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Monrovia, Indiana is a small town in the northern part of Morgan County, just south of Interstate 70 at Exit 59. Its center is the crossing of State Road 42 (Main Street) and State Road 39 (Chestnut Street), and its places to eat include a family restaurant, a coffee house and a pizza place.
Forest Park Lodge, our 65-acre property, has a Monrovia address. For a group staying with us, the town is the first breakfast out, the morning coffee run and, in September, a full festival weekend. Below are the places we point guests to, what each one is best for, and the hours that shape a weekend plan.
Monrovia at a glance
| Place | What it is for | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Monrovia Family Restaurant | Breakfast, lunch and dinner at 200 W Main St | A big weekend breakfast, before its 3:00 PM weekend close |
| Farmhouse Brew | Coffee, a monthly cold brew flight, breakfast and lunch specials | The morning coffee run |
| Dawghouse Pizza | Pizza on Main Street | A casual meal in town |
| Main Street shops | Locally owned shops along State Road 42 | A short browse after breakfast |
| Hall’s Haunted Halls | A haunted house on weekends in October at the former Hall Elementary School | A group night out in October |
| Monrovia Festival | The town’s annual festival, with live music, kids activities, vendor booths and a parade | Families visiting in mid-September |
| Supermarkets | 5 to 15 minutes from the house | The first big grocery shop |
Getting here and around
Interstate 70 passes 2 miles north of Monrovia, with access from Exit 59 at State Road 39. In the middle of town, State Road 39 runs along Chestnut Street and State Road 42 runs along Main Street, where the restaurant and shops are. Both roads offer scenic views, so the drive in is part of the trip.
From town, State Road 42 leads northeast about 6 miles to Mooresville and west about 9 miles to Little Point. State Road 39 leads north about 7 miles to Belleville and south about 12 miles to Martinsville, the county seat. Downtown Indianapolis is 24 miles to the northeast.
By car from the lodge, Indianapolis International Airport is about 21 minutes (14 miles) away. Columbus Municipal Airport is about 57 minutes (38 miles), and Terre Haute Regional Airport is about 67 minutes (45 miles). For the city drive in detail, see getting here from Indianapolis.
A group often arrives in several cars. There is plenty of parking on the property, and there is no street parking, so every car comes up the drive.
Where to eat and get coffee
From the lodge, restaurants are 10 to 20 minutes away. Monrovia’s own list is short, so match each place to the meal it does well.
- Monrovia Family Restaurant: at 200 W Main St, with breakfast, lunch and dinner any time. The menu is homemade comfort food with daily specials, plus dishes with a true flavor of Mexico. Open 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday to Friday, and 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday. It takes orders online and has plenty of parking. Best for: a big Saturday breakfast, or a weeknight pickup for the whole house.
- Farmhouse Brew: a coffee house in town with a signature monthly cold brew flight in seasonal flavors, plus hot brews and breakfast and lunch specials. Watch for its mobile coffee truck at area festivals and events. Best for: the morning coffee run and a light lunch.
- Dawghouse Pizza: one of the dining options on Main Street. Best for: a casual meal without leaving town.
- Main Street Grill: a Main Street restaurant featured on the Indiana Foodways Alliance trails. It is soon to reopen, so confirm it is open before you plan a meal around it. Best for: a sit-down meal once it is back.
At the family restaurant, customer favorites include the Ranchero Skillet, the Loaded French toast and the Breaded Tenderloin. The Texas Fajitas come with shrimp, steak and chicken, which suits a table that wants to share.
Weekend hours matter most. The family restaurant closes at 3:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday, so plan weekend dinners at the house or in Mooresville or Martinsville.
Groceries and supplies for a group
Cooking at least a few meals at the house is the easy way to feed a big group, especially on a weekend when the town’s family restaurant closes early.
- Supermarkets near the house: 5 to 15 minutes away. Best for: the big first shop. With several cars, one can stop on the way in while the others head straight to the house.
- Monrovia Family Restaurant online orders: order ahead and send one car to 200 W Main St. Best for: a weeknight when nobody wants to cook.
- Farmhouse Brew: coffee and breakfast specials in town. Best for: a morning when the house is out of coffee.
For what to pack and what to buy once you arrive, our family reunion checklist has the full list.
Things to do nearby
Monrovia is a small rural town, so the things to do here are simple and close together. Pair them with a drive to Mooresville or Martinsville for a full day.
- Hall’s Haunted Halls: a haunted house that runs on weekends in October at the former Hall Elementary School. It raises money for the Hall Civic Association, which restores and maintains the school building as a community center. Hall School dates to 1911 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Best for: a group night out in October.
