Get to Know Elkhart

Elkhart calls itself “The City with a Heart.” A walkable downtown and a rustic countryside dotted with Amish settlements blend to create a family-friendly vibe. The area is well known for its recreational vehicle factories, many of them offering tours where you can watch everything from a simple pop-up trailer to a luxurious motor home being built. See what makes this Indiana city thrive as you surround yourself with Midwest hospitality.

Sunny Summers and Cold Winters

Summertime temperatures rarely creep into the 90s in Elkhart, but you’ll need a coat and mittens during the winter months, when January temps dip into the teens and the city experiences above-average snowfall. In late autumn, expect cooler weather as you tour the countryside in search of fall colors. Moderate spring temperatures hold the promise of the first flowers of the season.

Water and Ice

To get a sampling of what the city has to offer, take a stroll on the Riverwalk along the Elkhart River. Begin or end at Island Park, where the kids can let off steam without worrying about traffic. There’s more than nature n the trail. You’ll find restaurants and shops, as well as art installations and a memorial to firefighters and police officers. Would-be engineers can explore a train car or build a model of a section of track at the National New York Central Railroad Museum. Cool down during the summer at the NIBCO Water & Ice Park or lace up a pair of rented skates during the winter. Take a drive through Amish country on the Heritage Trail Driving Tour.

RV There Yet?

Because factories in the county produce 50 percent of the recreational vehicles on the road, Elkhart is considered by some to be the “RV Capital of the World.” Call ahead for a tour of one of the plants or stop by the RV/MH Hall of Fame to walk a painted two-lane highway that takes you through the history of motor homes. Elkhart was once home to 60 musical instrument makers. Only a few remain, but the annual Elkhart Jazz Festival, held in June, celebrates what once was the “Band Instrument Capital” of the world.

Clang, Clang, Clang Went the Trolley

Interstate 90 slices east-west across the northern suburbs of Elkhart, providing easy access to nearby South Bend. If you leave the car at home, the closest commercial airport is less than 60 miles north, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Two Amtrak lines—the Capitol Limited and the Lake Shore Limited—stop at the city’s downtown Tyler Avenue station. Designed to resemble old-time trolley cars, the Interurban Trolley fleet covers most of Elkhart and makes trips 10 miles southeast to Goshen. Trolleys operate Monday through Saturday, and kids 5 and younger ride for free.

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