Richmond

City / town · Indiana

Richmond

Open in Maps ✎ Write about it
Best timeApr–Oct
From you
Nearest airportDAY · 36 mi
Typical stay$63/night
On this page

Overview

Richmond is a city in Central Indiana. It was founded by Carolina Quakers in 1806. Known as the "cradle of recorded jazz" or formerly as the Rose City for its rose cultivation, it has the honor of having had the first complete high school orchestra in the country and of being the recording center of such greats as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington, not to mention a major producer of lawnmowers and school buses. It has also been home to some historical intrigues like Jim Jones and The Wright Brothers.

11 sights · 3 things to do · 4 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Richmond

Joseph Moore Museum of Natural History

Earlham College Campus

Richmond Art Museum

McGuire Memorial Hall,

Indiana Football Hall of Fame

Abram Gaar House and Farm

Historic mansion that operates as a museum.

Hayes Arboretum

Historic National Road Welcome Center

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 86°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Cold months (Jan) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Apr and May. (climate data from nearby Dayton)

Jan: 3.1 in rain3.1"Jan: high 37°F, low 22°F37°22°JanFeb: 2.4 in rain2.4"Feb: high 41°F, low 24°F41°24°FebMar: 3.5 in rain3.5"Mar: high 52°F, low 33°F52°33°MarApr: 4.5 in rain4.5"Apr: high 64°F, low 43°F64°43°AprMay: 4.5 in rain4.5"May: high 74°F, low 54°F74°54°MayJun: 4.1 in rain4.1"Jun: high 83°F, low 63°F83°63°JunJul: 4.0 in rain4"Jul: high 86°F, low 66°F86°66°JulAug: 3.0 in rain3"Aug: high 85°F, low 64°F85°64°AugSep: 3.3 in rain3.3"Sep: high 79°F, low 57°F79°57°SepOct: 3.0 in rain3"Oct: high 66°F, low 46°F66°46°OctNov: 3.1 in rain3.1"Nov: high 53°F, low 35°F53°35°NovDec: 3.1 in rain3.1"Dec: high 42°F, low 27°F42°27°Dec

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

  • From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
  • DAY James M. Cox Dayton International Airport, Dayton — 36 mi away. Directions
  • CVG Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport, Cincinnati / Covington — 55 mi away (major hub). Directions

Richmond is accessible by I-70, exits 149, 151, 153, and 156 A&B. Richmond is also accessible by US routes 27, 35, and 40.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

  • Places to stay listed here: about $48–$63 a night (typical $63), from 3 listed prices.
  • Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$90, mid-range ~$140, comfortable ~$230.

See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.

Sample 3-day itinerary

Day 1

  • Morning Richmond Art Museum, Veterans Memorial Park, Model T Museum
  • Afternoon Indiana Football Hall of Fame, Wayne County Historical Museum

Day 2

  • Morning Abram Gaar House and Farm, Historic Depot District
  • Afternoon Old Richmond Historic District

Day 3

  • Morning Hayes Arboretum, Joseph Moore Museum of Natural History
  • Afternoon Starr Gennett Historic Site & Gennett Recording Studio Walk of Fame

Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.

Food for you

What to ask about, for your diet

    Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder

    Map

    Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.

    Get in

    By car

    Richmond is accessible by I-70, exits 149, 151, 153, and 156 A&B. Richmond is also accessible by US routes 27, 35, and 40.

    By train

    The nearest train station is in Connersville. It is served by Amtrak.

    By plane

    The closest major airports are in Dayton, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. There is also a small municipal airport in Richmond, the Richmond Municipal Airport, used for small business flights.

    Get around

    While Richmond does have a shuttle service called Rose View Transit that goes around downtown Monday-Saturday, having a car would be the best way to explore the city.

    See

    See Joseph Moore Museum of Natural History

    Earlham College Campus

    📍 801 National Road WChecked May 2025
    MapsWebsite

    See Old Richmond Historic District

    South 1st - 6th Streets - South of Main St.,

    ☎ +1 765-935-8687
    Maps

    See Starr Gennett Historic Site & Gennett Recording Studio Walk of Fame

    South First & Main Streets +1 765-962-1511 or +1 765-935-8687

    MapsWebsite

    See Indiana Football Hall of Fame

    ⚠ Last checked Oct 2019 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    See Abram Gaar House and Farm

    Historic mansion that operates as a museum.

    ⚠ Last checked Oct 2019 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    See Wayne County Historical Museum

    Repository of artifacts, including 2 of the 3 Egyptian mummies in Indiana. Why not give them back to Egypt?

    📍 1150 N A St🕒 Tue-Fri 9:30AM-4PM, Sat Noon-4PM☎ +1 765 962-5756Checked Dec 2021
    MapsWebsite

    Do

    Do Hayes Arboretum

    ⚠ Last checked Oct 2019 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    Do Veterans Memorial Park

    A place where you can climb all over Sherman tanks and howitzers (or maybe something more respectful) and look at deer savoring grass on the field.

    📍 Cardinal Greenwayon east side of Whitewater River🕒 Daily 6AM-11PMChecked Dec 2021
    MapsWebsite

    Do Thistlethwaite Falls

    Small 19th century man-made waterfall.

    📍 65 Waterfall Rdpart of Springwood ParkChecked Dec 2021
    MapsWebsite

    Learn

    Richmond has four colleges

    In addition to its colleges, Richmond also has two seminaries located on the Earlham College Campus

    Sleep

    Stay Quality Inn And Conference Center

    Indoor pool, complimentary breakfast, and a hot tub.

    📍 5501 National Rd E💲 $48☎ +1 765 488-0931Checked Dec 2021
    MapsWebsite

    Stay Baymont Inn by Wyndhan Richmond I-70

    Indoor pool and complimentary breakfast.

    📍 912 Mendelson Dr💲 $63☎ +1 765-200-6953
    MapsWebsite

    Stay Best Western Richmond Indiana I-70

    Same as Baymont Inn really.

    📍 533 W Eaton Pike💲 $67☎ +1 765 939-9500Checked Dec 2021
    MapsWebsite

    Stay Richmond KOA Holiday

    Tent/RV sites and camping cabins.

    📍 3101 Cart Rd☎ +1 765 962-1219Checked Dec 2021
    MapsWebsite

    Go next

    • Dayton is about 60 minutes from Richmond. It is considered the birthplace of aviation and home to many museums
    • Indianapolis is about 75 minutes from Richmond. It is the state capital of Indiana and is home to the Indy 500 race track
    • Cincinnati is about 90 minutes from Richmond. It is home to the Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball Team and the Cincinnati Bengals Professional Football Team as well as many museums and attractions
    • Columbus is about 120 minutes from Richmond. It is the state capital of Ohio and is home to the Ohio State University

    Nearby

    Connersville

    Connersville

    City / town · 13 listings · 18 mi away

    Greenville

    Greenville

    City / town · 17 listings · 23 mi away

    Oxford

    Oxford

    City / town · 73 listings · 23 mi away

    New Castle

    New Castle

    City / town · 7 listings · 26 mi away

    Rushville

    Rushville

    City / town · 3 listings · 33 mi away

    Knightstown

    Knightstown

    City / town · 3 listings · 34 mi away

    Hamilton

    Hamilton

    City / town · 22 listings · 35 mi away

    Miamisburg

    Miamisburg

    City / town · 11 listings · 35 mi away

    My experience

    Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.