Most state capitals are worth at least a short visit, but some of them are popular tourist attractions for reasons other than the fact that they are state capitals. Indiana’s creatively named capital city of Indianapolis is in the latter category – world famous as the location of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it is a veritable pilgrimage site for racing fans. So while there may be lots of cheap hotels in Indianapolis, the city gets booked to the gills during any event at the track – which means you will need to reserve your room early.
This city is really full of hotels, and not just because of the proximity of the race track, either. It is one of the biggest cities in the United States by population, so there are plenty of cheap hotels in Indianapolis almost by default. The fact that the city overflows with car racing enthusiasts every time something goes fast around the track is almost secondary – but it does mean that hotel rooms in every single budget category get booked up well in advance of big events. To avoid paying more than you want to (or staying in another town altogether), you will need to plan ahead.
Should you be in town for an event at the Speedway, it is likely that your entire visit is centered on that and you may not have time for anything else the city has to offer. If, however, you want to see something other than motor sports, there are, in fact, other thing to do in Indianapolis! There are some lovely gardens you can tour, including the ones in White River State Park, and several war memorials and cemeteries. For kids of all ages, Indianapolis is also home to the largest children’s museum in the world. And of course there is also the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame.
A few of the cheap hotels in Indianapolis you might want to consider for your visit are Knights Inn Indianapolis East (15 minutes from Speedway, free continental breakfast, free WiFi access, outdoor pool, free parking, pets allowed), Red Roof Inn Indianapolis Speedway (between Raceway Park and the Speedway, 7 miles from downtown, WiFi & internet access available, pets allowed, free coffee, kids under 17 stay free), All Nations B&B (4 rooms, breakfast included, 9 blocks from Children’s Museum, WiFi access available), Days Inn Indianapolis Downtown (walking distance to many attractions, free breakfast, free internet & WiFi, free covered parking, free coffee & tea), and Brickyard Crossing (owned by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the race track is right behind it, 108 rooms, on-site restaurant, laundry & dry-cleaning service, free parking).