Considering a visit to the charming town of “Little Nashville” in Brown County, Indiana?
Visitors might be surprised at how hilly, wooded, and picturesque the landscape here is, especially since this little town is only an hour south of Indianapolis!
Being born and raised just east of Brown County in Columbus, I have visited multiple times, in all 4 seasons, and have a thorough knowledge of the area. Nashville and the surrounding area makes a great weekend getaway or day trip from Indianapolis, Columbus, or Bloomington.
You might be surprised at how many things there are to do in Brown County, Indiana!
This quaint, artsy town has everything from hiking to ziplining to wineries to art galleries and more. We often call Brown County the “Little Smokies” because of how similar it is to Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee!
Here are the 13 best things to do in Brown County, Indiana.
The Best Time to Visit Brown County, Indiana
The best time to visit Brown County, Indiana is in the fall. Mid to late October brings peak foliage that is truly unreal!
Brown County State Park has over 20 miles of tree-lined, winding roads with scenic overlooks that are an absolute must-see in the fall.
Weekends in the fall will be busy, however. If you’re worried about finding parking in Nashville or at the Brown County State Park trailheads, plan your trip during the week to minimize crowds.
Spring and summer are also great times to visit Brown County- everything will be green and the wildflowers are out in full bloom!
Winter is not nearly as picturesque, but this time of year will be much quieter for exploring. Southern Indiana doesn’t get a ton of snow in the winter, but the hills of Brown County are gorgeous with a dusting of snow!
Related: 16 Unique Things to Do in Paducah, Kentucky
How to Get to Brown County, Indiana
Brown County, Indiana is located off of Indiana Highway 46 between Columbus and Bloomington.
If you’re coming from Indianapolis or Louisville, take I-65 to the Columbus exit and then head west on IN-46 until you reach town.
Related: 10 Best Places to Visit in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
12 Top Things to Do in Brown County, Indiana
1. Go Hiking in Brown County State Park
My favorite thing to do in Brown County is hiking! This is one of the most popular places in the state for hiking.
Brown County State Park has some great hikes that range from easy to moderate, but there are also parts of the nearby Hoosier National Forest (to the south) and the Yellowwood State Forest (to the west) as well.
Here are some of the best trails for hiking in Brown County:
- Ogle Lake Loop (Trail 7) in Brown County State Park: Easy, 1.2-mile walk around Ogle Lake
- Trail 6 to Strahl Lake in Brown County State Park: Easy to moderate, 1.8-mile hike through the woods and around Strahl Lake
- Fire Tower Trail (Trail 10) in Brown County State Park: Moderate, 2.3-mile loop through the woods with some decent elevation change. The trail starts at the Fire Tower Lookout, which gives you a great view of the park!
- Trail 8 in Brown County State Park: Moderate, 3.9-mile trail through the woods, past Hesitation Point, and down to Ogle Lake. This trail starts from the West Lookout Tower and gives you a little bit of everything scenery-wise!
- Yellowwood Lake Trail in Yellowwood National Forest: Easy, 4.5-mile loop around Yellowwood Lake
Entrance to Brown County State Park costs $7/vehicle for Indiana residents or $9/vehicle for out-of-state residents. You can also purchase an Indiana State Park Pass for $50 which will get you into any Indiana State Park for an entire year (worth it if you plan to go at least 8 times).
2. Visit the T.C. Steele State Historic Site
Theodore Clement (T.C) Steele was a famous Indiana artist from the late 1800s – early 1900s.
T.C. Steele and his second wife built a house in 1907 in Brown County on over 200 acres of land. They called this house “The House of the Singing Winds.” You can tour the house, gardens, and art studios that are on the property.
The site is located 10 miles west of Nashville and costs $11/person for a guided tour. You can explore the grounds for free at any time.
Walk up tickets are available, but you can also book ahead of time online here.
3. Go Shopping in Nashville
Nashville is home to a ton of locally-owned shops selling home goods, art, crafts, candles, candy, and more. The town is super walkable, quaint, and fun to explore and window shop.
