By Alex Bradford Cobb | Published: 7/31/26 | Last updated: 7/31/26
Anderson, Indiana sits about 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis on I-69, and it rewards a proper weekend more than most people expect. There are 2,000-year-old earthworks less than 10 minutes from downtown, a 1929 art deco theater that still hosts live music and touring productions, a quarter-mile oval that calls itself the fastest high-banked short track in the world, and a fudge shop with a two-story slide. Here’s how to spend two days doing it right.
Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store Anderson: 1423 W. 53rd St, Anderson, IN 46013 | Open daily 9am-8pm | Off I-69
Friday Evening: Arrive and Get Your Bearings
Check in and head downtown. Anderson’s downtown square has been through a revival in recent years — the art deco architecture along Meridian Street is worth a slow walk, and the old Union Building, once the tallest office structure in the state, is still standing.
Creatures of Habit Brewery at 1031 Meridian St is the local craft beer anchor — a relaxed tap room with live music on Friday nights and a rotating lineup of Midwest-style ales. A good place to land after a drive and figure out the weekend.
Paramount Theatre at 1124 Meridian St is worth checking the schedule for — the 1929 art deco venue hosts live music, comedy, and touring productions throughout the year. If something’s on Friday night, that’s your evening sorted.
Saturday Morning: Mounds State Park
Start Saturday at Mounds State Park — the best thing in Anderson, and it’s not close. The park protects ten prehistoric earthworks built over 2,100 years ago by the Adena-Hopewell people. The Great Mound is the centerpiece: nearly 400 feet across with a central platform that’s genuinely impressive in scale. The trails wind past all ten earthworks through old-growth hardwood forest along the White River.
Go early. The park is less than 10 minutes from downtown, the trails are well-maintained and accessible for all fitness levels, and the morning light through the trees is considerably better than the afternoon. Dogs welcome on leash.
Mounds State Park: 4306 Mounds Rd, Anderson, IN 46017 |
Saturday Late Morning: Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store
From Mounds, head to Uranus at 1423 W. 53rd St. The Anderson location has mini golf, a large playground with a two-story slide, and hot dogs and ice cream in a separate building — so if you’re traveling with kids, plan more time than you think you need. The gift shop carries the full Uranus lineup: fresh fudge in nineteen flavors made daily, Lip Shit lip balm, air fresheners, apparel, and enough branded merchandise to supply a very confusing Secret Santa exchange.
Ask for Mason or Aimee if they’re working.
Last week, we visited and saw it was packed with families laughing and buying things.
1423 W. 53rd St, Anderson, IN 46013 | Open daily 9am-8pm Shop online: UranusGeneralStore.com
Saturday Afternoon: Anderson Speedway or White River Zip Lines
Option A — Anderson Speedway Anderson Speedway runs Saturday night racing through the summer season — stock cars, figure-8 racing, sprint cars, and the annual Pay Less Little 500 Sprint Car Race in May. The gates open well before the first race, which makes a late Saturday afternoon arrival the right call. Even if racing isn’t your usual thing, a small local oval on a summer Saturday night is its own experience. Loud, fast, and completely unhurried in the way that only small-track racing manages.
1311 Pendleton Ave, Anderson, IN 46011 |
Option B — White River Zip Lines If the Speedway isn’t your speed, White River Zip Lines runs zip line tours through the forest canopy above the White River — multiple lines, multiple heights, guides on site. Good for families with older kids and anyone who wants a genuine outdoor adventure without driving far from downtown.
Saturday Evening: Dinner and the Depot District
Anderson’s revitalized downtown has enough for a proper Saturday evening. Oakley Brothers Distillery is the anchor — a craft distillery producing its own spirits on-site with a restaurant and lounge attached. Local, unhurried, and more interesting than anything on the chain restaurant strip.
For a lower-key evening: Dickmann Town Center on Meridian St. hosts the Anderson Summer Concert Series on Friday evenings through the summer — free outdoor concerts in a walkable plaza setting. Check the schedule at City of Anderson events page before your trip.
Sunday Morning: The Anderson Museum of Art & a Walk
The Anderson Museum of Art opens Sunday mornings and is reliably well-programmed for a regional institution — free admission, rotating exhibitions, and a permanent collection with more ambition than you’d expect. Worth an hour before checkout.
32 W 10th St, Anderson, IN 46016 |
From there, the Cardinal Greenway is Indiana’s longest rail-trail — 62 paved miles running through Anderson, Muncie, and beyond. Pick it up in Anderson for a flat, easy morning walk or ride along the river before heading out. Good for all ages, well-maintained, and the right way to close a weekend.
Sunday Afternoon: The World’s Largest Ball of Paint (Optional Detour)
Alexandria, Indiana is about 15 minutes north of Anderson. In 1977, Mike Carmichael encouraged his toddler son to paint a baseball. He has not stopped adding coats since. The ball now weighs over 5,000 pounds, has been painted more than 30,000 times, and visitors can add their own layer by appointment.
It is free. It is in a building next to a family home. It is exactly as great as it sounds.
6696 N 100 W, Alexandria, IN | Free | By appointment — confirm at worldslargestballofpaint.com
Practical Notes
Getting here: Anderson is about 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis on I-69. From Muncie, about 20 miles southwest. From Fort Wayne, about 75 miles west.
Staying the weekend: Find a B&B to get a homey feel.
Events worth timing your visit around:
- Anderson Speedway Saturday Night Racing — summer season, weekly
- Pay Less Little 500 Sprint Car Race — May, Anderson Speedway
- Anderson Summer Concert Series — Friday evenings, Dickmann Town Center
- Anderson On Tap — annual craft beer festival, Dickmann Town Center (June 2026)
- City of Anderson Independence Day Parade & Celebration — July 4, downtown Anderson
For current events: City of Anderson and the Paramount Theatre schedule at paramountanderson.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Anderson Indiana known for? Mounds State Park — home to 2,100-year-old Native American earthworks — and Anderson Speedway, one of Indiana’s most storied short-track racing venues. Anderson is also known for its art deco downtown, the Paramount Theatre, and its location on I-69 between Indianapolis and Muncie.
Is Anderson Indiana worth visiting for a weekend? Yes, especially as a day trip from Indianapolis or a weekend destination. Mounds State Park alone justifies the drive. The Speedway, Paramount Theatre, Uranus, and the Cardinal Greenway fill a full weekend without stretching.
How far is Anderson Indiana from Indianapolis? About 40 miles northeast on I-69 — roughly 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic.
How far is Anderson Indiana from Muncie? About 20 miles southwest on I-69 — roughly 25 minutes.
Where is Uranus in Anderson Indiana? 1423 W. 53rd St, Anderson, IN 46013. Open daily 9 AM – 8 PM. Mini golf, playground with a two-story slide, hot dogs, ice cream, fresh fudge, and a gift shop that requires explaining.
What outdoor activities are available in Anderson Indiana? Mounds State Park for hiking along the White River, White River Zip Lines for something more adventurous, the Cardinal Greenway for walking and cycling, and Rangeline Nature Preserve for quieter trails.
For more on the Anderson store and surrounding area, see Things to Do in Anderson, Indiana. For the Richmond, Indiana location, see Things to Do in Richmond, Indiana
Alex Bradford Cobb is a strapping young man who works for the Mayor in a semi-legal indentured servitude arrangement, similar to how Dubai was built, and possibly the pyramids. What works, works, and there’s no need to reinvent the wheel.