10 Awesome Team Outing Ideas in Indianapolis

Indianapolis is one of the largest cities in the Midwest, known for its sports teams, universities, and of course, the Indianapolis 500 auto race. As the capital of Indiana, the city has a lot to offer its residents and visitors, including museums, historic sites, and plenty of outdoor activities. Living in a city that experiences all four seasons, Indianapolitans know how to make the most of rain, snow, sun, and foliage. If you’re looking for awesome team outing ideas in Indianapolis to bond your team and boost morale, check out this list to get you started!

1. The 16-Bit Bar and Arcade

This fun and creative venue offers a taste of nostalgia for anyone who grew up in the ’90s. It has over 50 classic arcade games, from Donkey Kong to Street Fighter, and its cocktails are named after childhood favorites like Lisa Frank and Bill Nye. You can also book out the entire venue for a private event, making this a great alternative to a standard happy-hour outing in Indianapolis.

2. Rent a unique venue on Peerspace

When it comes to organizing memorable team outing ideas in Indianapolis, consider hosting an event at a Peerspace venue. With unique spaces available to book directly from local hosts, you can throw a private, customized outing just for your team, with catered meals, equipment rentals, and other amenities arranged through the Peerspace’s Concierge team.

Choose from a research facility in Indianapolis with meeting rooms, a commercial kitchen, and video recording capabilities, or this 1898 Victorian mansion in Shelbyville that can accommodate a private party or awards ceremony. You’ll find even more properties throughout the Midwest that can host an off-site retreat, photoshoot, or team-building activity for teams of all sizes. Just search on Peerspace by event type, capacity, and location to find the right fit.

3. Go duckpin bowling at Atomic Bowl

Head to the Fountain Square Theatre Building for a team outing at a vintage bowling alley. This type of bowling has different rules and equipment than standard bowling, and is only played in nine states, so Indianapolis is lucky to have two duckpin bowling alleys of its own. Atomic Bowl has original bowling equipment from the 1950s and ’60s, while Action Bowl has eight bowling lanes as well as a vintage billiard table. Both spaces have a cafe with seating for around 100 guests.

4. Sample local beer on the Indy Brew Bus

The Indy Brew Bus is a great way to learn your way around the city while enjoying food and beer at some of the region’s best craft breweries. Each vintage green school bus can accommodate up to 14 passengers, and you can book additional buses if you have a larger group.

One of the best things about Indy Brew Bus, though, is that you aren’t limited to stopping at breweries and bars. They also offer themed tours that include art museums, hikes, bird-watching, and more. You can also purchase tasting glasses and “flight boards” shaped like the state of Indiana for your team to take home, or rent their Tap Truck to serve drinks at a company outing.

5. Take a tour of the Catacombs

While not quite as spooky as the Catacombs of Paris, the underground ruins beneath the City Market are worth a visit for locals and tourists alike. Originally a hall that could accommodate 3,500 people, Tomlinson Hall burned down in 1958 and was never rebuilt. The highlight of this tour is seeing the rows upon rows of brick archways that held up this historic Indianapolis landmark.

6. Visit Veal’s Ice Tree

This unique team outing idea in Indianapolis is a great way to get in the holiday spirit. While the Ice Tree is only viewable in the wintertime, it makes for a fun day trip or photo op. Since 1961, the Veal family has been “growing” an ice tree by building a wooden frame and spraying it with mist continuously for several months. As the tree grows, it creates a beautiful cascade of ice. It’s free to visit the tree seven days a week, typically between the months of January and April.

7. Go to the Naptown Roller Derby

Indianapolis has several well-known sports teams, but one of the most exciting sporting events you can attend as a group is the roller derby. You don’t need to know the rules to enjoy watching this one-of-a-kind sport. Doors open at 5:15 pm and your ticket includes two bouts, at 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm. Their events include themed bouts, such as an annual Star Wars bout, and a roller derby basics workshop that you can attend as a group to see if you’ve got what it takes to compete.

8. Break out of the Rotary Jail Museum

Rotary jails were built in the late 1800s as a way to secure multiple prisoners in cells that rotated around a single doorway. While no longer used today, you can visit the last rotary jail in the United States that’s still functional. Today, the landmark building features the Rotary Jail Museum, as well as an escape game that makes for a thrilling team outing idea in Indianapolis!

9. See a movie at the Skyline Drive-In Theatre

Indianapolis is home to several drive-in theatres that are still operational, making this a fun idea for an after-work outing. The Skyline Drive-In is dog-friendly, and you can even book a reserved parking area to host a private party. In addition to new releases, the Skyline also hosts a Super Monster Movie Fest, retro double features, and more.

10. Go for a ride on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail

The perfect team outing idea in Indianapolis for a summer’s day, the Cultural Trail will take you past some of the city’s most noteworthy sites, including public art displays, gardens, and major tourist attractions downtown. Take a guided bike or walking tour, or rent bikes through the city’s Pacers Bikeshare program to make your own way along the trail.

Like many Midwestern cities, Indianapolis is slowly being transformed from its roots as a farm town into a tech-friendly metropolis that welcomes young professionals and entrepreneurs. This list of team outing ideas in Indianapolis will give you a good overview of what this city has to offer to teams that are based in Indiana or visiting from out of state. If you need an event space to host your team outing, you can search on Peerspace to find a unique local venue to host your team for a day trip, an overnight retreat, or a workshop.

Find unique event venues in Indianapolis on Peerspace