Carmel Arts and Design District Travel Guide

Indianapolis

A brick building with a fountain, a sign reading "Carmel Arts & Design District," and a street with cars and a truck.
A colorful building with a mural, a street lamp, and a car parked on the street.
A sign for Bub's Burgers & Ice Cream with a burger illustration.
A person reading a book on a bench in an urban setting.
A person painting a landscape with a bridge and trees.

Search through the galleries and studios of Carmel's downtown arts district for antique pieces and unique works of art for your home.

Go on a tour of the Carmel Arts and Design District, a booming cultural hotspot of galleries, antique stores, restaurants, interior designers and specialty retail shops. Purchase original paintings and sculptures, participate in classes and events that support the development of the arts or simply relax in a bustling enclave of creativity.

Enter the district through one of its four brick gateways. Browse the galleries and studios and purchase paintings and sculptures by local and international artists.

On the second Saturday of every month, join the free gallery art walk, an opportunity to quiz artists about their work and inspirations.

Open up your creativity in art classes hosted by a small number of galleries. For a full list of special events, visit the district’s official website.

As you make your way through the district, pause to study the outdoor life-size sculptures. Among them are painted figures of a street musician playing a violin, a police officer greeting a passerby and a gray-haired businessman sitting on a bench reading his newspaper. These works of art were created by J. Seward Johnson Jr., an American sculptor who is noted for the realism of his work.

Rummage through specialty stores and antique shops and pick up some home décor ideas from the district's interior designer showrooms.

Enjoy lunch, dinner and refreshments in any of the cafés and restaurants scattered throughout the area.

After your visit, consider a run, hike or bike ride. The district has direct access to the Monon Trail, a biking, walking and running trail that follows an old railway line through parts of Indiana. It links parks, state fairgrounds and commercial and residential areas.

The Carmel Arts and Design District is located in the heart of downtown Carmel, about 23 miles (37 kilometers) from downtown Indianapolis and about 27 miles (44 kilometers) from Indianapolis International Airport. Find free and paid parking spaces throughout the district.


Stay near popular Carmel Arts and Design District attractions

Things to do


Top hotels in Carmel Arts and Design District

Ironworks Hotel Indy

Ironworks Hotel Indy

4 out of 5
2721 E 86th Street Indianapolis IN
The price is ฿5,978 per night from 5 Jul to 6 Jul
฿5,978
฿6,994 total
5 Jul - 6 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Indianapolis. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 4 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (1,987 reviews)
"Staff was excellent. Loved the later checkout, other hotels, take note. Decor was unique. Food at Rize was amazing. I will definitely be back!"

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2026

Ironworks Hotel Indy
Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis North

Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis North

3.5 out of 5
3912 Vincennes Rd Indianapolis IN
The price is ฿4,397 per night from 5 Jul to 6 Jul
฿4,397
฿5,144 total
5 Jul - 6 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Indianapolis. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking and a free local area shuttle. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.2/10 Very good! (1,003 reviews)
"Great as always"

Reviewed on 28 Jun 2026

Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis North
The Fontana Hotel

The Fontana Hotel

2.5 out of 5
7304 E 21st St Indianapolis IN
The price is ฿3,177 per night from 30 Jun to 1 Jul
฿3,177
฿3,718 total
30 Jun - 1 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Indianapolis. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their ...
8.2/10 Very good! (1,009 reviews)
"The room was not clean. Entering the hotel, you could hardly get into the door because it was broken. What they sold online was not what I seen when I was going to check in. There was no staff at the check in counter and a few people were checking out because the rooms were so dirty. We decided not ..."

Reviewed on 25 Jun 2026

The Fontana Hotel
Omni Severin Hotel

Omni Severin Hotel

4 out of 5
40 West Jackson Place Indianapolis IN
The price is ฿4,780 per night from 5 Jul to 6 Jul
฿4,780
฿5,664 total
5 Jul - 6 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Indianapolis. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), room service and a 24-hour health club. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,096 reviews)
"I can’t complain everything was A+"

Reviewed on 25 Jun 2026

Omni Severin Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown

Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown

3 out of 5
601 West Washington Street Indianapolis IN
The price is ฿3,979 per night from 4 Jul to 5 Jul
฿3,979
฿4,727 total
4 Jul - 5 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Indianapolis. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,167 reviews)
"Nice It was close to lots of things to walk to but it was very busy on the weekend being by the convention center."

Reviewed on 24 Jun 2026

Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown
JW Marriott Indianapolis

JW Marriott Indianapolis

4 out of 5
10 S West Street Indianapolis IN
The price is ฿5,581 per night from 3 Jul to 4 Jul
฿5,581
฿7,578 total
3 Jul - 4 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Indianapolis. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a 24-hour fitness centre and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise ...
JW Marriott Indianapolis
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Where to stay in Carmel Arts and Design District

Find the best Carmel Arts and Design District areas for the activities you enjoy most.

Downtown Indianapolis

Enjoy the popular shops in Downtown Indianapolis. Gainbridge Fieldhouse is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Canal Station or Indiana University-Riley Station to see more of Indianapolis.

Mile Square

The fascinating museums and prominent monuments are top of the list for many visitors to Mile Square. A stop by Gainbridge Fieldhouse or Monument Circle might round out your trip.

Speedway

You'll enjoy the museums and breweries in Speedway. You might want to make time for a stop at Indianapolis Motor Speedway or Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

Wholesale District

While visiting Wholesale District, you might make a stop by sights like Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Indiana Repertory Theatre.

Castleton

Travellers come to Castleton for its abundant dining options, and you can see top attractions like Castleton Square and Dave & Buster's while you're in town.



Carmel Arts and Design District Travel Guide