Indianola Day: Trails, Campus, Coffee Stop

If you’re looking for an Osceola Iowa hotel day trip that’s close, simple, and still feels like a real outing, Indianola is an easy win. The drive is short, the vibe is relaxed, and there’s just enough to see that it feels like a change of scenery instead of more windshield time. Picture this: you eat breakfast at the hotel, drive north for a walk, wander around Simpson College, grab coffee or dessert, and, if you time it right, duck into the balloon museum or catch summer balloon activities before heading back to Osceola for the evening.

The drive from Osceola to Indianola

The route is straightforward, so you don’t have to babysit your GPS the whole way.

Most guests:

• leave the hotel and head toward Interstate 35
• take I-35 north to the Highway 92 exit for Indianola
• follow Highway 92 east straight into town

Figure on roughly forty minutes each way, depending on traffic and exactly where you start. It’s the kind of drive where you can sip coffee, talk, and watch the fields change, not fight big-city traffic.

Parking in Indianola usually isn’t a headache. You’ll find:

• small lots at trailheads and parks
• visitor or general parking near Simpson College
• street parking around downtown for coffee and dessert stops

If you come earlier in the day, you’ll almost always find a spot close to wherever you want to start.

Start your day with a trail or park

Getting a walk in early makes the whole day smoother. Kids burn off some energy, adults stretch their legs, and everyone eases into “day trip mode.” Get more info on the official Indianola city website.

You’ve got two simple options:

• a paved multi-use trail on the edge of town
• an in-town park with a short loop and a playground

At a trail, you can park once, pick a direction, and walk out for fifteen or twenty minutes before turning around. It’s an easy way to get fresh air without worrying about getting lost. Kids can count bikers, look for birds, or hunt for funny tree shapes while you walk.

At a city park, look for:

• shade trees and benches
• a playground for younger kids
• a sidewalk or path you can loop in about half an hour

That way everyone gets to move a bit before you ask them to be quieter on campus or in a coffee shop.

Season tips:

• Spring: paths can be muddy, so shoes that can handle puddles are your friend.
• Summer: morning walks are best, with sunscreen, hats, and water. Afternoons can get hot.
• Fall: cooler air and leaves everywhere, which is great for photos but can be slick after rain.
• Winter: stick to cleared paths, bundle up, and bring shoes with decent traction.

Wander through Simpson College

After your walk, head over to Simpson College for a slow campus stroll.

The campus sits close to the middle of town with brick buildings, lawns, and tree-lined sidewalks. It’s the kind of place where you can:

• park in a marked visitor or general lot
• follow sidewalks through the main campus areas
• stop at benches or low walls when you want a break

A campus walk gives everybody something to look at. Parents can point out older buildings and talk about their own school days, teens can picture what college life might feel like, and younger kids can “spot the tower” or look for statues and landmarks.

On quieter weekends, campus often feels calm and open. If you’d like to pair your visit with a game or concert, you can always peek at Simpson’s visitor or events pages before you leave Osceola and see what’s on the calendar.

Coffee, dessert, and a chance to sit

Once you’ve done a trail and a campus loop, it’s time for a treat.

Around Indianola you’ll find coffee shops and dessert spots where you can:

• refuel with coffee, tea, or a cold drink
• grab a pastry, ice cream, or a simple dessert
• sit at a table and actually talk for a while

Aim for a place with:

• a few kid-friendly options
• real seating, not just a quick counter
• volume low enough that you don’t have to shout

(This guide from the Indianola Chamber has a great list of places to eat in town if you'd like to save yourself from Googling). This might be the best conversation time of the day. Everyone’s a little tired in a good way, phones tend to stay in pockets a bit longer, and you’ve got space to catch up about school, work, or whatever’s on people’s minds.

Balloon museum and summer balloon evenings

Indianola has a long history with hot air balloons, and you’ll feel it as soon as you get near the National Balloon Museum and U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame. (NOTE: The museum suffered a fire in March, 2025 and is listed as temporarily closed, so be sure to check back on their website to see when it's back up and running).

The museum is a nice mid-day stop. It’s indoors, which is perfect on very hot or windy days, and full of colorful displays, photos, and stories about how ballooning took off in this part of Iowa. You don’t have to be a hardcore aviation fan to enjoy it. Kids tend to remember the huge balloon photos and baskets, and adults like the “I didn’t know that” details.

In the summer, Indianola hosts a multi-day balloon event that brings in pilots and balloons from all over. On those evenings you can expect:

• more traffic near the event grounds
• lots of families and lawn chairs
• launches, balloon “glows” after dark, and a festival feel

If your timing lines up and you’re okay with crowds, sticking around for a balloon night can turn a simple day trip into a vacation-level memory. If you prefer quiet streets and easier parking, just pick dates outside the big event window and enjoy the museum on a normal weekend instead.

Sample timeline for an Indianola day

You can shift this to fit your crew, but here’s one version that works well for a lot of guests.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Breakfast at your Osceola hotel, pack a small day bag, and load the car.

9:30 – 10:15 a.m.
Drive north to Indianola and park at your chosen trailhead or park.

10:15 – 11:30 a.m.
Trail walk or park time. Stretch your legs, let kids play, take a few photos.

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Drive to Simpson College and find visitor or general parking.

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Campus stroll, plus a break on a bench or lawn.

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Coffee or dessert stop downtown or near campus.

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Visit the National Balloon Museum, or loop back to a park or downtown if it's still closed.

3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Drive back to the hotel in Osceola with time left to relax before dinner.

If you’re more of an evening person, push everything back a couple of hours. Leave after lunch, enjoy a late-afternoon walk and campus time, then plan coffee, dessert, and the museum closer to sunset.

Turning nearby towns into part of your stay

Once you’ve done one Indianola loop, it’s easy to turn it into a tried-and-true outing. You’ll know how the drive feels, which trail or park fits your group, and whether the balloon museum is a quick visit or a full afternoon for your family. The next time you’re staying in Osceola, “Indianola day” is just one of the options you can plug in when everyone says, “Let’s go somewhere.”

If that sounds good, we’ve got more short-trip ideas that pair nicely with this one. Check out our post on Summerset and Banner Lakes trails if you want extra time on the path, and our Winterset day-trip guide for another small-town loop with parks, food, and easy views. Put them together and your Osceola Iowa hotel day trip list turns into a whole little menu of low-stress adventures you can pull out any weekend you’re in the area.