers are probably the most versatile option and will work for museums, shopping, sightseeing, sporting events, and casual restaurants.
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Your second pair can depend on the season and your plans. In summer, I’d choose a comfortable sandal. Loafers or flats work well in spring and fall, while boots or ankle boots are useful during colder weather.

Indianapolis Packing List

Exactly what you need to pack will depend on the season, but here’s a simple Indianapolis packing checklist to get you started.

Year-round Indianapolis packing essentials:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Jeans or casual pants
• Casual tops
• A sweater or other layer
• Seasonally appropriate jacket or coat
• Sunglasses
• Small umbrella

For warm weather:

• Lightweight dresses
• Shorts
• Skirts
• Breathable tops
• Sandals
• Sunscreen
• Hat

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For cold weather:

• Heavy winter coat
• Warm sweaters and layers
• Boots or other closed-toe shoes
• Gloves
• Scarf
• Hat

Thanks for Stopping By!

I hope you have the best visit to our city! Visitors have a tendency to be "pleasantly surprised" by how much there is to do here (and how welcoming we are!) I have quite a few other Indy resources, so please poke around the website to learn more about what Indianapolis has to offer!

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What to Wear to the Indy500