To be honest, little Nashville used to be almost all handmade goods crafted by local artisans, but in the last decade or so it has become more mass-produced merchandise. If you enjoy local shops it still might be worth it to you to try and scope out the real, handmade items!
Due to Nashville’s growing popularity, you’ll probably have to pay $5 or $10 for parking if you can’t find a street space.
4. Explore the Scenic Overlooks in Brown County State Park
Brown County State Park has over 20 miles of scenic roads to explore. Along with hiking, there are some great overlooks right off the road if you prefer to explore by car!
Here are the must-see scenic overlooks:
- Hesitation Point
- Hohen Point
- Fire Tower Lookout
- West Lookout Tower
- Ogle Lake
- Strahl Lake
Here is a map of the park if you want to plan your route in advance. This is a must-do, especially in the fall!
Entrance to Brown County State Park costs $7/vehicle for Indiana residents or $9/vehicle for out-of-state residents. You can also purchase an Indiana State Park Pass for $50 which will get you into any Indiana State Park for an entire year (worth it if you plan to go at least 8 times).
5. Check Out Story, Indiana
Story, Indiana is named after George P. Story, who established the village in 1851 after receiving a land patent from President Millard Fillmore. It’s located just 20 minutes south of Nashville off of Highway 135.
The town had its heyday in the late 1800’s and early 1900s from farming and the logging industry, but it never recovered from the Great Depression.
A lot of the land surrounding Story was later acquired by the State of Indiana to become Brown County State Park and Yellowwood State Forest. Now, the entire town sits on 17.4 acres and is privately owned.
The old General Store is now the Story Inn Bed and Breakfast, and there are a handful of cottages on the property that serve as short term rentals as well.
The entire town is available for rent for weddings, corporate events, and large parties. The Story Inn also offers a reservation-only, prix fixe dining experience as well as a more casual tavern in the basement.
Story makes for a fun little stop when exploring Brown County! Make reservations for dinner (book online here) or just pop in to check out Indiana’s oldest Inn!
6. Eat a Tenderloin Sandwich at Gnaw Mart
Indiana is known for its giant tenderloin sandwiches. The ones at Gnaw Mart are locally famous and the best in the state.
Located in Gnaw Bone (yes, the town is really called “Gnaw Bone”), the more industrial east side of Brown County, the Gnaw Mart looks like any regular convenience store and gas station.
It will be on your left right off of Highway 46 if you’re coming toward Nashville, across from the Brown County Winery.
Grab a famous tenderloin on your way in or out of town, you won’t regret it!
7. Go Ziplining
Brown County is home to the longest, fastest, and tallest ziplines in Indiana. There are 6 different tours to suit all ages and adventure levels.
Soar through the treetops and over the hills of Brown County! More info on ziplining can be found on the eXplore Brown County Website here.
I actually did this when I was in high school, and we went for a night tour which was really fun! You will miss out on the views in the pitch black, though.
8. Catch a Concert at the Brown County Music Center
Brown County has its own 2000-seat music venue that hosts a large number of concerts and performances every year. Mostly country and rock artists perform here, but there are sometimes other genres too!
Tanya Tucker, Randy Travis, Blackberry Smoke, Josh Turner, and more have performed here recently.
Brown County Music Center is always adding new shows, so check out their website for the latest list of events.
Find a good concert to attend, and then plan to spend another day or two exploring Brown County for an awesome getaway weekend!
9. Go Antiquing
Another popular thing to do in Brown County is antique and thrift shopping. There are a handful of antique stores between Columbus and Nashville on Highway 46.
There is also a giant outdoor flea market in Gnaw Bone every Saturday and Sunday from 9-5. It’s right off of Highway 46 so you can’t miss it!
And if you’re coming from the Indianapolis area, there is another huge antique mall just north of Columbus at exit 76 off of I-65 (the one before the Highway 46 exit you’ll take to Nashville). It’s literally called “Exit 76 Antique Mall” and is huge!
I’ve found that the stuff near the entrance of the mall is a bit pricey, but it gets more reasonable as you make your way through to the back.
