Discover Zionsville

Zionsville combines nature trails with glimpses into history and the lively character of a local market. The Big-4 Rail Trail, the wooded lowlands along Eagle Creek, and historical themes centered on shops, residents, and rural life in the 1930s reveal different sides of the town. As you plan your trip, you can consider whether you’d like to spend most of your days outdoors, discover local foods, or learn more about Zionsville’s history.

Paved Trails and Nature Along Eagle Creek

At 5 miles long, the Big-4 Rail Trail forms the backbone of a network of more than 20 miles of connected paved trails in Zionsville. The trail is at least 12 feet wide. It starts at Zionsville Rd. in the southeastern part of town and continues to the town boundary with Whitestown. These details give you a concrete framework for planning your time on the trail network.

Starkey Nature Park offers a different natural setting: The 80-acre park is located a quarter mile southwest of the Village of Zionsville. Its wooded lowlands stretch along Eagle Creek and feature hiking trails. The park is also connected to the Big-4 Rail Trail. This means the trail network described here offers both paved routes and trails through a wooded landscape, each providing a different experience.

Zionsville Nature Center is also part of the town’s focus on nature. It is located within the Youth Services department of Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library. The Nature Center is therefore based within the library and offers another nature-focused destination alongside the park and trails.

The Market and Local Life

The Zionsville Farmers' Market takes place at the southern end of paved Main Street, between Hawthorne Street and Pine Street. Visitors can find produce, baked goods, and freshly prepared food there. The market is also a community gathering place: visitors can enjoy local music while shopping for fresh food. The offerings thus bring food and music together in a specific location in the town center.

This focus may appeal to you when choosing a vacation if you like to include local foods and community life in your trip. The market’s offerings are quite different from a day on the trails or an outing focused on history. Zionsville can be experienced not only through nature, but also through its local everyday culture.

History on Foot and in the Countryside

The walking tours offered by the SullivanMunce Cultural Center introduce visitors to early shops, residents, and events in historic Zionsville. The focus is on the stories of the town and its people. If you’re interested in how the historic townscape developed, these tours offer a different approach from the nature trails: They turn the spotlight on the local past.

Maplelawn Farmstead, Inc. develops experiences that connect people with the rural history of the Great Depression era in the 1930s on a farm in the community of Zionsville, Indiana. Maplelawn Farmstead is listed as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. Together, these aspects give the history theme a rural perspective, distinct from stories about early shops and residents.

Which Side of Zionsville Suits Your Trip?

When choosing a vacation rental in Zionsville, you can start by considering the experiences you want to shape your trip: an extensive network of paved trails, hiking trails in wooded lowlands, local produce and music, or themes from the town’s and the area’s agricultural history. If you’d like to discover places beyond Zionsville, you can also visit Whitestown.

For an overview of the wider area: Boone County.