Things to Do in Elkhart County | Visit Elkhart County, Indiana (2024)

A well-crafted life begins in Elkhart County, where the word quality defines your experience. Quality craftsmanship. Quality collaboration. Quality connections.

Here, our creative community marries tradition with innovation. From quilts to RVs, musical instruments to motorcycles, Elkhart County swells with passionate people creating a future built on a solid foundation of the past. Here, you not only see the work of our large Amish community alongside our technical innovators, you can meet the creators, draw from their accomplishments, and chart your own course.

Offering creative inspiration and cultural immersion, the possibilities of Elkhart County are limited only by your time and ambition. Spending time here is a way to get in touch with a part of America you’ve heard about, but never seen—dreamt of, but never experienced.

Elkhart County is a place designed for people who see beyond the obvious. Where some see one thriving downtown, others see hundreds of doors to open, people to meet, and opportunities to explore. Our vibrant arts scene tells the story of our community. The story of our history, our values, a nurturing entrepreneurial spirit rooted in the handmade and the homegrown.

The story of Elkhart County will stay with you, because we invite you to help write the next chapter.

Trail Blazing

The Heritage Trail is a great way to get started on your journey. Winding through some of the county’s most vibrant communities including Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, Nappanee, Bristol, Wakarusa, and Shipshewana, you’ll cruise by the nooks and crannies you’d never think to look for on your own.

You can drive through while listening to the free guided audio tour, but please, press pause and pull over. The pictures you’ll take are nice, but stopping to experience the local culture will put a story behind the posts you’ll love telling over and over.

Park & Rec

If someone tells you to “take a hike”—then do it! Elkhart County offers the region’s best outdoor activities and things to do with kids. Hitch up your boat and drive to our amazing waterways and take in a day of fishing or kayaking. Golf your thing? We’ve got plenty of links.

Load up your RV and cruise around the county. We’re the world’s RV capital! Make sure to bring your bikes andride one of the many trails at a leisurely pace to discover a hidden spot no one else has found before.

The Big Attractions

In Elkhart County, you don’t just go see our attractions. You experience them! Feed a herd of bison by hand? Yep. Taste the fruits of the labor of local vinters? Sure! Peruse the Quilt Gardens and meet the locals who made them? You bet.

And you must hit up the Shipshewana Auction and Flea Market. This is truly the place to discover something you won’t experience anywhere else. There’s a reason this place has a legendary reputation across the Midwest.

Shop Til You Drop

Handmade and jaw-dropping is the best way to describe the shopping experiences that await curious collectors. The most creative minds and skilled hands turn out unique work you won’t find anywhere else.

Elkhart County is home to one of the biggest Amish communities in America, and the old-school craftsmanship puts quality first. Find it on display at places like Coppes Commons, Davis Mercantile, and the artist haven of the Old Bag Factory.

History in the Making

History is taught to us in broad strokes, but the story of America is best told by learning about the people who founded the small towns, paved the main streets, and tamed back woods.

The Ruthmere Museum tells the story of Elkhart. Go beyond what they teach in Art History 101 and tour the Midwest Museum of American Art.

Or, roll up in your fifth wheel and park at the RV/MH Hall of Fame. Whether you’re a seasoned road veteran or an RV newbie, you’ll learn something to amaze your friends at the next cookout or holiday party.

The Art of Culture

From well-curated art galleries to performing arts troupes, you can be educated and entertained like you never expected. The Elkhart Civic Theatreis located in the Bristol Opera House and is a venue you’ll never forget. And you’ll feel the history as you enter The Lerner Theatre, a 1920s movie theater converted into a performing arts center.

Maybe you’ll stay in one of our energetic city centers. Or perhaps you’ll revel in the peace of our secluded small towns. Whichever you choose, things to do in Elkhart County take you to more than just places, they allow you to meet the people who will shape your journey. Where will you begin?

Things to Do in Elkhart County | Visit Elkhart County, Indiana (2024)

FAQs

What is Elkhart, Indiana famous for? ›

In 1934, the first trailer factory opened in Elkhart, followed by similar businesses. Today Elkhart is known as the “world capital” of recreational vehicles, as well as manufactured housing and band instruments; most of the leading brands in each industry are headquartered in the city.