10. Check Out the Brown County Art Galleries
There are 2 popular art galleries in Nashville: The Brown County Art Gallery and the Brown County Art Guild.
Early artists were inspired by the Brown County hills and have used the scenery to inspire their work for over 100 years. They became the Brown County Art Colony and became famous in the Midwest and nationally for their impressionist paintings of the landscape.
The Brown County Art Gallery showcases work from these amazing local artists. Founded in 1926, it’s one of the largest art galleries in the Midwest.
Another gallery, the Brown County Art Guild, was built in 1954 in response to an increased demand for the Art Colony’s work. It’s located in the middle of downtown Nashville off of Van Buren Street.
Admission to both galleries is free but donations are accepted.
11. Visit Hard Truth Hills Distillery
Hard Truth Hills is a fantastic distillery and restaurant located on an impressive 325-acre property.
What started as a small distillery located in the small upper rooms of Big Woods Pizza in downtown Nashville is now a giant, state-of-the-art campus located half a mile from downtown. There is a terraced outdoor area where live music, food trucks, and a bar that operates seasonally.
I highly recommend having dinner and a few drinks here, or at least checking out the property!
12. Go Horseback Riding
Brown County Saddle Barn offers horse and pony rides through the woods of Brown County. 35 minute and 1 hour horseback rides are offered.
Hay rides are also offered on Friday and Saturday evenings between May and October for $5/per person.
Brown County Saddle Barn is located right inside the north gate of Brown County State Park.
13. Climb Up Browning Mountain to See Indiana’s Stonehenge
Did you know that southern Indiana has its own Stonehenge? It’s true!
Browning Mountain Stonehenge is located in Brown County, Indiana and is known as “Indiana’s Stonehenge” due to the mysterious field of sandstone boulders that scatter the peak overlooking the ghost town of Elkinsville. Some of them look like they have been placed in a purposeful, circular position.
There are many theories on how the stones got on top of the mountain, but none are confirmed.
You can visit Browning Mountain, Indiana’s Stonehenge yourself via a short, steep hike! It’s 1.6 miles roundtrip with 367 feet of elevation gain.
The trailhead can be tricky to find, so I wrote a whole blog post about how to find the trail and do the hike. It’s located in southern Brown County, about 30 minutes south of Nashville. This hike is a hidden gem, and you will likely have the trail all to yourself.
Hike up to the top and take a few moments to take in the view and ponder the mystery of the stones for yourself!
Related: How to Hike to Browning Mountain, Indiana’s Stonehenge
Where to Eat in Brown County, Indiana
There are a ton of great local places to eat in Brown County.
Breakfast: Hobnob Corner, Bird’s Nest Cafe, Heavenly Biscuit
Pizza: Big Woods, Brozinni Pizzeria
Lunch/Dinner: The Restaurant at Hard Truth, Artists Colony Inn, Nashville Chop House, Sycamore Saloon
Upscale Dining: Story Inn Dining Room (reservations required, make one here)
Dessert: The Chocolate Moose (ice cream), Nashville Fudge Kitchen
Coffee: Daily Grind Coffee House, Common Grounds
Local Beer, Wine, and Spirits: Hard Truth Distilling, Salt Creek Winery, Bear Wallow Distillery, Quaff On! Brewing, Brown County Winery, Cedar Creek Brewing
Where to Stay in Brown County, Indiana
Brown County has a ton of great cabins on Airbnb or VRBO that would make a great home base for exploring.
Brown County State Park has its own lodge and cabins, the Abe Martin Lodge, but it’s a bit run down and expensive for what you get, in my opinion.
The Brown County Inn or the Story Inn are both great places to stay. The Brown County Inn has a more convenient location to Nashville and the State Park, but Story is a unique stay and a great place to escape the crowds.
If you’re looking for something more remote, I’d recommend finding a cabin on Airbnb or VRBO. There are a ton of options and you can’t go wrong!
This post was all about the best things to do in Brown County, Indiana. Is there anything you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments below!
-Megan