- Scenic drives on State Roads 39 and 42: the two roads meet in town, and both offer beautiful scenic vistas. Best for: a slow afternoon drive, State Road 39 south to Martinsville or State Road 42 northeast to Mooresville.
- Main Street shops: locally owned shops sit along Main Street next to the town’s places to eat. Best for: a short browse after breakfast at the family restaurant.
- Monrovia library: the town has a branch of the Morgan County Public Library. Best for: a quiet hour with younger kids.
- The Monrovia Festival in September: live music, kids activities, vendor booths and food on the festival weekend. Best for: a ready-made Saturday outing for a family reunion.
Before the trip, look up the documentary named for the town, Monrovia, Indiana, which aired on PBS in 2018. It is an easy way for guests to see the place before they arrive.
Events through the year
September. The Monrovia Festival is the town’s signature event, held on the weekend after Labor Day by the Monrovia Festival and Community Association. Expect live music, kids activities, vendor booths, great food and a parade. Look for Cow Patty Bingo, Minute to Win It, a Power Wheel Derby, a car show and a tractor raffle. The Monrovia Festival schedule is posted by the association each year.
October. Hall’s Haunted Halls opens on October weekends, and the festival association organizes community trick or treating for Halloween.
Late November. A Monrovia Hometown Christmas brings vendors, a Reindeer Run and Snowman Walk 5K, and a parade.
The town keeps its own Town of Monrovia events calendar, which is worth checking against your dates before you plan a day in town.
When to come
September brings the official arrival of fall, with slightly cooler temperatures and the festival weekend after Labor Day. That suits a family reunion that wants a ready-made Saturday outing. October adds the haunted house on weekends, and late November has the Hometown Christmas.
A wedding that wants a quiet town should plan around the festival weekend instead. Our guide to planning a wedding weekend covers timing for an event here.
In the colder months, the indoor pool at the house is open all year and kept at 75°F, so a winter stay still has a swim in it.
“Everyone loved it and it was private and peaceful.” (a guest, June 2026)
Good to know before you go
- Urgent care: the Mooresville After Hours Clinic at 1205 Hadley Rd in Mooresville is open 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM on weekdays, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday and noon to 5:00 PM on Sunday. WellNow Urgent Care at 630 Birk Rd in Martinsville is open 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day. Check hours before you go.
- Plainfield option: Hendricks Regional Health Immediate Care Center at 1100 Southfield Dr in Plainfield is open 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on weekdays, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on Saturday and 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on Sunday.
- Town office: Monrovia’s town office is at 60 Marley Way, phone (317) 996-6112.
- Extra guests: hotels and short-term rentals for extra wedding guests are 5 to 15 minutes away.
- House rules that affect plans: quiet hours are 10 PM to 8 AM. Fireworks are not allowed anywhere on the property, and amplified outdoor music needs the owner’s approval.
- The pool: it has maintenance about once a week, for about 30 minutes. Guests can ask for it warmer, up to 85°F, for $125 per 5 degrees per day, with at least a day’s notice.
When you are ready to plan the stay itself, see the lodge.
Questions
Where can we get urgent care near Monrovia Indiana on a Sunday?
WellNow Urgent Care at 630 Birk Rd in Martinsville is open 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day. The Mooresville After Hours Clinic at 1205 Hadley Rd opens noon to 5:00 PM on Sunday, and the Hendricks Regional Health Immediate Care Center in Plainfield opens 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on Sunday.
How far is Monrovia Indiana from Indianapolis?
Downtown Indianapolis is 24 miles northeast of Monrovia. Interstate 70 passes 2 miles north of town, with access from Exit 59 at State Road 39.
What is on the menu at Monrovia Family Restaurant?
It serves homemade comfort food with daily specials and dishes with a true flavor of Mexico. Customer favorites include the Ranchero Skillet, the Loaded French toast and the Breaded Tenderloin, and the Texas Fajitas with shrimp, steak and chicken suit a table that wants to share.
What events are at the Monrovia Festival besides the parade?
Look for Cow Patty Bingo, Minute to Win It, a Power Wheel Derby, a car show and a tractor raffle. The Monrovia Festival and Community Association posts the schedule each year.
Are there events in Monrovia Indiana in late November?
A Monrovia Hometown Christmas brings vendors, a Reindeer Run and Snowman Walk 5K, and a parade. Check the Town of Monrovia events calendar against your dates before you plan a day in town.
Where can extra wedding guests stay near Monrovia Indiana?
Hotels and short-term rentals for extra guests are 5 to 15 minutes from the house. For town questions, Monrovia's town office is at 60 Marley Way, phone (317) 996-6112.