Whether you’re drawn by West Lafayette’s academic atmosphere or the charm of Lafayette’s historic downtown, the dynamic duo offers diverse activities that cater to all interests, making it one of Indiana’s must-visit destinations. Here are seven best things to do in Lafayette-West Lafayette, Indiana, arranged generally by area.
Table of Contents
Prophetstown State Park
Prophetston State Park, located just north of Lafayette, is Indiana’s newest state park. I appreciated the combination of recreational activities in the historic setting. With everything from 19th-century history to 20th-century farm life, the family’s history buffs and young children will find the experience engaging.
For those who love history, like my friend and fellow blogger Roxie on the Road, who visited the park with me, you’ll find a lot in the area to explore. In 1808, Shawnee leaders Tenskwatawa, often referred to as the Prophet, and Tecumseh established a Native American village. This site is historically significant as it was a center for a multi-tribal community that resisted European settlement. You can explore a reconstructed Native American village, which provides insight into the lives of the tribes that once lived in the area. The park also features an open-air museum showcasing a 1920s-era farmstead so you can experience agricultural life from that period.
Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the biking trails. They’re well-maintained, paved trails that meander through tall-grass prairies and wooded areas. The park includes a campground with full hookups and electric sites, providing campers with modern, comfortable camping. The variety of activities in the park makes it a great place for family fun.
Piper’s Pro Planning: Your GPS may provide incorrect directions to Prophetstown State Park, so check out these directions before you go.
The Farm at Prophetstown
The Farm at Prophetstown offers an interactive glimpse into 1920s farm life, making it a family-friendly attraction. You can explore the historic farmstead, which includes two farmhouses that serve as museums.
At the Farm at Prophetstown, visitors can interact with various heritage-breed animals and get hands-on farm life experience. After feeding the chickens, I went into the farmhouse, put on an apron, and got to work in the kitchen. It was fun pretending to cook on the 1920s-era stove, as it reminded me of the one in my grandfather’s house.
The kids will enjoy meeting a variety of animals, including – horses, cows, goats, pigs, sheep, donkeys, chickens, ducks, and turkeys. Daily barn chores invite visitors, especially children, to participate in caring for the animals by feeding them and collecting eggs. You can learn a lot about sustainable agriculture and animal care on the farm.
Piper’s Pro Planning: The Farm is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. The admission fee to Prophetstown State Park includes admission to the Farm at Prophetstown.
Prophetstown State Park Aquatic Center
The Prophetstown State Park Aquatic Center is a great place for families to cool down on a hot summer day. The whole family will find something to do. Thrill-seekers will love gliding down the 30-foot tube slide. The winding lazy river provides a relaxing float experience, perfect for unwinding under the sun. This family-friendly zero-entry pool allows easy access for everyone, with play features for the kiddos. You’ll find everything you need to make your visit a great experience—showers, changing areas, and a concession stand.
Piper’s Pro Planning: The center operates from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with daily hours from 11 AM to 7 PM. Pool hours can change during the summer due to staffing or weather. Before you visit, I suggest you contact the property office for the hours on that day.
Haan Museum of Indiana Art
The Haan Museum of Indiana Art was originally the Connecticut Pavilion at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. Today, the museum promotes local art and houses a permanent collection of art created by Indiana artists. You’ll find a collection of paintings by T.C. Steele and must-see ceramic pieces and paintings. The American wood furniture from the 19th century and home furnishings are also stunning. I loved how they arranged the furniture as you’d find it in a home, without boundaries, so that you could look at it closely.
The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 1 PM to 4 PM.
The Haan Sculpture Garden and Grounds
The grounds are equally beautiful, with a Sculpture Garden and nature trails. The outdoor Sculpture Garden features 25 works by Indiana sculptors, set within a stunning landscape, perfect for relaxing with nature. A mile-long nature trail invites guests to discover native Indiana flora while enjoying the great outdoors. The garden and trails are open during the day, and admission is free.
Piper’s Pro Planning: While dogs aren’t allowed inside the museum, they are welcome on a leash in the Haan Sculpture Garden and Grounds.
Tippecanoe Battlefield
Visiting the Tippecanoe Battlefield in Battle Ground, Indiana, is an immersive journey into a pivotal moment in American history. You’ll find yourself transported to the early 19th century, where the Battle of Tippecanoe unfolded on November 7, 1811. This historic site, now a National Historic Landmark, offers a comprehensive experience through its 96-acre Tippecanoe Battlefield Park.
