Fort Wayne
Introduction
Fort Wayne sits in northeastern Indiana, in Allen County, where it serves as the county seat. The city lies roughly 18 miles west of the Ohio border and about 50 miles south of the Michigan border, placing it within easy reach of both state lines. It anchors the Fort Wayne metropolitan area, which also takes in Allen, Wells and Whitley counties, and it functions as the cultural and economic center of northeastern Indiana.
- Allen County — home county, with Fort Wayne as its seat
- Northeastern Indiana — the region the city anchors
- Ohio border — about 18 miles to the east
- Michigan border — about 50 miles to the north
- Allen, Wells and Whitley counties — the three counties of the metro area
Before you go
Before you go, know that Fort Wayne, like many cities, has some trouble spots. Lock your vehicle whenever you leave it unattended, especially in a parking garage or a low-lit area after dark, and take care as you would in any major city at night. Areas on the southeast side of downtown warrant caution during the day and should be avoided on foot after dark. One natural threat to be aware of is tornadoes. If you hear a siren or a tornado warning is issued, take it seriously.Getting there
Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) is the main gateway, with daily direct flights to and from Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, and Dallas-Fort Worth, plus connections to hundreds of destinations worldwide through commuter and regional jets from most major hubs. The terminal offers free wireless internet, ample parking, and short security lines, and volunteers greet arriving passengers with free cookies as they come through security. If you're flying to Chicago, expect to squeeze your hand luggage into a small cargo hull on the tiny planes used on that route, so avoid packing anything fragile in your carry-on. A shuttle bus service also runs between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne.
By car, Interstate 69 makes the city easily accessible from the north and south, connecting to Indianapolis to the south and Lansing to the north, while I-469 forms a southern and eastern bypass linking up with I-69 at both ends. U.S. 24 connects to Toledo, Ohio to the northeast and Lafayette, Indiana to the southwest; U.S. 27 is the main north-south highway through downtown; U.S. 30 connects to Lima, Ohio to the east and Valparaiso to the west; and U.S. 33 links to Columbus, Ohio to the south and Goshen and Elkhart to the northwest. Greyhound runs multiple long-haul services from most nearby cities, arriving at a station downtown on W Baker Street. There is no direct passenger rail service, but Amtrak stops daily at nearby Waterloo, about half an hour north; arrange a cab or a pickup in advance, since transport from that station into the city is limited.
Getting around
Fort Wayne is built for cars, so plan on driving for most trips beyond the center. Interstate 69 links the city north and south, I-469 forms a southern and eastern bypass connecting with I-69 at both ends, and several U.S. highways serve the area: U.S. 24, U.S. 27, U.S. 30 and U.S. 33. To reach downtown, take U.S. 27 from the north or south, Jefferson Boulevard from the west, or Washington Boulevard from the east, which passes through New Haven. All the major rental companies have airport franchises, but those branches cost more; instead, call the Enterprise location on the southwest or northeast side and ask them to pick you up, and reserve online for the best rates.
Public transit is limited: Citilink, the municipal bus system, has restricted routes and hours, so check schedules ahead and don't rely on it late at night. There is no metro, tram or passenger rail in the city; the nearest Amtrak stop is in Waterloo, about half an hour north, served by the Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited, and transport from that station into the city is limited, so phone for a cab or arrange a pickup. Greyhound runs long-haul services from nearby cities into its downtown station on W Baker St. Taxis aren't reliably waiting at the airport, especially on late flights, so call ahead to arrange one or use a ride-hailing app. Walking works well downtown, but the city overall is spread out. Hoosier Shuttle also runs a service between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne.
Where to stay
Downtown Fort Wayne puts you within walking distance of the Grand Wayne Convention Center and the Embassy Theatre. The Courtyard at Grand Wayne Convention Center sits in the newly designed Harrison Square, while the Hilton Fort Wayne is also at the convention center. For a smaller-scale stay, the La Salle Downtown Inn on West Washington Boulevard offers traditional bed-and-breakfast accommodations, with amenities such as a homemade French breakfast, a hot tub, decks with a city view, bathrobes, and private baths; some suites include full kitchens and separate living and sleeping areas. It's a block from the Allen County Genealogical Library and two blocks from the Grand Wayne Centre and Embassy Theatre.
- Courtyard at Grand Wayne Convention Center — downtown, in Harrison Square
- Hilton Fort Wayne at the Grand Wayne Convention Center — downtown, at the convention center
- La Salle Downtown Inn — downtown bed-and-breakfast near the Grand Wayne Centre and Embassy Theatre
- Staybridge Suites – Fort Wayne — off I-69 and US 24 in the Village of Coventry, southwest Fort Wayne
If you'd rather stay outside the center, the Staybridge Suites on Ellison Road is off Interstate 69 and US 24 in the Village of Coventry in southwest Fort Wayne, with easy access to the interstate, Highway 24, and area attractions and businesses.
Food & drink
Fort Wayne's dining scene ranges from old-school counters to family-run Italian kitchens. For a taste of local tradition, head to Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island, a wiener stand that has been steaming its buns since the 1920s and draws crowds during the Three Rivers Festival and the night before Thanksgiving. Power's Hamburgers, built in the 1940s and little changed since, serves fresh burgers and good chili in a setting that predates the chains it inspired. Cindy's Diner is a traditional 1950s-style stainless steel prefab diner where you sit at the counter, chat with the staff, and can order breakfast any time of day; it makes its own donuts on an antique machine and is closed in the evenings. For wings and ribs, locals have favored Buffalo Wings & Ribs since the '80s, with buffalo wings in many signature sauces and baby back ribs, plus burgers, wraps and other American classics.
