Indiana has been considered the "Crossroads of America" ever since the early 1800s, when rivers were used as a main form of long-distance transportation. The nickname has remained relevant in the 21st century as Indiana has the most miles of intestate highways, per square mile than any other state. Historically, Indiana is known as being the home of the Indy 500, the only undefeated season ever recorded in NCAA Men's Basketball history and for being the birthplace of both James Dean and Michael Jackson. But not all of what's special about Indiana comes from the past. In fact, there are still plenty of things that you can enjoy while taking a trip through the Hoosier state in your rental car.
If you consider yourself a fan of college football, or of the film "Rudy," you shouldn't let yourself drive through Indiana without making a stop in South Bend, the location of the University of Notre Dame. The historic educational institution is home to both the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and Notre Dame Stadium, both of which draw a lot of attention from tourists for different reasons. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is the center of the Congregation of Holy Cross in the United States and holds significant value in the Roman Catholic church. Whereas, Notre Dame Stadium has only seen one football game not fill the stadium to capacity out of the last 286, according to the Notre Dame Athletics Department.
This 32-mile stretch of beautiful highway is aptly named The Enchanted Highway. Lined with the world's biggest scrap metal sculptures, it was designed to re-ignite tourist interest in small towns like Regent, where the highway begins. You can stop your rental car at each sculpture to take photos, and you'll encounter vast swaths of beautiful farm country in the process. You'll find the Enchanted Highway at exit 72 on the I-94.