Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts Travel Guide: Lucas Oil Stadium

How to Get There

• Flying In: Your main target is Indianapolis International Airport (IND). It is consistently ranked as one of the best and most user-friendly airports in North America. It sits about 14 miles west of the stadium.

• Airport Transit: An Uber, Lyft, or taxi ride will get you from the airport to the heart of downtown in about 15 to 20 minutes. Because downtown Indy is arguably the most compact, connected, and walkable city center in the country, you absolutely do not need a rental car for the weekend if you are staying downtown.

Where to Stay

Indy’s downtown is perfectly laid out for sports fans. You can stay mere steps from the stadium gates or look slightly north into the Wholesale District while still keeping your commute down to a short walk.

Budget Options

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Indianapolis Dtn-Conv Ctr Area: This is a budget traveler's dream for pure stadium proximity. It is located just a 4-minute walk (0.1 miles) from the front doors of Lucas Oil Stadium. It features exceptionally clean rooms, an indoor pool, and includes a free daily hot breakfast buffet to fuel your game day.

• TownePlace Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown: Located only 0.3 miles from the stadium, this all-suite property is fantastic for families or larger groups traveling together. Every room features a fully equipped kitchenette, allowing you to save some cash on meals while staying well within walking distance of the gates.

Higher-End Options

• JW Marriott Indianapolis: This massive, gleaming blue glass skyscraper is the crown jewel of the downtown skyline. It offers upscale, modern luxury with floor-to-ceiling windows featuring panoramic views of the city and White River State Park. Best of all, it connects directly to the city's climate-controlled skywalk system, meaning you can walk to the game completely sheltered from any winter weather. It's a premier use of points, starting around 31,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

• Omni Severin Hotel: If you prefer historic elegance, this Beaux-Arts style hotel has been running for over a century as a premier luxury staple in the city. Located less than a 10-minute walk from the stadium gates, it features plush bedding, top-tier service, a heated indoor pool, and an upscale lobby bar.

Nearby Activities

• White River State Park: Located right next to the JW Marriott, this massive urban park covers 250 acres of beautiful green spaces, walking trails along the canal, and houses the NCAA Hall of Champions.

• Monument Circle: Walk to the absolute center of the city to see the towering Soldiers & Sailors Monument. It is the iconic focal point of Indianapolis and is surrounded by local shops and eateries.

Pregame Food and Drink

• Touchdown Town: This is the Colts' official outdoor street festival located right on South Street outside the north gates. It features live bands, giant screens, food trucks, and incredibly cheap drink specials, making it an absolute must-visit for the full fan experience.

• Slippery Noodle Inn: You have to stop by Indiana’s oldest continuously operating bar (open since 1850). Located just a short walk from the gates, it features multiple rooms, live blues music, great pizza, and a high-energy crowd of Colts fans.

• Tavern on South: Located in the literal shadow of the stadium, this casual yet sophisticated two-story brick restaurant features excellent seasonal dishes and a stellar lineup of regional craft beers on draft. The 60-seat second-level outdoor deck offers a great view of the downtown skyline right before kickoff.

• Kilroy's Bar N' Grill: If you want a rowdy, classic sports bar vibe, head here. It is packed with flat-screen TVs and pitcher-sized drinks, but the real draw is their legendary stuffed breadsticks—do not leave without ordering a basket.

• St. Elmo Steak House: If you want a world-famous dining experience during your weekend, book a table at this historic downtown steakhouse. It is famous for its world-class steaks and its legendary, tear-inducing fiery spicy shrimp cocktail.

Getting to the Event

• Walking & The Skywalks: Indianapolis is arguably the most walkable major sports city in the country. If you are staying downtown, walking is the absolute easiest way to arrive. Even better, a massive network of climate-controlled, enclosed pedestrian skywalks connects major hotels, the Circle Centre Mall, and the Indiana Convention Center, allowing you to walk right up to the stadium corridor completely indoors.

• Driving: Because the city was intentionally designed to host massive events like the Indy 500 and the Final Four, driving and parking is incredibly smooth. Downtown features abundant parking garages and surface lots, and the traffic grid is highly optimized to handle game-day crowds without the typical gridlock.

Where to Sit at Lucas Oil Stadium

Lucas Oil Stadium is unique in the NFL because its entire lower level is designed around a multi-tier layout of smaller sections rather than giant, sweeping bowls, with no single section containing more than 29 rows.

• The Sideline Club Move: The lower level offers premium club seating. On the visitor's sideline, Sections 112-114 feature excellent club amenities and wide padded seats. Sticking to rows 20-24 will give you the absolute best sightlines to view the entire field over the players standing on the sidelines.

• The 200-500 Mid-Tier: Any sideline seating across the 200 to 500 levels offers fantastic views of the ice. The 300 and 400 levels operate as club zones and feature a great perk: they only contain 11 rows, which means you face very light fan traffic and get easy access to concessions. Local Tip: Avoid buying the first row in these sections, as the large safety railing can partially block your line of sight to the field.

• The Best Value: The 500s level offers spectacular value. It is significantly cheaper than the club levels directly below it while offering a nearly identical midfield viewpoint that stands as one of the best upper-level angles in the entire NFL.

• The End Zone & Party Decks: Look for tickets in Sections 401-403 directly above the end zone. These offer a perfect, straight-on view of the massive scoreboards and grant you immediate access to a lively, social party area located right below the seats.

• The Budget Seats: If you are on a strict budget, target corner Sections 604-605. They are some of the cheapest tickets in the building, and because these corner sections are physically smaller (containing only 16 rows compared to 26 rows in the rest of the upper deck), slipping in and out of your seats is a breeze.