IND has been recognized as the Best Airport in North America for 11 years in a row.
Photo by Indianapolis Airport Authority
Traveling via plane is fun — jet-setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else.
The whole navigating the airport part? Less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful. To help make your time at the Indianapolis International Airport as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on the airport’s 45 nonstop flights.
What to know
- TSA | According to the IND airport’s website, it takes ~3-4 minutes to get through during off-peak hours and ~20 minutes during peak hours.
- Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step foot inside, these maps of the entire airport will be your saving grace. Note: The Indianapolis airport has two concourses, each with 20 gates.
- Food and drink | We’re a fan of the five-spice latte at Tinker Coffee Cafe. If you need something on the fly, Farmer’s Fridge is open 24/7 and has plenty of grab-and-go options.
- Reminder | You will need a REAL ID to board commercial flights in the US beginning May 2025.
- Flight status | While we recommend staying updated via your respective airline, you can also check the airport’s dashboard for your flight status in a pinch.
Current airport updates
IND launched a new service to help travelers fly past the lines at their favorite dining destinations. The airport now has express pickup. Place your order online at participating restaurants — including Harry & Izzy’s, Bento Sushi, McDonald’s, and Tinker Coffee.
You may still see some construction around the garage as IND works to expand the number of parking spaces, but it shouldn’t have a large impact on your experience. Look for signs directing you to alternate exits and watch your speed.
Another major reconstruction project is underway on South Runway 5R-23L, which will give the airport long-term stability and sustainability for future. Phase one is already complete and phase two is expected to be done by the end of October 2023. Phase three construction is anticipated to take place between April and October 2024.
We may be biased, but Indiana sunsets are the best — just like our airport is the best.
Photo by @anandk229
Parking, shuttles, and rideshare
Not everyone has a bestie who will drop everything to pick them up from their 3 a.m. landing. Hourly parking is $2 per half hour, and the Cell Phone Lot offers free parking for guests waiting to pick up arriving passengers. Beyond that, the price per day is as listed:
- Valet parking | $27/day, minimum of $9 per hour
- Short term parking | $20/day
- Park & Walk | $14/day
- Economy parking | $9/day
If you return to your car to find a dead battery or flat tire, call the parking supervisor at 317-487-5017 for help free of charge.
Because the Indianapolis International Airport only has one terminal, all of these parking options are within walking distance of TSA and your gate.
Hate the thought of driving yourself? Try out a shuttle, rideshare, or taxi service that will take you to and from the terminal. These services are suggested by the Indy airport:
- Taxi service | You can hail a taxi at the curb on the lower level of the terminal just outside of baggage claim. There’s a $15 minimum charge for all fares from the airport, regardless of distance.
- Uber + Lyft | For pick-ups: Meet your ride at the Ground Transportation Center. For drop-offs: Direct your driver to the main terminal building.
- Bus | The shuttle buses cater to the economy lot. They operate 24/7 and pick up passengers from the shelters every 5-7 min., and you can expect the ride to the airport to take ~15 min.
Pro tip: IndyGo offers $4 day passes for all fixed routes throughout Indianapolis and has direct routes to city attractions from the airport. Get more information.
Nonstop flights
IND offers 45 nonstop flights — 40 domestic that go to all five US regions, plus five international flights to five countries. Here are eight nonstop flights to popular domestic locations.
Bonus: Get lower fares by signing up for Going. You’ll get emailed when flights are 40-90% cheaper than usual. Get a two-week free trial of the Premium plan, which lets you set custom destination flight alerts (score).
Pro tip: Remember that flight times and schedules will often change — you should rely on your respective airline for exact timing and to stay updated on any changes.
- Boston, MA
- Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
- Ft. Myers, FL
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- New York, NY - JFK
- Seattle-Tacoma, WA
- Washington, DC - Reagan National
Bonus: Here’s the full list of nonstop destinations by airline for August-December 2023.
Food and drink
IND is a hub of eateries with ~25 restaurants, bars, and coffee shops for fliers to dine before or between flights, like:
- Tinker Coffee Co. | Concourse A and B | Menu highlights: Latte + Grilled chicken avocado club
- Indiana Pacers Courtside Club | Civic Plaza | Menu highlights: The newest addition to the Indianapolis airport features classic American food.
- Shapiro’s Delicatessen | Concourse B, Gate B14 | Menu highlights: Pastrami sandwich or Bagel and shmear.
- Sun King Brewery | Concourse B | Menu highlights: Buffalo chicken sandwich
- Harry & Izzy’s | Concourse A, Gate A06 | Menu highlights: The Izzy Plate, three-piece shrimp cocktail, small caesar salad, and two filet sliders.
