Where should I base a weekend in Southeast Indiana?

Madison, for the historic district, the Main Street restaurants and Clifty Falls State Park just outside town. Then drive the river: Aurora for the Hillforest mansion, Vevay for the Swiss heritage sites, or Versailles for a slower main street.

Southeast Indiana Guide: Food, Events & Things to Do

Q: What is Southeast Indiana known for?

Madison's historic district, one of the best preserved in the state, the string of Ohio River towns, Clifty Falls State Park, Lawrenceburg's riverfront, and the scenic drives along the river bluffs.

The short answerUpdated Aug 6, 2026

Southeast Indiana follows the Ohio River through some of the state's best-preserved towns. Madison anchors the region with a long historic district and Clifty Falls just outside town, while Lawrenceburg and Aurora keep their own riverfront character. It is a region built for a slow drive and long lunches.

Anchor city: Madison, the region's historic river anchor, in Jefferson County
Counties: Jefferson, Dearborn, Ripley, Decatur, Switzerland, Jennings, Rush
Known for: Madison's historic district, Ohio River towns, Clifty Falls State Park, Lawrenceburg's riverfront, scenic river drives
Best season: Fall for the river bluffs, summer for the Madison Regatta

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Madison's historic districtOhio River townsClifty Falls State ParkLawrenceburg's riverfrontscenic river drivesMadison Lawrenceburg Greensburg Versailles Vevay North Vernon Things to do Food Events Small towns

Things to Do in Southeast Indiana

More ideas

Clifty Falls trails, Madison's historic district, the riverfront overlooks, and the Hillforest mansion in Aurora can each anchor a stop.

Sunset over the exposed limestone fossil beds and a still river pool at Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, Indiana, with a steel truss bridge crossing the Ohio River

Falls of the Ohio State Park: Indiana's Fossil-Filled Natural Wonder

Falls of the Ohio State Park in Clarksville, Indiana holds some of the world's largest exposed Devonian fossil beds, plus river trails and an Interpretive Center.

Taylor Huff

The Indiana 9/11 Memorial on the Downtown Canal in Indianapolis, with a black granite sign, two World Trade Center steel beams, a bronze eagle, and the Colts building in the background.

15 Indiana 9/11 Memorials, and Friday's Confirmed Ceremonies

Friday is the 25th anniversary. Here are 15 Indiana 9/11 memorials, most built around World Trade Center steel, plus the ceremonies confirmed for Sept. 11.

Jarred Porter

A small limestone waterfall spilling over a rock ledge into a green plunge pool, ringed by bare hardwood trees and fallen leaves, at Calli Nature Preserve in North Vernon, Indiana

Calli Nature Preserve: Discover Rock Rest Falls in North Vernon, Indiana

Rock Rest Falls hides inside Calli Nature Preserve, 179 acres of limestone cliffs and hardwood forest just east of North Vernon in Jennings County, Indiana.

Taylor Huff

IN the Parks podcast cover graphic for Whitewater Memorial State Park, showing the park's carved wooden veterans memorial of a bald eagle above a kneeling soldier with the words All Gave Some, Some Gave All

Whitewater Memorial State Park: Honoring Our Veterans

Whitewater Memorial State Park near Liberty, Indiana was built by four counties to honor WWII veterans. Explore its 200-acre lake, trails, cabins, and sandhill cranes.

Allison Martin

Food Guides in Southeast Indiana

More food

Madison's Main Street holds the deepest run of restaurants and cafes. The smaller river towns add casual stops worth pulling over for.

The Berry Twist ice cream shop storefront in Floyds Knobs, Indiana, with its red sign, dark awning, and outdoor menu boards.

Floyd County Ice Cream Shops: Berry Twist and Polly's Freeze

Berry Twist and Polly's Freeze are two beloved Floyd County ice cream shops. Their owners share the stories, signature treats, and what keeps locals coming back.

Ryan Miller

Rubbin’ Butts BBQ in Sellersburg, Indiana

Rubbin’ Butts BBQ Has Closed in Sellersburg, Indiana

Rubbin’ Butts BBQ in Sellersburg closed on June 7, 2026, after its landlord declined to renew the lease on County Road 311.

Taylor Huff

Schimpff’s Confectionery: A Sweet Stop in Jeffersonville, Indiana

Step back in time at Schimpff’s Confectionery in Jeffersonville, Indiana — one of America’s oldest candy shops, handcrafting sweet treats since 1891.

Taylor Huff

Holtkamp Winery & Vineyards: A Hidden Gem in Sunman, Indiana

Holtkamp Winery in Sunman, Indiana offers award-winning wine, brick-oven pizza, vineyard views, events, and a relaxed Southeast Indiana stop.

Taylor Huff

Events in Southeast Indiana

More events

Madison's Chautauqua festival, the Madison Regatta, and small-town fall festivals lead the calendar. River-town weekends fill lodging early.

A red Peterbilt tow truck with a Make-A-Wish banner leads a line of big rigs down a rural Indiana highway during the Southern Indiana Truck Convoy.

