Indianapolis Airport – What You Should Know Before Flying IND

I’ve connected through Indy more times than I can count over the years. It’s not the most exciting airport, but it’s one of the more pleasant ones to pass through. Here’s my take after accumulating way too many hours in that terminal.

The Basics

Indianapolis International (IND) sits about seven miles southwest of downtown. Gets you around 40 nonstop destinations with over 200 daily flights. Not a mega-hub like Atlanta or Chicago, but solid coverage for the Midwest.

The terminal you walk through now opened in 2008 – feels modern, flows well, doesn’t make you want to scream. That’s honestly all you can ask from an airport.

Some Actually Interesting History

The place started as Weir Cook Municipal Airport way back in 1931, named after a WWI flying ace. Commercial flights began almost immediately. For decades it was a straightforward municipal facility until the 90s brought major expansion.

The current terminal was a complete rebuild, designed by the same firm that did a bunch of other major airports. They focused on making passenger flow intuitive, which… actually worked? Security’s laid out sensibly. Finding gates isn’t confusing. It’s shockingly functional.

Getting There and Parking

The airport connects directly to I-70, so driving in is pretty straightforward. Parking options include short-term, long-term, and economy lots depending on how long you’re gone and what you want to spend.

Ground Transportation Center has all your options – rental cars, shuttles, taxis, rideshare pickup. Nothing unusual but everything you need.

Inside the Terminal

Free WiFi throughout, which actually works (not always a given). Charging stations at most gates. The dining ranges from fast food to sit-down restaurants with local flavor. Shopping’s typical airport stuff – news, convenience items, some local goods.

Art installations are scattered around showcasing Indiana culture. Not mind-blowing but gives the place some personality beyond the generic airport aesthetic.

There’s a USO Lounge for military folks, which is a nice touch. Indianapolis takes care of service members passing through.

The Cargo Angle

Here’s something most travelers don’t realize – IND is one of the top ten busiest cargo airports in the entire country. FedEx runs a massive hub here. All those overnight packages crossing the country? A ton of them route through Indianapolis.

Makes sense when you think about the location – smack in the middle of major trucking routes. Your Amazon order probably saw Indy at some point.

What Airlines Fly Here

The usual domestic carriers are represented – United, American, Delta, Southwest. Some budget options too. International is limited – mostly Canada and some seasonal Caribbean/Mexico routes. For anything farther, you’re connecting through a bigger hub.

Security and Timing

TSA PreCheck lanes available. Regular security moves reasonably well most of the time – this isn’t O’Hare levels of chaos. I usually give myself 90 minutes for domestic flights and that’s been plenty.

Holidays and weird schedule bunches can create backups, so check wait times if you’re flying during peak periods.

Practical Tips

• Early morning flights tend to have shorter security lines
• The food options are better after security, so budget time to eat there if you’re hungry
• Cell phone lot for pickups saves circling the terminal
• The airport app gives real-time info if you want to track things

My Take

IND is a good airport. Not glamorous, not exciting, but genuinely pleasant to use. Terminal makes sense. Security doesn’t destroy your soul. Food’s fine. It does the job without making you hate travel.

For a mid-sized hub in the Midwest, that’s honestly everything it needs to be.