Exploring the battlefield gives you an appreciation of the small area where the battle occurred. You’ll walk the same paths where American forces clashed with Tecumseh’s confederation of Native American tribes. Today, an 85-foot marble obelisk erected in 1908 commemorates those who fought and died in this battle.
The scenic walking trails and the Wah-ba-shik-a Nature Center offer exploration opportunities, blending history with Indiana’s natural beauty.
The Tippecanoe Battlefield Museum, located within the park, provides detailed exhibits, including a fiber-optic map of the battle and artifacts from the period. Here, we learned about the leaders involved, such as William Henry Harrison, Tecumseh, and his brother, the Shawnee Prophet Tenskwatawa.
If you pack a picnic lunch for your day’s outing, plan to be here at lunchtime, as the picnic areas with picnic shelters make it an ideal spot for a family picnic.
Piper’s Pro Planning: The grounds are open from dawn to dusk year-round.
Wabash Heritage Trail
The 13-mile Wabash Heritage Trail starts at the Tippecanoe Battlefield Park and crosses the Wabash River at Davis Ferry Park. It follows the Wabash River to Riehle Plaza in downtown Lafayette, crosses it again, and heads south to Fort Ouiatenon. Depending on the part of the trail, the difficulty level is easy to medium. It turns through marshes, wooded areas, and the Heron Island Wildlife Preserve.
The trail isn’t a loop but a linear trail, so you’ll need to do some planning. Either turn around at some point and double back or park your car at the end point and get a ride to the start of your hike. Hikers can park at any access site—Davis Ferry Park, McCallister Park, Riehle Plaza, Fort Ouiatenon Park, Tapawingo Park in West Lafayette, and Tippecanoe Battlefield.
The Heritage Trail features a variety of activities for walkers and hikers, including bird watching, observing wildlife, exercising, and exploring. You’ll find benches and picnic tables along the way, so it’s the perfect time to enjoy lunch al fresco. Since this is a walking hiking trail, bikes, horses, or motorized vehicles are not allowed.
Piper’s Pro Planning: You’ll find maps and trail conditions at the Wah-ba-shik-a Nature Center at the Trailhead of the Tippecanoe Battlefield Park.
Public Art Trail
The Lafayette-West Lafayette Public Art Trail showcases over 115 public art pieces, including sculptures, murals, and fountains, spread across the two cities. Using the art trail was one of the best ways to see the greater Lafayette area with a purpose. While there are so many fun things to do, this is free, and one of my favorite fun things to do is take Instagram pictures. And the art trail is super Instagrammable!
The art trail offers diverse styles and mediums, from traditional bronze statues to contemporary murals and interactive installations. It provides a free, accessible way to engage with art in public spaces.
Among the notable pieces on the trail are the Brickhead Conversations, featuring two large head sculptures that create a striking visual dialogue. The Continuum sculpture, an impressive parade of animal figures in front of the veterinary building, adds a touch of farm life to the city setting. Space enthusiasts will appreciate the VOSS (Visiting Our Solar System) sculpture, dedicated to astronaut Janice Voss, which connects the area’s artistic expression to its scientific achievements.
Looking for places to eat in Lafayette-West Lafayette, Indiana, check out this article on the “7 Top Places to Eat in Lafayette-West Lafayette, Indiana.”
Other significant works include the Flame sculpture, the Better Together mural, and various installations at Purdue University, such as the Neil Armstrong and John Purdue statues. The trail also includes the Haan Sculpture Garden, showcasing works by various Indiana artists, and the Tippecanoe Battlefield Monument in Battle Ground.
Piper’s Pro Planning: Plan a self-guided tour of this impressive outdoor gallery. Download the Public Art Trail Brochure, which provides maps by neighborhood, so you won’t miss anything.
Samara
The John E. Christian House, known as Samara, is an example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian architecture in West Lafayette. Completed in 1956, Wright designed this home for Dr. John Christian, his wife Catherine, and their daughter Linda. Samara, named after the winged seeds from pinecones, incorporates this motif throughout its design, visible in elements like the living room rug and the bed scarf.