Southern Indiana Truck Convoy Rolls Into the Ripley County Fairgrounds

The Southern Indiana Truck Convoy returns to the Ripley County Fairgrounds in Osgood on Aug. 1 with nearly 100 trucks, a live auction and music benefiting Make-A-Wish.

Cheyne Reiter

Don't Miss MadHop Musical Festival in Madison, Indiana

MadHop is Madison, Indiana's multi-venue indie and roots music festival, where one wristband lets you hop between historic downtown spaces for dozens of live acts.

Jarred Porter

Evening aerial view of the Swiss Wine Festival midway and food booths in a riverside park in Vevay, Indiana

Sip, Stomp, and Celebrate at Vevay's Swiss Wine Festival

Vevay's Swiss Wine Festival on the Ohio River honors Switzerland County's early Swiss settlers with a wine pavilion, grape stomp championship, and live music.

Jarred Porter

Discovering Freudenfest: Indiana's Hidden German Gem in Oldenburg

Explore Freudenfest, a hidden gem in Oldenburg, Indiana, where a small town comes alive with German culture, food, and fun. Discover why this festival is a must-visit event in southeastern Indiana.

Nate Spangle

Small Towns in Southeast Indiana

More towns

Vevay, Aurora, and Versailles each reward a stop, adding river history, mansions, and quiet main streets to the drive.

What’s it like in Oldenburg, Indiana?

From Freudenfest to a James Beard-winning restaurant, Oldenburg in Franklin County punches way above its 647-person weight. Get the full breakdown.

Cheyne Reiter

What’s it like in Greensburg, Indiana?

Greensburg, Indiana is known for the courthouse tower tree, local food, festivals, and Decatur County history. Here's what to see and know.

Cheyne Reiter

What’s it like in Vevay, Indiana?

Vevay, Indiana blends Ohio River views, Swiss heritage, local history, and small-town attractions. Here's what to see and do when you visit.

Cheyne Reiter

What's it like in Brookville, Indiana?

Brookville, Indiana offers Brookville Lake, Whitewater River scenery, historic downtown stops, trails, local food, and small-town charm.

Cheyne Reiter

Browse all Southeast Indiana coverage

Search or filter the full regional archive by topic. The guides above stay curated; this is the complete feed.

Questions

Common questions about Southeast Indiana

Written to answer the thing you actually searched for, not to pad the page.

01

What counties are in Southeast Indiana?

Get Indiana covers Jefferson, Dearborn, Ripley, Decatur, Switzerland, Jennings and Rush counties as Southeast Indiana. Madison, in Jefferson County, anchors the region and is the usual base for a weekend.

Get Indiana Madison

02

What is Southeast Indiana known for?

Madison's

From Get Indiana

Things to Do in Southeast Indiana

Falls of the Ohio State Park: Indiana's Fossil-Filled Natural Wonder

15 Indiana 9/11 Memorials, and Friday's Confirmed Ceremonies

Calli Nature Preserve: Discover Rock Rest Falls in North Vernon, Indiana

Whitewater Memorial State Park: Honoring Our Veterans

Discover the Underground Wonder of Southern Indiana: Squire Boone Caverns

O'Bannon Woods State Park: Face Your Fears in Southern Indiana

Hardy Lake: Where the Raptor Center Soars

Bobcats Are Back in Indiana. Here's What You Need to Know.

Brookville Lake: Bluebirds, Walleye, and 50 Years of Lake Life

A Gothic Garden in Southern Indiana: Kat Von D’s Black Tulip Field

Cherry Blossom Season in Indiana: 4 Spots Worth the Drive Before the Petals Fall

Charlestown State Park: Hiking Through History and Mysteries

Falls of the Ohio State Park: Don’t Take Fossils for Granite

Rose Island: Indiana's Lost 1920s Amusement Park

Versailles State Park: Creating a Family Culture for Bikers, Hikers, Kayakers, and More!

Clifty Falls State Park: Being a Good Neighbor

Hatcher Hill Trail: Madison’s Hidden Gem for Nature Lovers

Food Guides in Southeast Indiana

Floyd County Ice Cream Shops: Berry Twist and Polly's Freeze

Rubbin’ Butts BBQ Has Closed in Sellersburg, Indiana

Schimpff’s Confectionery: A Sweet Stop in Jeffersonville, Indiana

Holtkamp Winery & Vineyards: A Hidden Gem in Sunman, Indiana

Huber’s Orchard & Winery: Southern Indiana’s Largest Apple Orchard & Pumpkin Patch

Discover Yoho General Store: A Southern Indiana Classic for Food, History & Small-Town Charm

Events in Southeast Indiana

Southern Indiana Truck Convoy Rolls Into the Ripley County Fairgrounds

Don't Miss MadHop Musical Festival in Madison, Indiana

Sip, Stomp, and Celebrate at Vevay's Swiss Wine Festival

Discovering Freudenfest: Indiana's Hidden German Gem in Oldenburg