Indiana Welcome Center

09/03/2026

What a chili-tastic day at the Indiana Welcome Center! 🌶️🏆

This past Saturday, we welcomed competitors from Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin for the 21st Annual Three-I Regional Championship Chili Cook-Off. From award-winning recipes and creative showmanship to first-time local teams and plenty of friendly competition, the event was packed with flavor and fun!

A huge congratulations to all the winners, including People’s Choice Champion Team Region Rookie, and best of luck to those advancing to the World Championship Chili Cook-Off in Texas. Most importantly, thank you to everyone who attended, competed, volunteered, and supported this event benefiting the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. ❤️🌶️ ➡️ Man's Man Chili

08/24/2026

The 2026 Gary Air Show may have been canceled due to storm damage, but you can still take home a piece of the action! Score a commemorative Gary Air Show 250 T-shirt for 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 when you spend $25 or more in our gift shop! 🛩️

Get yours before they FLY away!

📍7770 Corinne Dr, Hammond

08/23/2026

🎉 After 23 years of welcoming the world to Indiana, Bob is officially retiring! 🎉

For more than two decades, Bob has been a familiar and friendly face at the Indiana Welcome Center, serving as a Travel Counselor and helping thousands upon thousands of visitors from across the country and around the world discover all that Indiana and the South Shore have to offer. 🗺️🚗✈️

Whether he was giving directions, recommending the perfect place to eat, sharing a hidden gem, or simply making a traveler feel welcome, Bob brought kindness, knowledge and dedication to every person who walked through our doors.

And Bob didn’t just welcome visitors… he even made a few special appearances as Santa Claus during A Christmas Story Comes Home! 🎅🎄

Bob, your 23 years of dedication have made an incredible impact on our organization, our visitors and our entire team. The Indiana Welcome Center simply won’t be the same without you.

Congratulations on your retirement, Bob! We hope this next adventure is filled with relaxation, great memories and absolutely no one asking you for directions! 😂

Thank you for 23 wonderful years and for helping us show thousands of visitors what Hoosier Hospitality is all about. ❤️

Happy Retirement, Bob! You will be greatly missed!

08/21/2026

Did you know we are a pickup location for rides to O’Hare? Details below 👇🏼

🚗✈️ Got a trip planned? Whether you're headed to the beach, the mountains, or somewhere with tiny umbrellas in the drinks, getting to the airport just got a whole lot easier!

Skip the Chicago traffic, expensive airport parking, and the stress of driving to O’Hare. City Zoom offers affordable airport shuttle service from 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝, 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐨 with direct drop-offs at O’Hare terminals.

Sit back, relax, and start your vacation before you even get to the airport. 🌴🧳 southshorecva.com/listing/city-zoom/7246/

08/21/2026

We get some pretty cool cars rolling through the Welcome Center to charge up—and today’s ride was a total throwback! 😎

Say hello to the Volkswagen ID. Buzz! This modern electric vehicle takes major inspiration from the iconic 1960s VW Microbus, bringing those classic retro vibes into the electric era.🔋✨

08/19/2026

Heads up, Hammond! The Hammond Civic Center is serving 250 free hot meals starting at 5pm TODAY. The menu includes chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, and water.

Walk-up and drive-through options are available. It's first come, first served, so head up there early. Please share this with those still without power or who could use a hot meal.

📍 5825 Sohl Ave, Hammond

Go Hammond!

08/19/2026

WE ARE OPEN! 🙌

If you’re still dealing with the aftermath of the recent storms, need a place to cool off, charge up, get online, take a breather—or, you know, do your business—we’ve got you covered. 😉

Here’s what you’ll find inside:

⚡ POWER: Yep. The lights are on.
📶 WI-FI: Yes, the internet is internet-ing.
❄️ A/C: Come get some of that sweet, sweet cold air.
🚻 CLEAN BATHROOMS: Enjoy your meeting.
🥤 SNACKS & DRINKS: Our gift shop is stocked with all the essentials.
🗺️ INFORMATION: Need ideas for where to go, what to see or what’s open? We can help with that, too!

Whether you need a quick pit stop, a cool place to sit for a while, somewhere to get some work done, or simply a place where you can do your business while we do ours (see what we did there? 😏), you are welcome here.

⏰ 8am-6pm, 7 days/week
📍 Indiana Welcome Center
7770 Corinne Drive, Hammond
(Just off I-80/94 at Kennedy Avenue)

Come on in—we’ve got power, and we’re putting it to good use. ⚡😎

08/13/2026

We may be out of ice, but ALL are welcome at the Indiana Welcome Center! Stop in, hang out, enjoy the picturesque views of Byway Brewing (which is also open!🍻), charge your devices and enjoy the AC! ✨

Still no WiFi, but maybe this is a chance for us all to enjoy some together time. 💚

Open 8am-6pm
📍 7770 Corinne Drive, Hammond

08/13/2026

🚨 IMPORTANT SERVICE UPDATE 🚨

The Indiana Welcome Center remains OPEN, but IDEMIA/IdentoGO services are temporarily unavailable due to a region-wide internet outage affecting service availability.

At this time, we are unable to accommodate IDEMIA/IdentoGO appointments or walk-ins.

We apologize for the inconvenience, especially for those with scheduled appointments, and appreciate your patience while service is restored.

We’ll share an update as soon as services are available again. Thank you for your understanding! 🙏

08/13/2026

Update: SOLD OUT OF ICE
We have power & we have ice!

🧊 $3 per 10-lb bag
🧊 Limit 2 bags per person
🧊 Card payment only
🧊 Available while supplies last

📍 7770 Corinne Dr, Hammond
8am-6pm