How long is the Heritage Trail in Indiana? ›

Our National Road Heritage Trail extends for approximately 6.5 miles from the Twigg Rest Area, which is on U.S.40, to the Indiana State University campus in downtown Terre Haute. This trail is our pride and joy and is ideal for running, walking, biking, or rollerblading.

Is Elkhart Indiana a good place to live? ›

Elkhart is known for recreational vehicles. This city does have a lot to offer. Traffic is not too bad, crime rate is low, and diverse is great. The charming downtown area is filled with unique shops, restaurants, and art galleries giving visitors a real sense of what makes this city special.

Is Elkhart Indiana a city or town? ›

City of Elkhart - City with a Heart.

Who is the largest employer in Elkhart Indiana? ›

Elkhart General Hospital, Inc.

Some of the services this premiere hospital offers are in the areas of radiology, emergency, hip replacement surgery, heart and critical care. Built in 1909, Elkhart General Hospital, Inc. has employed 10,000 staff with a revenue of $1 billion.

What is the crime rate in Elkhart County? ›

Elkhart Annual Crimes
ViolentProperty
Number of Crimes5751,542
Crime Rate (per 1,000 residents)10.6928.66

Where do most Amish live in Indiana? ›

Indiana's Amish Country

Shipshewana and the LaGrange County area are known as Amish Country, Indiana, and are home to the third-largest Amish community in the United States.

How long is Wolf Cave in Indiana? ›

Wolf cave - McCormick Creek state park
Length3.2 mi
Elev. Gain259.1 ft
Est. Steps7500
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What is the longest paved bike trail in Indiana? ›

More Information. For those whose wanderlust seeks the space of a long-lasting horizon, the Cardinal Greenway may be your solution. It is the longest rail-trail in Indiana - 62 miles. It was designated a National Recreational Trail in 2003 and is part of the northern tier of the coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail.

What is the safest small town in Indiana? ›

Hagerstown, a small community of about 1,700 in Wayne County, has Indiana's lowest property crime rate, just over two incidents per 1,000 residents. Notably, that rate is based on just three incidents. However, Zionsville in Boone County had the state's second-lowest rate despite being home to nearly 28,000 people.

What is the racial makeup of Elkhart Indiana? ›

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Elkhart, IN are White (Non-Hispanic) (56.8%), White (Hispanic) (16.1%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (13.3%), Other (Hispanic) (6.28%), and Two+ (Hispanic) (3.36%).

What is the richest small town in Indiana? ›

You might think that you have to live in a big city to have a better chance at wealth. However, according to this study from GOBankingRates, that's not necessarily true. When it comes to the richest small town in Indiana, look no further than Meridan Hills.

What is special about Elkhart Indiana? ›

What is Elkhart, Indiana famous for? Known as the RV Capital of the World,” Elkhart is especially famous for the numerous RV makers in the region. Over 80 percent of the recreational vehicles manufactured in the world come out of Elkhart County. That's a LOT of RVs!

What is Elkhart Indiana's sister city? ›

The City of Elkhart and Elkhart Sister City Association is hosting the 2nd Hispanic Heritage Festival celebrating our sister city, Apan, Hidalgo, Mexico on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at Central Green in downtown Elkhart.

What is the poverty rate in Elkhart County? ›

Hispanic or Latino Origin (can be of any race)
Income and PovertyNumberPercent of State
Poverty Rate in 202213.1%104.8%
Poverty Rate among Children under 1816.3%105.8%
Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2022842.1%
Food Stamp Recipients in 202213,7752.3%
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What makes Elkhart special? ›

What is Elkhart, Indiana famous for? Known as the RV Capital of the World,” Elkhart is especially famous for the numerous RV makers in the region. Over 80 percent of the recreational vehicles manufactured in the world come out of Elkhart County.

Why are so many instruments made in Elkhart Indiana? ›

Founded in 1876 by Charles Gerard Conn, who went on to win election as mayor of Elkhart and eventually as a U.S. congressman, the company became the largest maker of band instruments in the world. Because of C.G. Conn's success, other band instrument companies relocated to Elkhart.

What is the ethnicity of Elkhart Indiana? ›

Race and Ethnicity

In 2021, there were 3.54 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (30.6k people) in Elkhart, IN than any other race or ethnicity. There were 8.66k White (Hispanic) and 7.16k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

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