Circle of Lights, St. Elmo and Broad Ripple
This is leg 1 of 1, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Indianapolis New Year's Eve
Downtown Indianapolis to Broad Ripple
Downtown Indianapolis and Broad Ripple sit about 11 km (7 mi) apart in a straight line, with Broad Ripple to the north. It is leg 1 of 1 on our Indianapolis New Year's Eve itinerary, a 3-day trip. It is a short hop across town, easy by local transit, ride share or on foot.
- Straight-line distance
- 11 km · 7 mi
- Est. road distance
- 14–16 km
- Est. drive time
- 20–40 min
- Direction
- Heading north
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
Across town
This is a short in-city hop of about 11 km in a straight line. Our Indianapolis New Year's Eve guide suggests ride shares or taxis and walking for getting around. By car it takes an estimated 20–40 min without traffic.
Downtown is walkable and mostly flat; Monument Circle, the Canal Walk and the main hotels are within 15 minutes on foot. IndyGo's Red Line rapid bus runs up College Avenue to Broad Ripple in about 30 minutes, but holiday schedules are reduced, so plan on rideshare after midnight and expect a surge. Parking garages downtown are plentiful; Broad Ripple has metered street parking and small lots. Newfields is a 10-minute drive south of Broad Ripple.
Open Downtown Indianapolis → Broad Ripple directions in Google Maps ↗
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Broad Ripple
Trail walks and a riverside art park on Jan 1, Winterlights after dark.
Newfields
The Indianapolis Museum of Art and its gardens; Winterlights fills the grounds with about 2 million lights into early January.
Monon Trail
Paved rail trail running through the middle of Broad Ripple, busy with walkers and runners on Jan 1.
Vogue Theatre
1938 movie house turned music venue on College Avenue; it hosted a 21+ NYE show in 2025.
Indy Art Center
Community art center on the White River with ARTSPARK, a free outdoor sculpture park reached from the Monon Trail.
Broad Ripple Park
City park on the north bank of the White River with riverside paths and a view back toward the village.
Holcomb Gardens
Formal gardens and a canal-side lawn on the Butler University campus, a short drive south of the village.
Before you leave Downtown Indianapolis
Monument Circle lights, steakhouses and a ballroom countdown; 2 nights.
Monument Circle
The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument at the city's center, strung with thousands of lights as the Circle of Lights each winter.
Indiana State Museum
State history and science museum on the canal; its family NYE party ended with a 3,000-balloon drop at 8:30 pm in 2025.
St. Elmo Steak House
The city's oldest steakhouse, open since 1902, famous for a horseradish-heavy shrimp cocktail and a deep wine list.
On this curated route
Where Downtown Indianapolis → Broad Ripple sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Broad Ripple to Downtown Indianapolis is the same 11 km in a straight line, heading south. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Downtown Indianapolis to Broad Ripple: questions travelers ask
How far is Downtown Indianapolis from Broad Ripple?
Downtown Indianapolis is about 11 km (7 mi) from Broad Ripple in a straight line, with Broad Ripple to the north. By road, we estimate 14–16 km (8.4–9.9 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Downtown Indianapolis to Broad Ripple?
An estimated 20–40 min, assuming 14–16 km of road at average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Downtown Indianapolis to Broad Ripple?
Our Indianapolis New Year's Eve itinerary includes this leg. Indianapolis New Year's Eve runs about 3 days across 2 stops, best in Dec 30 – Jan 1.
Guides for both ends
- Downtown Indianapolis travel guide
- Indianapolis weather covers Downtown Indianapolis
- Broad Ripple travel guide
- Broad Ripple weather best time to visit
Broad Ripple by month
Plan Downtown Indianapolis → Broad Ripple with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.