Italian options include Casa! Ristorante, whose signature salad many locals call the best in town, with a menu spanning veal marsala, quattro formaggio pasta, lasagne and pizza; reservations are recommended because it gets busy. The Italian Connection is a small, quaint restaurant in a two-story house on the west side, seating fewer than 50 and serving simple home-cooked Italian — call ahead to make sure they're open. For Japanese food, Asakusa Japanese Restaurant offers sushi better than you might expect in the Midwest, while Sakura Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar serves fresh sushi and sashimi along with bento, tempura, meat dishes, Japanese beer and sake, plus lunch specials. Mad Anthony Brewing Company, an old local staple, has an eclectic menu of sandwiches, salmon and homemade pizza, and brews some of the best beer in town. The Oyster Bar occupies a century-old brick building south of downtown, where you can watch your dinner being made and talk to the cooks, and in summer you can eat outside. Paula's On Main serves great seafood in an old house and includes a music bar. Other standbys include Don Hall's Prime Rib and Don Hall's Old Gas House, Ziffle's Rib Bar for ribs, and The Lucky Moose, which is fairly cheap.
For drinks, Club Soda is known for its signature martinis and live music, especially jazz, with outdoor seating in an authentic old building. Piere's Entertainment Center is a large nightclub with several different atmospheres in one building, open late and pouring bottled beers from around the region and the world. After Dark is an LGBT nightclub open every night, with karaoke on quiet nights, dancing, and drag shows featuring local and visiting performers. Among coffee houses, the Dash-In occupies a century-old downtown building, serves good lunches and soups at reasonable prices, sells beer by the bottle, and displays local artists' work for sale. Firefly Coffee House, near the IU and Purdue campuses, has an insect-themed drink menu with smoothies, free wireless internet, local art on the walls, and often live music in the evenings. Old Crown Coffee Roasters roasts fresh beans daily with an emphasis on quality, and Higher Grounds Coffee House has a downtown location at Calhoun and Wayne along with other locations.
What to see and do
Fort Wayne rewards a wander through its museums and landmarks. The Fort Wayne History Center occupies a castle-like building worth a careful look in its own right, with displays covering the area from before European settlement through the modern era, including the story of how hi-fi sound was invented at the local Magnavox plant. The Fort Wayne Firefighters Museum, housed in Engine House No. 3, is another compact stop. At the Allen County Public Library you can explore the largest public genealogical collection in the United States, with librarians on hand to assist your search and special classes offered; once a year, usually around Halloween, the room stays open until midnight. For art, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art focuses on American work, with pieces by William Forsyth and Janet Fish and a collection of Indiana Amish quilts, while Artlink is a non-profit gallery celebrating modern visual art from the region and running classes and workshops. Outdoors, the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory holds three indoor gardens with hundreds of plant species and dozens of cacti, plus a children's area with human-sized worm holes and a talking tree. The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo keeps over 1,500 animals in themed areas like the Indonesian Rainforest and the African Journey, and adds a sky ride, zoo train, carousel, canoe ride and pony ride. Johnny Appleseed Park sits along the St Joseph River and contains John Appleseed Chapman's grave, marked and memorialized. For performing arts, the Embassy Theater is a restored 1920s movie palace with a huge balcony, hosting the symphony, travelling Broadway shows, a wide range of performers and classic movies on the big screen in winter. Science Central, a hands-on science museum north of downtown, suits children especially, with mechanical, optical and industrial exhibits including a more-or-less working grain elevator inside. If you're into architecture, pick up self-guided tour booklets at the downtown public library or print the tours online, then stroll Forest Park Boulevard or drive Old Mill Road to see the mansions built for railroad and canal executives from the outside. Sports fans can catch the Fort Wayne Komets hockey team at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, the TinCaps baseball team at downtown's Parkview Field, or Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons basketball and volleyball at the Gates Sports Center.When to go
< p >Fort Wayne has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons, so your experience of the city depends heavily on when you visit. Summers are hot, humid and wet, with muggy conditions and frequent rain; the heaviest downpours fall during this season, and June has historically been the wettest month on record. If you don't mind the humidity and want to plan around the rain, this is the time of year to expect both.< /p > < p >Winters are cold with moderate snowfall, averaging about 33.5 inches over the season. Lake-effect snow can bring light flurries to the city, and January has produced the snowiest month on record. Pack accordingly if you're visiting in the colder months.< /p >Three days in Fort Wayne
Day one: Arrive at Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA), which has direct flights from Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Indianapolis. If you come by Interstate, the city sits within easy reach of Lansing, Toledo, Lafayette, Lima, Valparaiso, Columbus, Goshen, and Elkhart. Greyhound and Amtrak also serve Fort Wayne. Settle in and get your bearings in Allen County, the heart of northeastern Indiana, with the St. Mary's, St. Joseph, and Maumee rivers meeting downtown.
Day two: Spend the day exploring the city itself. Fort Wayne is the seat of Allen County and the cultural and economic hub of the region, drawing visitors from across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. Wander the downtown streets and the riverfront, then branch out into the surrounding counties of Allen, Wells, and Whitley to see the character of northeastern Indiana.
Day three: Use your final day to slow down. Revisit the parts of Fort Wayne you enjoyed most, whether that is the downtown core or the quieter corners of Allen County. If you are departing from FWA, allow time for the drive back to the airport, or catch Greyhound or Amtrak for the next leg of your trip.