The Vandalia Trail is a rail-trail with two separate sections, offering a smooth mix of suburban convenience near Plainfield and calm rural miles from Amo through Coatesville toward Greencastle, including a unique parallel equestrian path between Amo and Coatesville.

Length:
18.3 miles across two segments
Surface Type:
Paved
End Points:
People Pathways, Fillmore, IN 46128 and 5041 Railroad St, Coatesville, IN 46121 and then 5041 Railroad St, Coatesville, IN 46121 and E County Rd 300 S, Plainfield, IN 46168
Open Hours:
Dawn til dusk
Suited For:
  • Bike-Friendly
  • Pedestrian-Friendly
  • Wheelchair-Friendly
  • Skate-Friendly
Amenities:
  • Equestrian Trail

Trail Map

Local Highlights

  • Richard A. Carlucci Recreation and Aquatic Center

    Website
    The Richard A. Carlucci Recreation and Aquatic Center in Plainfield offers fitness facilities, indoor pools, and family activities. Located near the Vandalia Trail, it has ample parking and provides easy access to outdoor recreation and nearby greenways.
    • Equestrian Trail

  • Franklin Park

    Website

    Franklin Park in Plainfield is a beloved community green space offering wide open fields, disc golf course, playgrounds, sports courts, and scenic walking trails. Located near the heart of town, it’s a perfect spot for picnics, recreation, and family fun. With its blend of natural beauty and community amenities, Franklin Park provides a relaxing outdoor escape for visitors of all ages.

    • Equestrian Trail

  • Vandalia Trail Parking - Raceway Road

    Website
    The Vandalia Trailhead at Old Raceway Road features a circular drive with convenient car parking and direct access to the paved trail. It's a quiet entry point for walking, running, or biking, connecting visitors to the broader Vandalia Trail system near western Indianapolis.
    • Equestrian Trail
Explore more on trail map

The Vandalia Trail is a classic Indiana rail-trail experience that pairs small-town charm with long, quiet miles through open countryside. Built on the former Pennsylvania/Vandalia rail corridor, it’s also part of the bigger National Road Heritage Trail vision, a planned cross-Indiana route that aims to eventually link the state from Terre Haute to Richmond using rail corridors where possible.

In Hendricks and Putnam counties, the Vandalia is two disconnected segments that one day will be connected. The first 7-mile segment runs through suburban communities from near the Indianapolis International Airport through Plainfield. The longer 11-mile segment goes through rural Hendricks County, starting in the small town of Amo and heading west through Coatesville and on to Fillmore and the outskirts of Greencastle in Putnam County. The trail is fully paved in Hendricks County, while the connection to Greencastle is compacted crushed stone.

This rural section has a vibe that is calm and unhurried: you’ll pass farm fields, hedgerows, and pockets of shade as the trail slips in and out of town edges, making it equally good for a relaxed family ride, a long run, or a “get some miles in” bike day. One unique feature is that between Amo and Coatesville, the trail includes a designated crushed stone and natural surface equestrian path alongside the main paved route, giving the Vandalia a rare multi-use flavor you don’t find on many paved greenways.

Helpful To Know

There are two segments of the trail – the first being from Amo to near Greencastle, and the other through Plainfield.