Adventure Details

Activity:
Biking
Trail:
Monon Trail, B&O Trail, White River Greenway (Central), Indianapolis Cultural Trail
Interest:
Health & Fitness
Region:
Central, North, West

Race day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is electric. It is also, let’s be honest, a traffic endurance event. With more than 350,000 people converging on one place, getting in and out by car can feel like part of the race itself.

There’s a better way.

Skip the gridlock, glide past the lines, and arrive like a local who knows exactly what they’re doing. Indianapolis has 800 miles of connected trails, and on race day, they become your smartest advantage.

Here’s how to ride The Trailways straight to the Speedway.

Start Locations

This map highlights the start locations for each of the Bike to the 500 Routes and their proximity to the Trailways.

  1. The AMP at 16 Tech

    Website
    Start at 16 Tech for a 4.9 route to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, using the White River Central Trail.
    • Bench
    • Bike Parking
    • Bike Rental Station
    • Restaurant
    • Restroom
    • Shops
    • Trash Can

  2. Broad Ripple

    Hop on the Monon Trail in Broad Ripple for a 11.9 mile ride to the Indiananpolis Motor Speedway.
    • Bench
    • Bike Rental Station
    • Parking Lot
    • Shops
    • Trash Can

  3. Fountain Sqaure

    Head to Fountain Square to find the Indianapolis Cultural Trail souther point, to start a 6.9 mile ride to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
    • Bench
    • Bike Parking
    • Bike Rental Station
    • Restaurant
    • Shops
    • Trash Can

  4. Chapel Rock Christian Church

    For a 3.6 mile ride to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, begin at Chap el Rock Christian Church for access to the B&O Trail.

Option 1: Downtown Guided Ride from The Amp (Official Program)

What To Expect

  • A guided group ride led by local experts
  • Built-in camaraderie (and a lot of good vibes)
  • No worrying about navigation or road closures

This is the most turnkey option. Just show up, follow the group, and enjoy the ride. Registration goes directly to Central Indiana Cycling.

Option 2: Northside Self-Guided Ride

  • Best for: Confident riders coming from Broad Ripple, Midtown, or the north suburbs.
  • This route gives you a scenic, mostly protected ride into the race.
  • Premier Trails Used: Monon Trail + Canal Towpath

Step-By-Step

  1. Start on the Monon Trail heading south
    • Popular access points: Carmel Midtown, Nora, or Broad Ripple
    • (Add your starting mileage here depending on entry point)
  1. Ride to Broad Ripple and continue south on the Monon
  2. Connect to the Canal Towpath at 53rd Street.
    • Enjoy a quieter, shaded stretch along the water
  3. Take a right on 30th Street, then turn left on East Riverside Drive.
  4. After a mile-and-a-half, turn left on Waterway Blvd. Then take a slight right onto White River Canal Trail (Central).
  5. As you cross Fall Creek and head towards 10th Street, hop on the White River Wapahani Trail.
  6. Cross the White River on Michigan Street. Ride for 1 mile and take a slight right onto the B&O Trail.
  7. After about a mile-and-a-half, take a sharp right onto Main Street.
  8. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Crawfordsville Road.

Option 3: Southeast Side Self-Guided Ride

Start Location: Fountain Square

Step-by-Step Itinerary:

  1. Start at Fountain Square and take the Indianapolis Cultural Trail north towards downtown.
  2. Stay on the Cultural Trail through downtown, heading northwest–turning west at Washington Street.
  3. Follow the Cultural Trail through White River State Park and cross the White River on the Old Washington Street Pedestrian Bridge.
  4. Turn right on the White River Wapahani Trail.
  5. Continue to Michigan Street Trail heading west
  2. Connect to the B&O Trail
    • Long, uninterrupted riding toward Speedway
  3. Transition to the Main Street Trail
  4. Arrive at IMS near Gate 2 (16th Street)
  5. Park at official bike parking

Option 4: Heading West from Speedway

Start Location: Chapel Rock Christian Church

  1. Take a left on the B&O Trail.
  2. After 3 miles, take a right on Polco Street.
  3. Take a left onto 16th Street.

Bike Parking at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Ride straight to the action with convenient bike parking at IMS, plus easy-to-follow routes and a map to help plan your race day ride.

Plan Your Route

Before race day, take a few minutes to map your ride using The Trailways system. You can customize your route, estimate mileage, and identify access points closest to you.

Indy trailways system map

A Few Smart Tips

  • Be patient leaving the track
  • Be prepared to walk your bike through crowded areas
  • Take a slightly longer route to avoid the heaviest traffic

The payoff is still worth it. While cars sit in gridlock, you will already be halfway home.

Skip the traffic. Ride the city. And turn race day into part of the adventure.