The house totals 2,200 square feet and sits on an acre of sloping terrain. In 2015, officials added it to the list of National Historic Landmarks. Samara features over 40 of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural innovations. Wright designed all the furnishings, including fabrics, lights, and furniture.
What’s unique about this docent-led tour is that you can make yourself comfortable on the furniture in the living room and enjoy the ambiance, just as the homeowners once did. That experience takes you back to the mid-1950s.
For more information on Frank Lloyd Wright properties, check out this article on the Historic Park Inn in Mason City, Iowa.
Samara stands out due to its meticulous adherence to Wright’s Usonian principles, featuring a grid-based design, cantilevered surfaces, and a unique sense of space. The house includes 15 distinct but interrelated areas, for example, living and dining spaces adjacent to the terrace and lanai, work and utility spaces, bedrooms, bathrooms, and a carport with a tool closet. The home’s design maximizes sunlight exposure with floor-to-ceiling French glass doors oriented southeast.
Piper’s Pro Planning: Samara is open by reservation seasonally, from mid-April through mid-November. The building doesn’t have bathrooms for use.
Purdue University
Purdue University in West Lafayette offers various activities for visitors exploring its campus. University Hall opened in 1877 and is the oldest building on the Purdue University Campus.
Purdue University’s campus is one of the best places for art enthusiasts to explore the many sculptures and murals on the Public Art Trail.
Nature lovers can explore the Jules Janick Horticulture Gardens, a beautiful space showcasing a variety of plants and flowers. The Engineering Fountain is a popular gathering spot for students and visitors. It represents Purdue’s strong emphasis on engineering and innovation.
The Bell Tower, located near the Union, has an associated legend. It says that the seal beneath the tower is cursed, and if an undergraduate dares to walk across it, they won’t graduate in four years. Another happier legend says that if a couple kisses beneath the tower and then walks past the Stone Lion Fountain, they will marry.
Purdue University boasts several notable alums who have achieved fame in various fields. Two notable ones are Neil Armstrong and Drew Brees. Armstrong, an astronaut and aeronautical engineer, made history as the first person to walk on the Moon. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in aeronautics in 1955.
Drew Brees, a former NFL quarterback, is remembered for his time with the New Orleans Saints, where he became a Super Bowl Champion and holds numerous passing records. He graduated in 2001 with a degree in industrial management.
Ross-Ade Stadium
If, like me, you’re a collegiate football fan, one of the main attractions is Ross-Ade Stadium, where you can catch a football game during the season. For basketball fans, Mackey Arena is home to the Boilermakers’ basketball team.
If You Go
Getting There
Lafayette-West Lafayette is in the Eastern time zone and Tippecanoe County. The closest airport to Lafayette-West Lafayette is Purdue University Airport (LAF) in Lafayette, which serves Chicago. If you fly to Indianapolis International Airport (IND), about 65 miles away, you’ll have more options. Various airlines serve Indianapolis, including American Airlines, Delta, United, and several budget airlines.
How far is Lafayette-West Lafayette from?
| City | Distance |
| Chicago, Illinois | 121 miles |
| Detroit, Michigan | 290 miles |
| Grand Rapids, Michigan | 241 miles |
| Indianapolis, Indiana | 65 miles |
| Lansing, Michigan | 253 miles |
Getting Around
The best way to get around Lafayette-West Lafayette is by car. If you fly in, you’ll likely want to rent a car.
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While Piper is a lifelong Michigander, she’s had adventures worldwide. Bomb-sniffing dogs chased her in the middle of the night in Bogota (working late), gate agents refused her boarding to Paraguay (wrong visa), and US Marshals announced her seat number on a plane while looking for a murder suspect (she’d traded seats). It’s always an adventure! She even finds exciting activities in her home state of Michigan, where she lives in Lansing with her husband, Ross Dingman, her daughter, Alexis, and two granddaughters.
Frank Lloyd Wright, a botanical garden, great food—West Lafayette seems to have it all! We’re adding it to our list. I see it’s an 8-hour drive from my home in MN.
I wondered where Purdue was. I knew it was in Indiana just not where in the state. I knew Drew Brees was a graduate but not Neil Armstrong. How cool!
It seems this area is a great blend of history and outdoor fun. I’d probably most enjoy the Public Art Trail – always love seeing intriguing pieces of art in public spaces, especially those where you don’t expect them. Thanks for introducing these towns to us!