Indianapolis Area Memberships Worth the Money

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memberships IndianapolisCurious about Indianapolis area memberships and whether they are worth it or not? We’ve done the research for you! The Indianapolis Moms team has collaborated on our round up of the local Indianapolis memberships that are worth the money.


Indianapolis Children’s Museum

Membership Website: Children’s Museum – Become a Member
Location: 3000 N Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208
Annual Membership Costs: Basic Membership – $230, Basic Membership + 2 Guests – $265, Individual Membership + 1 Guest – $180
About: This membership comes HIGHLY recommended by the Indianapolis Moms team. With the price of their single day tickets being a bit steep, you basically pay for your membership if you come to the museum twice in one year. It enables you to pop in for an hour on a random day or time and leave whenever you want guilt-free.


Monon Community Center

Membership Website: Monon Community Center – Membership
Location: 1195 Central Park Drive West, Carmel, IN 46032
Monthly Membership Costs: Youth Pass – $33, Adult Pass – $49, Household Pass – $107
About: The Monon Community Center membership has bang for your buck, and includes quite a few amenities – the Fitness Center, childcare at the KidZone, Indoor Track, the Waterpark, Parks and Greenways, and more. They also have a Mamava lactation suite! They offer both monthly and annual memberships.


Annual State Park Pass

Membership Website: 2024 Annual State Park Entrance Permit
Annual Membership Cost: $50
About: The State Park Entrance Permit allows you to come and go as you please to each state park in Indiana. It’s very handy for adventurous families, and will be perfect when the Spring and Summer come this year!


Your Local YMCA

Membership Website: Indy YMCA – Membership Benefits
Membership Costs: Rates differ per center. Go to visit the Join the YMCA page, select a center, choose your membership options to view rates, and, should you choose, proceed to payment.
About: A membership at your local YMCA is worth it, in multiple ways. One, for the discount on swim lessons, access to the gym, classes, and pool. Two, for the childcare. Our advice would be to put that baby in childcare, take a shower, and drink a coffee in peace. If you want to workout, workout.


Indianapolis Zoo

Membership Website: Indianapolis Zoo – Become a Member
Location: 1200 W Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46222
Membership Costs: Individual & Guest – $185, Individual Plus 4 – $275, Family Basic – $235, Grandparent Basic – $235, Family Plus 2 – $275, Grandparents Plus 2 – $275
About: The Zoo is one of our favorites! It has free parking, which we love, and you get access to events (minus Zoobilation) so you don’t have to worry about them selling out. A tip from our team – go monthly just to run around and not feel guilty because the membership pays for itself rather quickly!


JCC Indianapolis

Membership Website: JCC Indianapolis – Become a Member
Location: 6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis, IN 46260
Monthly Membership Costs: Couple – $93, Family – $102, Senior Adult – $52, Senior Couple – $65, Single Adult – $61, Single Parent Family – $77
About: The JCC is worth the money simply because of all the health and fitness amenities they offer – the gym, swimming, tennis, youth programs, and arts. And you’ll be joining a very inclusive community in the northside of Indianapolis. With just a $99 joining fee, the monthly membership costs are definitely doable.


Conner Prairie

Membership Website: Become a Conner Prairie Member
Location: 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, IN 46038
Membership Costs: Individual Membership – $100, Basic Membership – $135, PLUS Membership – $165, Voyager Membership – $250
About: If you go at least three times in a year, you pay for your membership at Conner Prairie! A Conner Prairie membership gives you a discount and early access to the selected events, like Headless Horseman. From their membership website, they boast that “with our expansive grounds, engaging programs, and popular festivals and events, there’s always something for you to enjoy!


Indy Coffee Box

Subscription Website: Subscribe – Indy Coffee Box
Monthly Subscription Costs: $17
About: A little different than the other items on our list, but the Indy Coffee Box is highly recommended! Comes straight to your door and never disappoints, according to our team. They ship nationally, offer hand delivery in the metro areas of Indianapolis, and offer a one, two, and three bag subscriptions to get your coffee bean fix.


Indiana State Museum

Membership Website: Indiana State Museum – Membership
Location: 650 W Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Annual Membership Costs: Individual Membership – $99, Family Membership – $129, Family Plus Membership – $179
About: An Indianapolis hidden gem, we almost don’t want to share how awesome the Indiana State Museum is for members! Their calendar of member events is always busy, and members get early access to camps. According to their website, “your membership includes FREE admission to other museums and science centers across the country. Whether you’re traveling north, south, east or west, make sure your Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites membership is part of your next adventure!”


Wonderlab Museum in Bloomington

Website: Become a Member – WonderLab Museum
Location: 308 W 4th St, Bloomington, IN 47404
Membership Cost: Basic Family Membership – $158, Premier Family Membership – $198, First-Time Parent Membership – FREE to apply, Grandparent Membership – $178, Individual Membership – $50, Dual Membership – $95
About: This may be a bit of a drive, but if you find yourself travelling to Bloomington often, a membership to the WonderLab is 100% worth it! Also, it is close to restaurants. You can choose the number of members and membership levels that fit your family.


Special Membership Notes

  • Military Families can take advantage of the much deserved Blue Star Museums Admissions and Gold Star Benefits.
  • All children in foster care as well as any person on Indiana Medicaid can apply for the Access Pass – allowing all members only a $2 fee to go to over ten different museums in Indiana! There are several ways you can apply, one being on the Children’s Museum website.

Share with us! Where are your favorite memberships worth the money around Indianapolis?

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Andrea
Andrea is a SAHM and Project Manager for Indianapolis Moms. She lives in Noblesville with her husband Dan and their two kids, Jonathan and Sarah. They are involved at Congregation Beth-El Zedeck. You can usually see her with a cup of coffee in her hand and a smile on her face. Unless she doesn’t have said coffee. Then she is frowning and running towards her Keurig. Andrea is thrilled to be involved with IM as she goes through motherhood! She loves being able to bond with other parents. Other interests include reading, wine tasting, and working out on her spin bike to stay sane.

1 COMMENT

  1. As a recent Indy transplant, it seems that all of the museums, the zoo, Conner Prairie, etc. should band together and offer one massive membership that allows people to go to all the attractions for one fee. Do you think that the Indy moms groups could petition these organizations to make it happen? I’m sure the readership of this forum plus all of the mom groups on social media would have a lot of sway in such a decision.

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