INDIANA — A new study analyzing Instagram data has named the Indiana Dunes State Park as the most photogenic location in the Hoosier State, cementing its status as Indiana’s most popular backdrop for social media users.
Research conducted by Pickswise analyzed the number of Instagram hashtags associated with various local areas and landmarks to determine the most photographed locations in Indiana.
Dunes and Speedway Lead the List
The Indiana Dunes State Park, located in northwestern Indiana and encompassing 15,349 acres, topped the list with an impressive total of 108,000 Instagram hashtags. The park typically welcomes just under three million visitors each year, drawn to its spectacular views along the southern shore of Lake Michigan.
Coming in second is the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which hosts the annual Indy 500 race. The Speedway garnered 90,900 hashtags, underscoring Indiana’s deep appreciation for motorsports.
Rounding out the top five were several other renowned Indiana landmarks:
- Indiana Dunes State Park (108,000 hashtags)
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway (90,900 hashtags)
- University of Notre Dame (64,400 hashtags)
- Lucas Oil Stadium (54,500 hashtags)
- Indianapolis Zoo (51,700 hashtags)
- Monument Circle (26,600 hashtags)
- Turkey Run State Park (23,500 hashtags)
- Gainbridge Field House (5,300 hashtags)
- White River State Park (5,100 hashtags)
- Notre Dame Stadium (5,000 hashtags)
The study noted a surprising trend: four of the top ten most Instagrammable locations are dedicated sports venues, highlighting the state’s rich athletic history.
Andrew Wilsher, Managing Editor at Pickswise, commented on the findings, “Indiana Dunes State Park is a beautiful part of not just Indiana, but the United States. Its spectacular views make it worthy of the top spot. What’s surprising in this study is that four of the top 10 are sports venues. This shows Indiana’s sporting history. It really is something to be proud of.”
